Boker Knife Brand Review

There are many components to the anatomy of a good knife brand. But what is it that makes the best of the best stand out? Is it a long history of world-class German manufacturing? Is it being a pioneer in international commerce? Is it fitting the highest quality materials into some of the most innovative designs, with absolute precision and class? Is Boker a good knife brand? By almost every objective metric, Boker is one of the best brands out there and has been for a while.

After one hundred and fifty years, it's clear that Boker Knives have made their mark on not only the knife industry but history itself. From their humble beginnings in 17th century Germany to the massive global digital marketplace of today, The Boker (Tree Brand) name has come to represent everything that is success, in business and knifesmithing. Whether it's premium quality materials or precision engineering, Boker has been able to compete with elite knife brands in every way and that is what they are known for. But, what is it that really sets a Boker knife apart from all the others out there? It's hard to say for sure but by taking a closer look at the anatomy of this brand, you might find out why your next knife might just be a Boker!

The rich history of this company is full of intrigue. Stories of enterprise, division, resilience, rebirth, and triumph define the legacy of Boker. The Brand exists today as four main sub-brands which are well-defined product lines. Each has its own distinct heart and soul like the many different chapters of the Boker story. Boker Manufaktur Solingen, Boker Arbolito, Boker Plus, and Boker Magnum each carry on the kind of tradition of excellence, that every brand in the world today strives for.

BladeOps has an extremely rewarding relationship being one of the major online distributors that get to bring Boker Knives to the masses. We take pride in our ability to provide our customers with the very best Boker Knives. This is just one of the many elite brands you can purchase on our web store but they are definitely one of the few brands we can definitely say made what we do possible. After reading this article, we hope you check out our Boker selection.

The Legend of Boker

A few centuries ago in a German village called Remscheid, a simple family of toolmakers worked at mastery in their craft, until they were good enough to serve a greater purpose. The toolmakers took this skillset to the blade crafting industry in the early 1800s. Due to ongoing warfare at this time, the demand for high-quality weapons was on the rise throughout Europe. The Boker brothers, Robert, Heinrich, and Hermann saw this as a golden opportunity to expand the family business. This is seen by many as the first milestone in the story of what would eventually become the Boker brand we know today. The iconic chestnut tree in today's Boker logo traces all the way back to this original tool shop and the excellent craftsmanship of today's products do too.

Throughout the 1800s, the brothers went their separate ways to pursue excellence throughout the world. Hermann and Robert set off for the rapidly developing world of North America. Herman settled in New York starting H. Böker & Co. from there. Robert set up shop in Canada and later Mexico. Heinrich left Remscheid for the booming manufacturing economy of Solingen. Here he went into business as Heinr. Böker & Co. with a tool cutting expert named Hermann Heuser, whose connections and skills set the company up for massive success. The brothers were separated, the brand and its mission remained unified, which was symbolized by the continuation of the chestnut tree across all locations and products.

In the early 1900s most H. Boker & Co. products coming out of NY were sharp, everyday, household tools and utensils the growing demand for pocket knives began to slowly take shape in the marketplace. Another powerful opportunity which would not go unnoticed by the Bokers. The American and German factories would begin working together to cement the new international success of their products in America. Meanwhile, Robert's branch of the company began to grow in the Latin American markets as Tree Brand and Arbolito. Boker's non-knife products sold extremely well all the way up until WWII. The war itself resulted in the unfortunate destruction of the Solingen factory. Everything from the tools to the materials were completely gone, wiping out the German manufacturing efforts of Boker while America claimed copyright infringement against the German arm of the company. It didn't take many years for them to recover from this tragedy fully.

Once the war ended international commerce was eventually restored for the brand thanks to John Boker who obtained the copyrights in America. Boker also got bigger, acquiring Schrade Knife Co. in 1956. Their success and recognition continued to grow over the next couple decades and in the 1960s Boker was acquired by a scissor manufacturer and competitor called Wiss & Sons, who continued to keep the Boker name and process alive in Germany. The knife sales really began to blossom during this period, resulting in the acquisition of the company by an even larger multinational firm called Cooper Industries. Initially, Cooper discontinued the US manufacturing of pocket knives in 1983. Due to the ongoing success of the Solingen plant. Cooper brought back US manufacturing just 3 years later in 86. Their US factory was set up in Denver Colorado the same year.

Meanwhile, in Argentina, Boeker Arbolito S. A. was giving new life to the Arbilito brand which nearly collapsed due to the frequent instability of the domestic economy. Boeker Arbolito S. A. went on to provide massive economic opportunity and growth out of Buenos Aires. This branch of the company has gone on to gain the international success the Boker name is known for.

Some of the most popular knives that established Boker as a great knife brand include:

If you are into combat knives, The Applegate–Fairbairn fighting knife is for you. This WWII style combat knife designed by Col. Rex Applegate and William E. Fairbairn features a double-edged dagger blade. The knife also has a wider and more solid blade with adjustable lead weights that can shift the knife's balance point. Böker has a variety of this combat style dagger available.

The Kalashnikov is probably their most popular and critically acclaimed modern knives. The automatic knife at a killer price is a hot seller among collectors. It's quality and engineering bear the Boker signature proudly in all of its variations.

The Chad Los Banos Boker Plus Series is extremely tactical and very unique. CLB is a full-time corrections officer and kendo martial artist from Hawaii who's one of a kind collaborations with Böker have gained massive popularity around the world. The Sub Compact Folder he designed really distinguished Boker's style in the modern marketplace.

The Kwaiken designed by Lucas Burnley is a long slim blade that packs a lot of punch. He leveraged Boker's resources to turn the original Kwaiken into a small deadly folder. It's raw, simple style stands out and is available in multiple varieties.

Today Boker continues to produce some of the best quality knives on the market. Their collaborations continue to be a major success including blades designed by the likes of celebrated West Virginia knife maker Gary Groves, for their Magnum line. At the 2019 SHOT show in Las Vegas, Boker celebrated their 150th anniversary by showing off their highly anticipated OTF series automatic knives. They also expanded their selection of Kwaiken automatics (including a Kwaiken Mini) in cooperation with Pro Tech and longtime collaborator Lucas Burnley. They even put out a celebratory limited edition, green birchwood series of hunting and camping knives with gold inlays on the blade, commemorating their long history of excellence. It appears as if they are doing better than ever and are ready for the next 150 years already!

What Attracts Collectors To Boker?

Boker paved the way for international knife companies to exist and their worldwide reputation of creating quality knives is well respected by people of all cultures and languages. Boker has done so many things well, it's hard to say what they do best. Here are some of the main reasons your next blade may be a Boker.

Bokers 145-Year-Old Warranty

Boker's outstanding warranty policy is older than most knife companies on the market today! Any blade that has defective materials or craftsmanship is entitled to be exchanged for a replacement or repaired at only the cost of shipping and handling ($14.95).

***Automatic knives are prohibited from this policy due to federal law. Don't send yours in or it will be destroyed, with no refunds! Also, any signs of disassembly or tampering with the screws voids the warranty, so consult the service department before attempting to fix the problem yourself!***

Otherwise, the warranty is a full proof guarantee of the quality products Boker is famous for.

Due to their high-quality materials and expert craftsmanship, Boker Knives are known to hold up very well over time. With proper maintenance, you can expect to get several decades of productive use out of every knife they sell...Including their cutlery which is second to none! Be sure to sharpen regularly and keep the blade in controlled climates when you are not carrying. It will serve you well in the field or in the kitchen.

German Manufacturing

The many branches of Boker involve factories all over the world producing parts for their knives. It's important to note that the knives with blades that are marked "Germany" are assembled in Germany with parts coming from other countries in the far east. The knives marked "Solingen" on the tang are made from top to bottom in Germany. If you wish to experience the true quality from the roots of the Boker tree, these are the knives for you!

The steel used in these entirely german blades is generally 440A and up. Though you might pay a little more, these premium quality knives are the best Brokers to have in your collection. Boker Arbolito is also known for its quality while the Magnum line is a more cost-effective Boker that offer outstanding design concepts at only a little bit lower quality in materials and manufacturing.

In our honest opinion, if you're going to purchase a Boker, save a few extra bucks and then invest in the Arbilito's or Solingen.

Traditional and Future-oriented Options

With a company who has a history of manufacturing all kinds of tools, you are sure to find the right one for the job you need it for. The timeless quality of Boker hunting and camping knives harkens back to the days when they supplied armies with swords. Their wide array of folders gives you options for utility, tactical abilities, and one of a kind designs like the Kwaiken Folders. Not to mention their automatic knives are some of the best money can buy. The tree means quality and there is a little something for everybody. Don't forget the cutlery!

If you want a knife built from the best materials with aggressive design components and at a reasonable price look no further. Is Boker a good knife brand? We'll let you be the judge of that.

Innovation

When it comes to innovation Boker didn't just take blades to the next level, they were the pioneers of the international knife industries. If anyone knows how to pull together resources for ambitious projects it's Boker and the proof is in their catalogs. Whether it's collaborating with up and coming talent like Chad Los Banos or bringing their products to markets like Argentina, Boker is pushing the world of knifesmithing forward to this very day. If the 2019 SHOT show was any indication, they don't seem to be slowing down any time soon!.

Boker vs. Other Brands

At Bladeops we are here to set you up with the absolute best knife for your needs. When weighing the pros and cons of every potential purchase, how do you know if a Boker knife the right fit for you? There are many reasons that Boker is a good knife brand. Allow us to go over the many possible benefits a Boker knife may have for you.

Beginner to Connoisseur

You may be buying your first knife, or looking for something to compete with the very best on the market to take your collection to the next level. Whether you are looking for something with tactical performance or just in need of something stylish for a great price Boker has a knife you will love. We are really picky about the knife brands we carry and why we love Boker is that they have cheap options in the Magnum line as well as Elite blades made from excellent materials by expert German manufacturing too. A Boker blade is always a great purchase but on Bladeops you will find some exclusive variations with comprehensive information that make you more confident that you are making a great investment here.

Accessibility

What collectors love about Boker is the ability to have the Premium style at an affordable price. People tell us all the time that they love being able to buy knives with the craftsmanship and design skills of collaborators like CLB and Lucas Burnley at an entry-level price. Not many other companies are able to offer this same luxury to their buyers and it's a great way to get buyers interested in higher-end models with high-quality materials later down the line. Everyone who learns the story of Boker's impressive history loves being able to be a part of it. In some ways, owning a tree branded knife is sort of a right of passage among long-term knife collectors and those who have a large amount of respect for the industry as a whole.

Not to mention they are one of the most widely available knife brands all over the world. In some countries, you literally can't buy a better knife. That really tells you something about Boker.

Notoriety

Today's collectors recognize Boker Knives as a pioneer as well as an innovator. Owning a Boker is right up there with owning a Benchmade, a Spyderco, or a Microtech Knife but the tree brand has a spirit and history that makes it totally unique. Quite literally, these other brands might not have existed if it wasn't for Boker and for that we are very grateful. Somethings never change, German engineering is one of them. We see Boker doing great things in the future, just like they did in the past.

Get your next blade in the Bladeops store for a purchase you will never forget at a price you will love. We will always carry the best brands on the market at prices that make them accessible to everyone. We work tirelessly to make sure you get superb deals and insider information to make an informed decision about your next purchase. We have a ridiculous amount of Boker knife options as well as anything you could possibly need. We also offer FREE shipping on all orders!

If you want to learn more about what makes the knives you love so great, follow our blog to become an expert in no time. We have reviews and comparisons about materials, brands, and which knives give you the most value for your pocket real estate.

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