Springer Shellpuller SOLINGEN GUSSTAHL

[gravknife]

This is the knife that is responsible for my current switchblade fascination.
I have been looking for a minty example but to no avail so when this cheap worn one was offerred i decided to have a punt and got it for 35 euros 8
It was the blade stamp that drew me in as its one i hadnt seen whilst looking these knives up on searches:GUSSTAHL SOLINGEN ,basically caststeel Solingen.I also love the dark red pickbone on these german knives ,my only other a wingen leverlock example
The knife blade has been heavily used and sharpened and although i love carbon,it rusts and pits if left unattended and most of these were bought for hunting not putting in cases so they got heavily used.This sharpening has lost the blade shape and its legt me with a difficult choice......have a new blade made or leave as is and keep it as an example of a knife i love and keep on searching.
Bill kindly told me this was a Bonsa shellpuller and that i may be able to get a blade later on that may fit the knife ,so if anyone has a blade or busted bonsa 11.5 cm lever lying around id be grateful if they would sell it.
Its a pleasurable torment to have a nearly dream knife ,i expect many of you have faced this with 60 year old knives ,im not a purist but i am of the belief the blade is the heart of any knife ,and the most important part cosmetically.
The knife fires strong and locks up tight ,but has bladepeak ,a testament to the build quality of these badboys .
Im grateful for any opinions on what should be done here ,leave as is and wait for a better example or replace have a full blade made for this.
Here are a few pictures ,its exactly as it arrived ,warts and all and i love it even with the blade steel loss ,its just niggling me that with a full carbon blade replacement ,it would look like the magnificent specimens shared here by the shellpuller gods who are responsible for the great videos and pictures that inspired me to buy switches in the first place.
What would you lot do?
Can anyone confirm the length of one of these with full blade ,11.5cm handle how long is the blade is it much longer than 9cm?


Thanks for lookinģ.
Ian

[AMDAZ]

Very nice can see the knife is a strong well made.I can just look at the blade. Not much less then when it was new. Like you said a knife in use 50 -60 years. FIND a good one. Hard to come across.

[eddymunster]

Get the peaking fixed and give it a good cleaning. Very nice!

[gravknife]

Thanks AMDAZ ,eddymunster
Im going to check the springs seated properly as its powerful and try and seat the sear better with a few light taps .
Ill probably keep the knife as it is and go on hunting for the elusive full bladed example ,but ill bet most are in collections over the world,as this knife wont just appeal to switch collectors ....ill bet there are many in German collections and garden sheds and many faces here own more than one or two.
Here is a couple more shots with my Othello 11.5 inch Wingen.
All the best

Ian

[Belmont800]

Very nice find!!

[Panzerfaust]

Great find and I would keep it as is.

[lance]

Beautiful knife ian!! That's a new stamp to me!! & ya got it for 38 euros?!?!!? That's dope!! Nice score!!! B.t.w. I agree w/Panzerfaust.he's an expert on autos,especially germans.

[jim d,]

As a collector of German leverlocks I have a great appreciation of that knife. From the photo all I can tell is that other than the blade peek and it being down a bit, the knife seems to be in decent overall shape. One consideration would be to have the eminent Bill DeShivs take care of the peek. What you have is a very desirable tang stamp in a model that also happens to be a shellpuller, which make it even more desirable. Those old German leverlocks were built to be used, and unfortunately from a collector's perspective, most were.

Jim

[NicVik6]

Nice find! The german lever locks, and the shell pullers in particular are largely responsible for my switchblade addiction too!

[lance]

Get the peaking fixed and give it a good cleaning. Very nice!

Yep thas what id do too.