Posted 8 years ago
whyatt
(63 items)
im not sure what type of wood this is... looks like rosewood to me.
its stamped ERN Solingen. and gusstahl. gusstahl isn't a makers mark . its a metal identification mark. gusstahl simply means cast steel in german. ive read only the top quality products carried the gusstahl proof marks. this knife still has the machining marks along its blades length. it has a excellent snap on all its blades and the wood is flawless.
very happy to add this old bar tenders knife to my collection. im loving it !
whyatt - As for cast steel; the term "cast steel" indicates the carbon content of the metal. It is harder than wrought iron and less brittle than cast iron, so it is ideal for springs, knife blades, etc. When the process was new it was a significant advance and applying the words "Cast Steel" to an item indicated better quality. However since the beginning of the 20th century there has been tremendous variation in steel alloys and even though most can be called cast steel the words don't necessarily denote the superior quality they once did. Nor is their absence, in itself, an indication of lower quality. Over time the mark mostly fell out of use. Freidrich Ern (1873-1986) was probably one of the last knifemakers to use that mark.
nice knife, in great condition whyatt, and thanks to UncleRon, for the info. too! :^)