Jürgen Schanz Tools

[Woz]

Hi mates!

If you are from Europe, maybe even from Germany, you might be familiar with Jürgen Schanz. He is one of the most respected German knifemakers, member of most European knife makers guild and famous for making swords and daggers for the king of Bahrain.

Anyways, he is an excellent knifemaker, and introduced a quite nice One-piece tool about 2 years ago. There are two versions of his ST (Schanz tool) and both versions were available in stainless steel, titanium and damascus. So there are 6 versions that can be found on the internet.

I never was a friend of Atwoods and other high price tools of this size, an Artifact or Shard seems to be enough for my needs. But i used a friends Schanz tool this week, and LOVE it. Clever little tools Jurgen made.
The "special feature" that makes his tools unique and more than just another Atwood clone is the shopping cart tool. I do not know if it is the same in the US, but here in Europe most shops that offer shopping carts put locks on them that can be unlocked by inserting a coin. When you return the cart to the shop you can lock it again and will get back yout coin. If you are too lazy to bring it back, you will not get the coin back (or you pull it out using your MT pliers  ) - I mean locks like this one:

The Schanz tool has one end shaped like a coin, same size and thickness as the 1 Euro coin most often used on cart locks. Just use the tool as a key, pull it out and put it in your pocket again - no coin needed 

The rest of the tools is hex drivers, screwdrivers, bottle opener, and blade (ST1) or wire cutter blade (ST2) - kydex sheath available for both versions. A blunt version of the ST1 was offered so there was no sheath needed. Here are both tools in Damascus (pic by Jurgen Schanz)

And some videos, showing the lock-tool and the blade in use.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXCalVGZfcc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWdfiR3Qjbo

I like the tool, guess I will get one myself. The steel version is 65 Euro, Titanium 75. Not cheap, but way cheaper than the Swissbianco Atwood clone and definitely more unique 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Now that does look cool

[zeno]

Nice.  I can't seem to find them anywhere here in the States.

[Woz]

I guess not, he does not have dealers anywhere but sells his knives and tools worldwide. Just visit his shop.

http://www.schanz-messer.de/en/

[nuphoria]

Very nice indeed, and certainly more fancy than the modified sardine can key I use to open trolleys!

[Gadget Guy]

Outstanding, I want one!         

[zeno]

I guess not, he does not have dealers anywhere but sells his knives and tools worldwide. Just visit his shop.

http://www.schanz-messer.de/en/

I checked out his shop, but I couldn't find them anywhere.  Part of the problem may be that I can't read German.

[Zed]

eye candy      

[Woz]

There are some steel and titanium ones in stock here http://www.schanz-shop.de/? go=artikel&ps=1&subid=11 SCROLL DOWN


You can contact Jurgen for questions and shipping info here:

schanz-messer AT t-online DOT de (replace AT and DOT with the symbols)

I really like his will not to clone, but to find a way to make something existing still being something unique. I invited Jurgen to this thread too, maybe he will join us.

[Woz]

I contacted Jurgen, and he agreed to join us here to answer questions on the tool. He is in Solingen right now, on a knive exhibition, but next week he will have time.

I promised to thank you for your nice words in his name. He really appreciates that!

[jzmtl]

Beautiful, wish I had extra money for that damascus tool, although the key isn't particularly useful here.

[Neil]

They look very nicely made

[Chako]

We have those little hated cart locks here also, but they are fine tuned to a US/Canadian quarter. That tool wouldn't be very helpful on this side of the pond unless it is of the correct size.

[Woz]

Sizes of coins

50 Cent (Euro)

Diameter: 24,25 mm
Thickmess 2,38 mm

1 Euro
Diameter 23,25 mm
Thickness: 2,33 mm

both coins fit the standard locks, some even take the 2 Euro coin

US Quarter:
Diameter   24.26 mm  (0.955 in)
Thickness   1.75 mm  (0.069 in)

Diameter is quite similar to 50 Cent, maybe they will fit, depends on lock tolerances...

[J-sews]

Those look pretty nice Woz, thanks for the heads up!