Featured Toenail- H. Boker & Co.
A few of you may know, the H. Boker brand is one of my sentimental favorites. I won’t delve into the details, other than to say, when I first started back into knife collecting I focused on old H. Boker knives and was well on my way to a decent collection until I got stopped dead in my tracks the first time I saw a toenail.
Boker has a very rich history going back to the 1700’s. The Boker (you will see it spelled several ways if you research their name) family was a very prominent manufacturer who branched out to the US very early.
Their 1928 catalog states they were “Established in New York City in 1837, H Boker & Co. Inc., for nearly a century has been known from coast to coast as manufacturer and importer of fine cutlery and hardware. During that period the name ‘Boker Tree Brand’ has become recognized as a standard of quality in cutlery.” Unfortunately, in that 90+ pages of Boker cutlery the toenail is not pictured.
JUMBO No. 9331- 1914 Greer and Laing of Wheeling W. Va catalog -
The Boker brand has all the interesting facets to me that Case does-rich history, family, entrepreneurial brothers, yet maybe without the degree of intrigue.
Boker was started by Herman and Heinrich Boeker in the late 1700’s in Solingen, Germany. The Boker firm made tons of patterns and probably imported them all over the world. They were big importers to the US in the 1800’s.
Robert Boker went to Canada and later Mexico. Herman Boker came to the US and was responsible opening their office in New York. Obviously, the cutlery they imported was their own.
In 1916, Boker USA “officially” gained control over an American cutlery manufacturer Valley Forge Cutlery Co. of Newark, NJ. The Bokers direct venture into the US market was probably to avoid the tariffs (Cutlery Act of 1890) imposed by our government on all cutlery imported into the US. Their acquisition of Valley Forge also gave them an American brand name that had been around since 1892. Goins states Carl Bowker became president in 1902. Boker USA owned controlling interest at that point. In 1921 they opened a new plant in Maplewood, NJ and the Boker/VF factory was moved to that location, where they produced knives under both brands until 1950 when the Valley Forge marking was dropped. The firm sold later only to be repurchased by the Heinr. Boker Company of Germany. In 1986 they opened Boker USA in Lakewood, Co. as their distributor firm for the US market.
I’m sure there are numerous examples of old H. Boker toenails out there today, I’ve been fortunate to locate a couple, in addition to Valley Forge made samples.
My favorite is my H. Boker & Co’s Improved Cutlery pearl handled toenail dating back to around c. 1920.
While Boker knives are highly desirable, I think the factors that have “held back” the Boker brand from being widely collected is: First, their complete records were destroyed in the bombings of their plant in WWII, therefore little “documented” support exists to help collectors. I do have two old catalogs dated 1914 and 1928, and have read about a 1906 catalog). The second reason is it isn’t American.
To me one of the intriguing aspects of collecting H. Bokers was the Tree stamping on the really old samples. Their brand was the Tree Brand and according to Goins stamped the tree on their knives starting in 1848. It is interesting to see the evolution of the tree stamp through the years. Serious H Boker collectors use the trees to date the knives as well as the various stampings. On the majority of the knives, the tree stamp is on the rear tang of the blades. Goins also shows the various stamping, so if you are interested grab you a copy of his book to dive a little deeper.
The tang stampings typically date the knife as well. One of the older more desirable stampings is what is referred to as the “Improved” stamp.
March 25th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Incidentally, H. Boker & VF toenails are the shortest toenails I am aware of at 3 7/8 inches long.
March 26th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Was sent a nice email about this Featured Toenail from a hard-core H. Boker collector (who is still looking for his first Boker toenail, by the way) and since he was too chicken to write his note here, I thought I would for him (watch out what you email me I might make write about it….you know I am aways looking for content and ideas.)
“Hey Scott,
KILLER post on the H. Boker toenails!! Very well done. The article also made me think about something. Are all 4 knives you have pictured Improved Cutlery’s? Since the toenail isn’t shown in Boker’s 1928 catalog, but is in the Greer & Laing 1914 Hardware catalog, I was wondering whether or not Boker made any toenails after the Improved Cutlery stamping? Have you ever seen one stamped just H. Boker?
Also,I have printed your post and am adding it to my H. Boker notebook/scrapbook of info. that I have been putting together over the last few years…………………….now you just need to sell me one of those toenails.”
Take care.
Roger
Roger is a friend and the one who bought most of my best H. Bokers when I liquidated them (gave them away,
I did) so I could get my pennies together to go elephant hunting….
If you know of an old H. Boker toenail in decent shape let me know. Roger really needs one to complete his H Boker collection.
FYI: The bottom knife shown in the pic with the four is the Valley Forge and I am not aware of a Boker toenail made after the “Improved” era.
Thanks Roger for allowing me to share your message with the other members. You are a good sport
June 17th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Hello, i work in a small local Museum and i am doing research on a pair of scissors. I i could send you a picture maybe you could help me out with the use of them? Inscribed is: H. Boker & Co. I think they are for button holes but i am not sure.
Thank you for your help!
November 13th, 2008 at 9:30 am
I have an old pearl handled H. Boker & Co. pearl handled knife with 3 blades. One blade is a finger nail file. Wondering what year it is and what it is worth? It is in excellent condition and is in a leather sheath.