Okapi (knife)

The Okapi is a pocket knife, or even Slipjoint, the 1902 produced by the company Ernst Gerling for the German colonies and protected areas, was primarily intended for ie export to Africa and other Oriental countries. The company had its headquarters in Solingen. The name stems from the okapi, giraffe -like animal Okapi, which had just been discovered ( at the turn of the century ) in the Belgian Congo. They spoke of the " short-necked giraffe Okapi ".

1933 could further production branches are opened by patent acquisition. For this purpose, already recorded Ernst Gerling jun. responsible, the peppy the technical development and sales paragraphs headed. In addition to knives and scissors articles were added from pressed beech wood veneers such as trays, bowls, bread bowls and particularly knife handles for its own production as well as other steel products factories.

Since 1987, the Okapi knives are made in South Africa and were for a long time no longer available in Germany. The Okapi knives were made ​​of carbon steel (carbon steel). Locking is performed by a back spring ring. The knife is closed by plugging a finger through the ring and the spring lifts. Behind the end of the blade is a corrugated locking hook, so that the knife can be safely closed when the spring again drained.

Trivia

Were especially popular Okapi knife in the 1960s in the subcultural Rude boy scene Jamaica as a concomitant of youth crime in the ghettos mainly capital Kingston.