Help ID'ing this pocket knife

[gman2304]

My son bought me this pocket knife for Christmas, 4 inches closed, 7 inches open but with an unusual tang ‘relief’. I thought at first it might be an electrician’s knife but all the electricians knives I’ve ever seen have a sharp crescent shaped ‘relief’ for skinning wires. This tang relief is dull so I’m at a loss as to what it might be for. The tang stamp says R.W. Buchel Solingen-Merscheid. I’m familiar with Solingen knife steel but not with the maker or Merscheid but I’m thinking Merscheid might be the name of the city of manufacture. He knows I’m a fan of WWII history and the knife was described as a German Wehrmacht issued pocket knife during WWII. He bought it off eBay from an eBay seller located in Ukraine, so I’m a bit skeptical as to its history. Either way, I actually love the knife and the fact he would go the extra mile to get me something special for Christmas.

 

[vavavroom]

A dull heel is for chopping something very tough.

Solingen-Merscheid denotes Merscheid, a borough of the city of Solingen. Merscheid was once likely its own village or small town until nearby Solingen grew and gobbled it up.

The reason Solingen ist renowned for blades of the highest quality goes back to the protectionism of the local blade manufacturing that guarded their secrets well through guilds beginning in the 15th century. The guilds guarded their secret knowledge well.

 

[KJSmith]

https://www.lakesidetrader.com/Education/Maker-Mark/Rudolf-Buchel-Solingen-Merscheid/index.php


https://www.ebay.com/itm/356393069460?msockid=3b9704d2bcc46f712d1316b7bd6f6eb7

https://www.ebay.com/itm/387765759086?msockid=3b9704d2bcc46f712d1316b7bd6f6eb7


Go on Ebay and contact this seller.
Maybe you can send him a picture of the knife and he may be able to help you out.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3263444276...lp:3959035&itmmeta=01JGM56PT58W0DH9X3ZGY7NCE7

 

[Kira]

A dull heel is for chopping something very tough.

That's a cool knife to see. Thanks for the interesting post.

But over time, how many materials come in a shape where you could use that 'dull heel' feature?
The sharp blade would get in the way.
There's a reason you don't see that kind of blade.

 

[vavavroom]

But over time, how many materials come in a shape where you could use that 'dull heel' feature?

You won't know you have a handy feature until you need it!

The sharp blade would get in the way.

Not necessarily. Let's say you want to pinch or crack something narrow. You got leverage to apply a lot of force.

There's a reason you don't see that kind of blade.

I see it right there in the picture. What I don't see is a choil.

 

[JohnnyG]

Notice the wire cutter part of the blade near the butt of the blade. Nice gift!