CARL MERTENS – Cutlery Factory and Knife Manufacture from Solingen

At the end of 1918, Solingen became part of the British occupation zone.
As early as 1887, the Empire had introduced the origin marking because of numerous counterfeits.
The imprint “Made in Germany” was therefore a result of product piracy.

From June 1919 onward, no edged weapons could be produced in Solingen.
This meant weapons whose effect was achieved by pure muscle power.
So in 1919, CARL MERTENS founded a small supplier workshop where blades for pocket knives were ground and handles for table and kitchen knives were made.
From 1932, the production of table cutlery began.

During the war the company, the country, and its people went down.
Recovery came only after 1945, slowly but steadily.
Perhaps the saying proves true: one learns from hardship.

Today CARL MERTENS is the only German authentic manufacture, with a sworn expert for cutlery goods.
You don’t have to travel to New York’s renowned Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) to see the oyster glove called “Palio” by CARL MERTENS — it can also be found at ScharferLaden, where thousands of articles create the atmosphere of a fine museum, only without tickets.

Further brilliant ideas from CARL MERTENS knives, chef’s knives, and kitchen knives carry the names CARL, COUNTRY, and SURUDOKU.

Susann Frécôt
kontakt@scharferladen.de