Böker ME 109 Damast, from fighter aircraft to limited edition knife

German knife manufacturer Böker has for a number of years been supplementing its series production with special models featuring Damascus blades forged from historic wrecks. One of the models that created the most interest was the "Tirpitz" a folding knife with a blade forged from the steel recovered from the wreck of the warship of the same name, twin of the legendary "Bismarck" sunk in 1944 by the Allies after a grueling hunt.

Böker ME 109 Damast, the blade is made of special Damascus

Böker's new project pays tribute to the Messerschmitt Bf 109E, which was the backbone of the Luftwaffe's fighter force during World War II, and consists of various reused aircraft parts recovered through a collaborative agreement with a private preservation group based in the United Kingdom. These historic parts come from a crashed Luftwaffe Bf 109 "E" series during World War II, shot down by a Royal Air Force Supermarine Spitfire in 1940, during the Battle of Britain, in an air combat near the British village of Ashford, Kent, about 60 miles southeast of London. As many as 180 Messerschmitts were shot down during this phase of the war.

Parts from the cockpit armor plating, the crankshaft and its bearing cover were used to make the Damascus blade of the Böker ME 109 Damast, which measures 87 mm. The blade was forged by Chad Nichols, a famous U.S. forger, using a variant of the Wave-Pool pattern, which is not particularly contrasty but effective in suggesting a propeller's rotary motion. The opening at the back of the blade base has the unmistakable shape of a pilot's cockpit and is visible when the knife is closed and open. The false edge near the blade tip recalls the line of the recesses for the machine guns mounted on the engine cowling, also known as Motorkanone. The flipper for the blade opening takes up the outline of the Messerschmitt Bf 109E landing gear. The carbon fiber scales are made by the Lithuanian company Fat Carbon, which employed a multi-layer "Toxic Storm" coloring with a green base and yellow highlights, typical of Luftwaffe fighters of this era. The knife's frame is made of titanium, and the blade is locked open using a proven frame lock system. A titanium clip allows the knife to be carried in the "tip up" position. The Damast is forged in the USA while the knife is assembled in Taiwan. The Böker ME 109 Damast will be sold from January 2023 at a price of 399 euros complete with a case and certificate of authenticity. For now, the exact number of pieces that will be made has not yet been determined, but they will certainly not be many. Therefore, enthusiasts had better get moving well in advance. 

Böker ME 109 Damast specs and price

To learn more please visit the Böker's website.