Timeline

geschichte6

1674–1899: The Roots of a Global Knife Brand

1674 – The Boker family registers the tree symbol as a trademark for hand tools in Germany.
1829 – Foundation of H. R. Boker in Remscheid by Hermann and Robert Boker.
1837 – Hermann Boker brings the brand to the USA. Foundation of Boker USA in New York City.
1861–1866 – Boker Germany produces muskets and 18,000 sabers for the Union Army in the American Civil War.
1865 – Foundation of Boker Mexico by Robert Boker.
1869 – Foundation of Heinr. Boker Baumwerk in Solingen – the “City of Blades” – by Heinrich Boker.
1870 – Registration of the trademark rights for the legendary tree logo in the knife category – still a symbol of quality today.
1890s – Boker becomes one of the leading knife suppliers in the USA.
1891 – Passage of the U.S. Tariff Act restricting imports of foreign goods (history repeats itself!).
1892 – Boker USA merges with Valley Forge in Newark, New Jersey, to manufacture Boker knives in the USA.

1900–1949: Innovation, War and Renewal

1913 – “Tree Brand” and “Arbolito” are registered as trademarks in the USA.
1914–1918 – During World War I, all knives produced in Solingen are made exclusively for military use.
1925 – The iconic, more than 100-year-old Boker chestnut tree is struck by lightning – its wood lives on in a hand-carved tree emblem.
1944 – British bombers destroy the Boker Baumwerk in Solingen.
1945 – End of World War II. The Boker trademarks in the USA are confiscated by the U.S. government.
1946 – The Baumwerk in Solingen is rebuilt and production restarts.
1947 – Major John Boker acquires the U.S. trademark rights of Boker USA.
1950 – Boker USA resumes imports from Solingen.
1956 – Boker acquires the Schrade Knife Company to manufacture automatic knives.
1958 – The Switchblade Act comes into effect and leads to the closure of the Schrade facility producing automatic knives.
1960s – Partnerships with strong distribution partners in the USA increase brand awareness and enable investments in Solingen.

1980–2010: Expansion, Innovation and Iconic Collector’s Knives

1983 – Foundation of Boker Arbolito in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to expand into South American markets.
1986 – Boker regains the U.S. trademark rights. Re-establishment of Boker USA in Denver, Colorado – the beginning of a new growth phase.
1995 – Boker Speedlock: introduction of the iconic knife series that revolutionized the automatic knife segment.
1999 – Construction of Boker’s new modern headquarters in Solingen, uniting tradition and innovation.
2002 – Boker Kalashnikov: the legendary knife series is developed in personal collaboration with General Mikhail Kalashnikov.
2005 – Boker Leopard Damascus: blades hand-forged from original Leopard tank barrels gain significant media attention (including TV features such as Galileo).
2006 – Resumption of production of premium straight razors crafted according to historic standards in Solingen.
2010 – Boker Tirpitz Damascus: Boker commissions Norwegian divers to recover original steel from the battleship Tirpitz to forge Damascus blades.

2019–Today: Heritage, Craftsmanship and the Future

2019 – Boker Solingen celebrates its 150th anniversary.
2021 – Boker USA Historical Damascus: blades forged from original Sherman tank steel from World War II open new sales opportunities.
2025 – Resumption of knife production in the USA by Boker USA in Denver, Colorado – the first Boker knives “Made in USA” since 1945.