Original C Bertram & Sons, Solingen Germany

Made prior to 1980

In 1865 a World Class pocket knife firm was founded by a man whose hobby was raising and showing prize chickens. To show who he was, he used the images of a rooster and a hen as a trademark. In Europe, the name Bertram was famous and in America the name was little known but the "Hen & Rooster" mark, often used with names like Guttman, Voss, Carter, was known for the very highest quality.

In 1974, I bought my first knives from this little company. In 1975 after making the "Baby Barlow" (CM-4) for the Knife Collectors Club^™, one of the owners ask me if I would buy the firm and trademark. Germany was in a recession and the firm was on the verge of bankruptcy. First I had to buy the entire inventory for cash, including the old salesman's samples, some over 100 years of age. I later learned that this was Edgar's way of taking money from the other grandson of the founder, his partner. Over the next five years, we made some of the finest traditional pocket knives the world has ever seen. The last knives made in the original way, by the original firm were made in 1980, 26 years ago. These knives have set in our warehouse all of that time, being sold a few a year. Only makers like Tony Bose and a tiny handful of other makers can make knives of this quality. When these are gone they will be gone forever.

The Hen & Rooster mark is presently owned by Jim Frost of Frost Cutlery in TN. In the 1980s, he had Hen & Rooster knives made by the Kissing Krane company in Solingen. Since Kissing Krane disappeared Boker has made the knives. These are excellent knives, fairly priced, but in no way near the quality made by the original Bertram factory.

Hen & Rooster Model 656 Gentleman's Folder with Pearl

These were made for the American market . The blades are stamped Germany, those made for Europe were just stamped Solingen. The 2-9/16" Lobster has a 1-15/16" Spearpoint and a 1-5/16" Pen blade with a Manicure tool on the back side. The liners are nickel silver with scales of first class Mother of Pearl. Very few were made for the American market.

656P: $495.00