✅ SOLVED Need an ID on knife

[pepperj]

Just posting this knife up for a friend. He dragged it out of a drawer in the shop and asked me if I had ever seen one before?
In one position it measures out to be 8"
Flip the secure ring towards the blade, press it down, and the blade can be folded out to be 12"
The handle/grip seems to be bakelite.
The blade is marked Imperial, on one side and on the other Sovereign Germany

 

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[Charlie P. (NY)]

Apparently it was a thing at one time in Germany. "Gravity" knife, but usually the blade goes fully into the handle. Here's another:

https://www.reemandansie.com/auctio...0&au=77&ef=&et=&ic=False&sd=0&pp=24&pn=24&g=1

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

I correct myself - it's not a gravity knife. Though perhaps at one time a switchblade with that release(?)

Google "Saufaenger Knife" (Drunkard's Knife)

Also - are you sure it says Soverign and not Solingen?

 

[pepperj]

I correct myself - it's not a gravity knife. Though perhaps at one time a switchblade with that release(?)

Google "Saufaenger Knife" (Drunkard's Knife)

Also - are you sure it says Soverign and not Solingen?

It was cruddy up a tad, so the maker could very well be Solingen
Thanks Charlie

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

That's a city in Germany - not the manufacturer.

 

[Red-Coat]

Yes, this is a folding hunting knife from Germany variously known as a “verl?ngerungsmesser" (elongating knife) and also as a “sau faenger”. “Sau” means “pig/sow” and “faenger” means “catcher”. This has become confused by non-German speakers with “saufaenger”, which means “drunkard”. In English, they’re most usually known as “pig stickers”.

With the blade folded in, the extended portion would be used for skinning. Fully extended, it was used for despatching or butchery. The handle would normally be horn or antler and these knives have around 100 years of traditional use by boar-hunters in Germany. Here’s an illustration from the 1931 catalogue of Wilhelm Weltersbach (of Solingen):

 

[smallfoot]

Pig sticker or boar knife is a common term around here too. It appears to be German to me also, Solingen would be the where, but I can't make out the top stamp tho, can anybody. Those knives are fairly valuable depending on the maker. The OP photo is not a cheap after market of the style. If you have the sheath it greatly increases value.

 

[pepperj]

Yes, this is a folding hunting knife from Germany variously known as a “verl?ngerungsmesser" (elongating knife) and also as a “sau faenger”. “Sau” means “pig/sow” and “faenger” means “catcher”. This has become confused by non-German speakers with “saufaenger”, which means “drunkard”. In English, they’re most usually known as “pig stickers”.

With the blade folded in, the extended portion would be used for skinning. Fully extended, it was used for despatching or butchery. The handle would normally be horn or antler and these knives have around 100 years of traditional use by boar-hunters in Germany. Here’s an illustration from the 1931 catalogue of Wilhelm Weltersbach (of Solingen):

View attachment 1941055

Thanks Red-Coat for the information and the advertisement on the knife.
I will pass it along.