Two brands combine to make up the Boker Kalashnikov team. Each came from different countries originally and produced different products. Kalashnikov original product was an assault rifle developed by Mikhail Kalashnikov . Boker started out as a maker of cutting tools. Both company stories are part of the history of Germany and the former Soviet Union.
The Boker family has been making high quality knives since 1869. The founder of the company, Heinrich, established the company in Solingen, Germany that year. At that time, Germany was still very much a forested nation. There was great demand for cutting tools. Pocket knives, shaving blades, and shears were easily sold. Over the decades family members moved to different parts of the world. Some established cutlery factories in Mexico, Argentina, Chile, and the United States. Even today, the Boker name is connected to the concept of premium knives.
Russian Mikhail Kalashnikov was recovering in the hospital from battle wounds suffered while fighting the Germans in 1941. A fellow patient described to him how they had to share rifles among themselves because there were not enough rifles for each individual. The weapons were also of poor quality. Mikhail went to work designing a weapon that eventually was entered in official testing. His original design was called the AK46. When his entry was selected by the military for production its name was changed to Automatic Kalashnikov model 1947. This name was shortened to AK47.
Over the ensuing years the new weapon was used by Russian satellite states. Millions and millions were made and used by Russian forces or friendly governments. It is still in wide use as a reliable and inexpensive weapon. It is one of the most widely sold and smuggled weapon that has avoided international oversight. Mikhail never was paid royalties or other compensation for his invention since he was simply acting in the interests of the Soviet state and not for capitalistic gain.
In 2003, the German company Marken Marketing partnered with the Russian inventor to market a line of less lethal goods that would bear his name. Umbrellas, aftershave, watches, knives, and other unique products were included in this line. Mikhail has a 33% share of this effort.
Mikhail's knives are manufactured by Boker Knives, Solingen, Germany, and authorized dealers in China and Taiwan. The company closely monitors the quality control of these outsourced knives, though. This ensures their reputation remains intact.
Several models are available of this knife. They vary by weight, color, blade options, and length. There is a standard version that is 7.6 inches overall. Its blade is 3.35". It weighs about 3.6 ounces. Authentic knives from the company are manually operated only. The authorized US distributor does not manufacture automatic opening knives. If a customer buys a genuine knife from the US-based manufactures and customizes it to become an automatic opening knife it voids the warranty. The company's warranty has been in existence 135 years.
There are copies and fakes on the market. Visually, fakes may be difficult to spot. Boker Kalashnikov recommends a potential customer actually holds and examines the knife prior to purchasing it. That way, shoddy workmanship and poor quality materials will be more easily identified. It is recommended that reputable knife dealers be sought out before purchasing.
The Boker family has been making high quality knives since 1869. The founder of the company, Heinrich, established the company in Solingen, Germany that year. At that time, Germany was still very much a forested nation. There was great demand for cutting tools. Pocket knives, shaving blades, and shears were easily sold. Over the decades family members moved to different parts of the world. Some established cutlery factories in Mexico, Argentina, Chile, and the United States. Even today, the Boker name is connected to the concept of premium knives.
Russian Mikhail Kalashnikov was recovering in the hospital from battle wounds suffered while fighting the Germans in 1941. A fellow patient described to him how they had to share rifles among themselves because there were not enough rifles for each individual. The weapons were also of poor quality. Mikhail went to work designing a weapon that eventually was entered in official testing. His original design was called the AK46. When his entry was selected by the military for production its name was changed to Automatic Kalashnikov model 1947. This name was shortened to AK47.
Over the ensuing years the new weapon was used by Russian satellite states. Millions and millions were made and used by Russian forces or friendly governments. It is still in wide use as a reliable and inexpensive weapon. It is one of the most widely sold and smuggled weapon that has avoided international oversight. Mikhail never was paid royalties or other compensation for his invention since he was simply acting in the interests of the Soviet state and not for capitalistic gain.
In 2003, the German company Marken Marketing partnered with the Russian inventor to market a line of less lethal goods that would bear his name. Umbrellas, aftershave, watches, knives, and other unique products were included in this line. Mikhail has a 33% share of this effort.
Mikhail's knives are manufactured by Boker Knives, Solingen, Germany, and authorized dealers in China and Taiwan. The company closely monitors the quality control of these outsourced knives, though. This ensures their reputation remains intact.
Several models are available of this knife. They vary by weight, color, blade options, and length. There is a standard version that is 7.6 inches overall. Its blade is 3.35". It weighs about 3.6 ounces. Authentic knives from the company are manually operated only. The authorized US distributor does not manufacture automatic opening knives. If a customer buys a genuine knife from the US-based manufactures and customizes it to become an automatic opening knife it voids the warranty. The company's warranty has been in existence 135 years.
There are copies and fakes on the market. Visually, fakes may be difficult to spot. Boker Kalashnikov recommends a potential customer actually holds and examines the knife prior to purchasing it. That way, shoddy workmanship and poor quality materials will be more easily identified. It is recommended that reputable knife dealers be sought out before purchasing.
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