The six-piece Böker Sport Knife has been handcrafted in our Solingen manufactory since 1869. This concept, copied many times throughout history, combines numerous useful tools into a high-quality pocket knife. It has been in production longer than any other Böker multi-tool. And as long as Böker manufactures knives in Solingen, we will continue to produce this classic. The incredibly diverse and elaborate steps involved in creating the Sport Knife are exemplary of the many products that are still handcrafted today with meticulous attention to detail, an unwavering commitment to artisanal perfection, and the passion of our employees. The high level of vertical integration in our manufactory remains unparalleled.
Stamping
The two blades, made of classic Solingen 4034 blade steel, the can and bottle opener, and the slotted screwdriver, as well as the four brass bolsters (alder), a brass spacer, and two stainless steel back springs, are traditionally stamped using our own stamping tools and machines. The four nickel silver bolsters, along with the small emblems and the nail nick on the two blades, are elaborately stamped, and then stamped from the blank. Afterward, they are additionally sawn in half by hand and deburred to create two identical pairs.
Grinding shop
In the grinding shop, the bevel, the long bevel from the spine to the cutting edge, is applied. For this, the already hardened blade blanks are individually placed by hand onto the blade-specific fixture. Particular care must be taken to cool the workpieces, as the blades could warp or even lose some of their hardness due to heat input.
Hand-blown hair
The two back springs are processed further in parallel in the hand-polishing workshop. Sitting at the grinding wheel, each part is individually cleaned, deburred, and given a uniform finish. Only in this way can the flawless function of the back springs be guaranteed.
Shell department
The processing of the classic staghorn handle scales for a sports knife requires considerable skill due to the wide variety of the raw material. First, the pieces cut into blanks are carefully inspected and sorted. Because of the horn's grain and the varying thicknesses of the blanks, approximately 50 percent of them must first be softened by boiling so they can be bent into shape. Subsequent flat grinding of the underside allows most of the blanks to be reused. In the next step, the two horn halves are paired. A trained eye selects two horn halves with similar color, texture, and thickness. Only then are they cut to the final length, drilled and countersunk for the pins and emblem, and the horn edges polished – all by hand.
Pre-assembly
In the pre-assembly stage, the two staghorn scales are riveted to their respective tangs. The nickel silver bolsters are also spot-welded to the liner. To ensure the guide pins will hold all components together later, the corresponding holes are drilled. The edge is then ground, and the notch for the corkscrew is milled with millimeter precision. Although all components are now available for assembly, a time-consuming intermediate step is incorporated into the manufacturing process. The lanyard loop attached to the top prevents the final finishing and polishing of the upper nickel silver bolsters. Therefore, the knife is provisionally assembled without the blades and loop. Only after the contour of the upper nickel silver bolster has been carefully ground and polished are the temporary pins removed, and the knife disassembled into its individual parts. Only then can the actual assembly, the re-gripping, begin.
Riding / Assembly
In the knife-making workshop, the two handle scales, the blades, and all other components are assembled using four nickel silver guide pins and then pressed together. Even though it is now complete except for the tree-shaped guard, the sporting knife is still far from its final appearance.
Making a deal
In the finishing department, the assembled components, with their protruding guide pins, sharp edges, and overlapping staghorn scales, are transformed into a highly polished, tactile delight that would look good in any pocket. Before reaching this point, each sporting knife is refined to perfection on four grinding belts of varying grits and speeds, a polishing stone, and linen cloths.
Laser engraving
Once the knife largely matches the final product in appearance, the world-renowned tree symbol is carefully laser-engraved onto the front of the main blade. Since our founding, no knife has left our workshop without this mark of quality.
Deduction
The knife now matches the final product in shape and contour – however, the two blades and the reamer/scraper are not yet sharpened. The blades are unfolded and honed by hand on the vise at a 30-degree angle.
Final inspection
In final inspection, the Böker emblem is inserted into the prepared blind hole. Each individual knife is carefully cleaned on traditional wooden sorting boards and checked for flawless functionality. Even the smallest defects are rectified, ensuring that only immaculate products find their way into the German-made packaging. The sporting knife's long journey through our factory draws to a close as it makes its way to the main warehouse. From there, with the purchase of the knife, a new journey begins as a reliable companion to its proud owner.