POST-WAR EICKHORN HISTORY

Carl Eickhorn Waffenfabrik AG (1921-1975)

1959: Rheinmetall AG of Dusseldorf  began G3 production in 1959. The bayonets were manufactured by Carl Eickhorn Waffenfabrik AG of Solingen.

19??: G3 bayonet was H & K's design, dating from 1959 when H & K began producing G3 rifles. Said to be designed and manufactured by Carl Eickhorn Waffenfabrik AG.

By the 1970s Eickhorn was once again using their pre-war trademarks. Eickhorn then started a joint venture with NWM, the "Dutch Arms & Munitions Factory Ltd" company producing bayonets. This project was unsuccessful and Carl Eickhorn declared bankruptcy in May of 1975.

GMS/ Gesellschaft für Metallverarbeitung mbH & Co

(1976-1981)

1976:  Eickhorn's assets were purchased by the arms distributor "Bauer" which formed a subsidiary called "Gesellschaft für Metallverarbeitung mbH & Co." (GMS).

It continued manufacturing swords and sabers using the "Original Eickhorn" trademark, in Eickhorn's previous Brühler Straße factory. GMS continued to mark bayonets with the Eickhorn Squirrel trade-mark, but with a horizontal line above the stylised animal.

AES/A. Eickhorn GmbH & Co. (1982/83-2004)

1982-83: By 1981, GMS had also become insolvent and all the effects of the company were auctioned. The majority of the goods, stock, patterns and trademark rights were bought by the "E. & F. Hörster" firm circa 1982/83. The squirrel trademark did make its way onto some Hörster swords. Hörster eventually sold partial rights of the trademark back to the original Eickhorn family and the last manager of the firm. Rolf-Jürgen Eickhorn formed the "A. Eickhorn GmbH & Co. KG" company and began manufacturing bayonets and combat knives. Eickhorn bought the full rights to the squirrel when Hörster closed in November 1996

Export markings "Solingen Germany" suggest production following reunification in 1989, but before AES' bankruptcy in 2004.

The Original Eickhorn

Solingen Ltd (2004-present)

By 2004, cost cutting competition from the far east resulted in A. Eickhorn becoming insolvent. A British investor Carl Eickhorn "LBA Systems Ltd" then formed "The Original Eickhorn Solingen Ltd" company. The company focused on selling military knives and rescue tools to governments, and later added private sales to include Damascus daggers, watches and accessories.

The company continues to operate while advertising a 150-year long history

Waffentechnik Borkott & Eickhorn GmbH (2005-present)

The company was founded in 2005 by Frank Borkott and Jörg Eickhorn. Frank Borkott is the 3rd generation to run the company Borkott GmbH, a renowned company in the field of toolmaking, stamping and plastic injection molding. Jörg Eickhorn comes from a Solingen family that has been manufacturing blank weapons since 1865.

DD.MM.1865-DD.MM.1886 Carl Eickhorn

DD.MM.1886-DD.MM.1921 Carl Eickhorn & Cie

DD.MM.1921-DD.MM.1976 Carl Eickhorn Waffenfabrik AG

DD.MM.1976-DD.MM.2011 Annette Eickhorn Solingen GmbH

DD.MM.2011-DD.MM.RRRR Eickhorn Solingen Ltd.