Where Bollenhut (Black Forest ball hat) and cuckoo clock meet cherry cake and hearty ham, the Black Forest is not far away. With its varied landscapes and many days of sunshine, the low mountain range in Baden-Württemberg is one of the most popular destinations in Germany and also forms one of the strongest economic and cultural centers in the "Ländle" (Swabian word for Baden-Württemberg). The region thus offers versatility in nature, economy and culture true to the Swabian motto: "We can do everything except speaking high german!"

The core of every knife is the blade steel. It is responsible for how sharp you get a knife, how long the knife keeps its sharpness, how stable the blade is, how well it resists corrosion and which sharpening products you need for resharpening. Currently, well over 100 different types of steel (alloys) are used to make knife blades. Some differ only in nuances, while others are worlds apart in composition and manufacturing processes.

Todd Rexford's fascination with knives began in his childhood, when he visited gun shows and fairs with his father. His passion for sharp blades eventually led to a desire to build his own knives. Like most knifemakers, he started with the simplest tools and machines and perfected his own style over the years. The American from Colorado designs both pocket knives and trip knives.

Ingo Eispert is washed with all woods at Böker. The married family man has been working at Böker since 2014 and is head of the scales department. The production of the sometimes difficult handle shells requires a lot of material knowledge and a high degree of craftsmanship. In addition, the master carpenter gives us some more interesting insights into his everyday work.

"Every boy needs a knife and a string as a toy!" With these words, Andreas Kaufmann revels in childhood memories and moves in his mind's eye over hill and dale amid lush green meadows and magnificent forests at the foot of the Bavarian Alps. Always with him: A g'scheites Feitl (bavarian for: a good folding knife). This Bavarian wisdom has already guided generations of children in the responsible use of knives, so that they can discover and explore the magnificent Alpine nature even better.

"Talk is silver, silence is golden." is what some people might think in connection with the costly construction of Hamburg's Elbe Philharmonic Hall. Master galvanizer and entrepreneur Maxi Hänsch from Hamburg's Altona district proves that things can be done differently. By restoring and selling high-quality silverware, the "Altonaer Silberwerkstatt" (Altona Silver Workshop) has developed into a veritable gold mine.

Even Hans Albers sang about the pleasurable atmosphere of Hamburg in his well-known folk song and recommends a visit "Auf der Reeperbahn nachts um halb eins“ (On the Reeperbahn at half past midnight). But also during the day the Hanseatic city on the Elbe offers many impressive facets such as the Hamburg harbor or the world-famous Speicherstadt ... fish rolls and bad weather included.

Over the years, knife manufacturers have constantly come up with new mechanisms to make pocket knives easier to use. In particular, the challenge of opening the blade with one hand aroused the inventive spirit of many engineers and tinkerers. In addition to simple solutions such as the thumb opening, very sophisticated systems were developed, especially in the area of spring mechanisms.

Whether in a Fiaker, on the Prater or in three-four time - there are many possibilities to discover and explore the beautiful Vienna. Not only numerous sights give the Austrian metropolis on the Danube its proverbial charm, but also its friendly and cordial people. Always recommended: a slice of Sachertorte and a touch of Viennese Schmäh are appreciated by palate and spirit alike.

The French knifemaker Raphael Durand studied at the University of Lyon and now runs a smithy in Thiers. He transposes traditional designs into modern concepts, such as the classic Navajas from the Mediterranean region. The result is extraordinary classic knives with modern materials and mechanisms.

For more than 30 years Cemal Altunkaynak has been making high quality knives by hand in our manufactory and is now responsible for large parts of the production. The experienced knifemaker gives unique insights behind the scenes of Boker, explains his complex work and talks about his career and life.

In cooperation with the Forest Association Bergisches Land, which is committed to the sustainable management of the local forests here in Solingen, we plant a Boker tree with every order we receive until the end of 2020. After all, planting trees is one of the most important steps in limiting the rise in temperature on our planet and protecting the habitat of all animals and humans.