WKC trademark evolution

[Anderson]

Weyersberg Kirschbaum & Cie was the amalgamation of two very old Solingen family companies in 1883. Both companies had had their own trademark. For Weyersburg it was King's head and for Kirschbaum it was a Knight's head. On amalgamation the two trademarks were merged and appeared on the ricasso of blades from 1883 until 1918 and the end of the monarchy in Germany.



With the end of the monarchy it's not surprising the company decided to banish their "King" logo and continue on with solely the Knight. The monarchy was out of favour and the company was still in the business of selling swords to State organisations.
The Knight trademark probably emerged quite soon after WW1 and evolved into a number of variations. There appears to have been several changes after 1930 when the company renamed itself "WKC Stahl und Eisenwarenfabrik". As the Knight's head evolved, the appearance of "WKC" seemed to follow on the ricasso mark. The refinements include detail lines on the helmet visor, helmet comb and around the neck.

1920's early version;



From 1930 the "WKC" lettering starts to appear.



So the Police bayonet with the newer detailed Knight is early 1930's.

The last three with detailed helmet combs and "WKC" cover the Third Reich era.

[gerrit]

Great post Anderson!

I have one to add, a Knights logo used before 1906, this Imperial marine dagger belonged to Generalmajor Eckart Hans von Tschammer und Osten.
He switched as a Fahnrich in 1906 to the "Königlich Sächsische Armee".
I have seen several different styles along the way, a lot of details in the knight during the WW1 en transitional period.

Regards
Ger

[Anderson]

Interesting one Ger. And of course before 1883 the Kirschbaum company marked their blades with the Knight's head as shown in your example. Just exactly when the double head logo began is a little vague. I have said from 1883, which would be logical, but I haven't found any hard documentary evidence. Dated W.K & C blades I've seen show by 1900 the "double head" it was in use, and certainly earlier. So how do we explain a 1906 dagger with only the Knight? Is it possible the Generalmajor's dagger was actually made after 1918? After WW1 the Solingen makers did good trade in war service remembrance blades, often with Imperial era etchings.

[gerrit]

I dont think this one is issued after 1918, and im pretty sure its an early 1900 issue, as he was a naval cadet until 1906, and a cadet dagger would be worn in his cadet schooling time.
The high quality of this dagger is also consistent with these early Imperial marine daggers made before the 1918 period.
Perhaps an old stock blade?

Ger

[Stevade]

Here is the Salesman Advertising Board for WKC

[gerrit]

WKC has some great stuff related to their Blanke Waffen like this calender…...

Regards
Ger

[gerrit]

What would be the date of this logo?

Ger

[Anderson]

The full company name was used until 1930 when the company rebranded itself as "WKC". So typically on Polizei seitengewehr made in the 1920's the full company name as shown above is seen on one side of the ricasso while on the other side, the knight's head would be stamped. But the full company name dates back earlier than the 1920's and so on swords made in the 1890's and up to WW1 you can find it along with the "king's head/knight's head" trade mark. In some cases it may appear without the double head trademark.
For that hunting knife Ger, I would guess pre-WW1 manufacture? But you are the expert on these.

[Anderson]

To add to Ger's example of a W.K & C trademark as show on a P1890 Imperial Navy cadet's dagger, here is another example of the Knight's head alone, but probably made in the 1890's as it's a long blade example. Slightly different in style to Ger's example. It seems possible the company was using a different logo at the time for swords and daggers. The twin head is common on army sword's, while the single knight's head is usually seen on Imperial Navy daggers.





The second photo showing the twin head trademarks comes from a pre-WW1 made Bavarian sabre.

[Anderson]

Staying on Imperial era Navy daggers, here's one from Oleg's collection (see seperate thread) which he dates to the 1912/13 period. It's an interesting development in the W.K.& C. logo. The Knight's helmet is much more detailed and refined than we see in logos used earlier in the 1900's ( such as Ger's example) and the primitive style seen on Imperial Navy Daggers from the 1890's (see post #9).



Note the detailed comb on the helmet. The company went away from this detailed logo in the 1920's then returned it it in the 1930's.