I need an ID

[Charger]

I have aquired a multi tool that looks like http://4898361203870534584-a-multi--tool-org-s-sites.googlegroups.com/a/multi-tool.org/museum/vintagepliers/hoffritz-plier-1.jpg?attachauth=ANoY7cpCzGswehoQtqyLBq9JfM_C8AT1nmgqdDfQ-Q4j5TY1DVcNglUmxfFo9cGPx2SednqkyMoGwa9MgHIBIkJ_EL3klqd2sxBjro3QaJ94FNB45orM0wJis_VF4BYhcUWY_C25USQ0LrrLaXQHVobIEEsD6blEtvVUdPrXy5GGbQ4c4uUgzJZ8SNoQGyMsLwAnB-m0_fT--hOgAlV1m1qcC5W0LHl4Pg%3D%3D&attredirects=0

On the reverse side it says GERUD in (embossed) letters. Anyone know what I have and how old?

[J-sews]

Congrats Charger, those are perhaps the finest of the pre-Leatherman plier tools. They were made in Solingen Germany in the 1960's. Most were made under contract for large distributors who imported them (and many other types of fine wares) from Germany and sold them in through their retail stores or mail order catalogs. Hoffritz (an American cutlery retailer) is the name most commonly found stamped on these little pliers. They can also be found with Queen Cutlery, Coles, Bauermann, and Abercrombie & Fitch markings, to name a few others.

Can't say as I've ever seen one with GERUD marked on it though.


Here's a couple pictures of two of mine:





Bob

[ryan1835]

whats the tool on the bottom just a screwdriver/ bottle opener?

it looks a bit chisel like from here

[J-sews]

whats the tool on the bottom just a screwdriver/ bottle opener?

it looks a bit chisel like from here

It is a screwdriver blade, with a file on the backside. Sometimes there is a bottle opener notch, sometimes there isn't.




The whole family:

[Gareth]

I like the one in the stag with the steel bolster Bob, very nice.

[ryan1835]

whats the tool on the bottom just a screwdriver/ bottle opener?

it looks a bit chisel like from here

It is a screwdriver blade, with a file on the backside. Sometimes there is a bottle opener notch, sometimes there isn't.




The whole family:

thankyou

[Charger]

mine looks exactly like yours, however there is no stamping on the blade or anywhere else I can find besides GERUD. All the rivets are in the same place and the tools are identical, so is there just same variation from tool to tool?  Also its previous owner (an elderly chap) lived in germany most of his life, so that might be a clincher. So there is no manufacturer stamp, but many have a distributer stamp?

[J-sews]

mine looks exactly like yours, however there is no stamping on the blade or anywhere else I can find besides GERUD. All the rivets are in the same place and the tools are identical, so is there just same variation from tool to tool?  Also its previous owner (an elderly chap) lived in germany most of his life, so that might be a clincher. So there is no manufacturer stamp, but many have a distributer stamp?

I think that's it exactly Charger. From what I've been told, the small knifemaking shops in Solingen simply made these tools (and other knives, etc) to order, then stamped them with the logo of the distributor. A similar arrangement existed (and exists to this day) with the small knifemaking shop community in Seki Japan.

I wonder if "Gerud" was some sort of German retailer?

[David]

Wow Bob that family shot is   

[Precise]

Holy moly! Now I know where the ToolClip came from.