Hirschfänger (Cutlass / Deer Terminator Knife)
PUMA Hirschfänger pre 1964 (Cutlass / Deer Terminator Knife), the model number is 11 3599. This knife has a genuine stag handle with lots of character. There is no PUMA guarantee control number on the Hirschfänger. This indicates the Hirschfänger was hand made prior to 1964 at PUMA Werks in Solingen, Germany.
The Hirschfanger (deer terminator) 3599 was developed under the supervision of the Oberforstmeister (Chief of Forestry), Walter Frevert, whose name is on the base of the blade. It is also known as "Cutlass", in the United States.
Walter Frevert acted as Oberforstmeister (Head Forester) of the Bialowieza forest of Poland and Belarus during the reign of the Third Reich and the Black Forest of Germany in the post-war period. Frevert lent his forestry expertise to PUMA beginning in 1953 and contributed to the design of various Puma hunting knives before his death in a hunting accident in 1962. This knife is a literally shining special-edition example crafted while Frevert’s name was held in high regard for his forestry and hunting expertise
The Hirschfanger which means more or less, to dispatch a fallen stag deer, after it has been shot during a hunt. This is the purpose of the knife. It's design is attributed to Walter Frevert, Oberforstmeister, (Chief of Forestry) of Germany for many years. It is one of the four "PUMA Side Arms" along with other Puma models such as the Nimrod, the Rudemann and the Waidblatt.
The handle is genuine stag. The handle on the Hirschfänger has a mirror polished brass butt plate as well as the mirror polished brass finger guard. The Hirschfänger blade was made of the special carbon steel alloy named PUMASTER, patented by PUMA.
It was highly considered because of its strength and durability, out of the long lasting razor sharpness. These knives were individually hand made, from the billet to the final finish, with the fine workmanship that made Solingen and PUMA famous in the world. The Hirschfänge knife measures 15" overall with a 9 3/4" blade.
The front tang is stamped: 11 3599 PUMA GERMANY. The rear tang is stamped: GEBRAUCHS - HIRSCHFANGER - NACH FREVERT - OBERFORSTMEISER - HANDGESCHMIEDET.
This knife comes in the factory wood presentation box with the factory gold PUMA booklet. Each knife was hand made in Solingen, Germany at PUMA Werks. The Hirschfänger knife also came with a genuine black leather sheath.
PUMA also hand made the 1985 Puma "Gold Etch" Luxus Hirschfänger / Deer Catcher knife. The model number is 11 3599. This knife has a genuine stag handle with lots of character. The Puma guarantee control number is 41582. This indicates this knife was hand made in the 2nd half of 1985 at Puma Werks in Solingen, Germany.
