Puma's Trail: From the Wupper to the Wilderness

When Johann Wilhelm Lauterjung registered his trademark with the Solingen knifemakers' guild in 1769, he planted a blade seed in what would become the heartland of German edgecraft. Nestled on the banks of the Wupper River, workshops ran on waterpower, turning grindstones day and night in the shadow of Solingen's blade legacy.

Solingen — the so‑called "City of Blades" — had by then already held centuries of cutlery tradition. The name Puma would grow up side by side with that reputation.

Family Roots, Rising Blades

For the first generations, the Lauterjungs made general cutlery and edged tools for local trades. Solingen's cutlery milieu shaped them.

By 1876, under Ernst Otto Lauterjung (1855–1931), the company expanded into pocket knives, stilettos, sabers, and hunting blades. That move planted Puma squarely in the field of blades for sport, utility, and defense.

Over the decades, Puma's reputation extended beyond Germany, with export efforts growing by the 1920s.

Rebuilding, Reforging, and Redesigning for the Hunt

From 1936 to 1945, Puma's production fell under wartime constraints — blades for military use, bayonets, and regulated manufacturing. After the war, Puma pivoted back to civilian and sporting blades.

In 1953, new leadership tied to Renate von Frankenberg and her husband Ludwigsdorf ushered in a shift: Puma began emphasizing hunting, outdoor, and sporting knives. That same era saw a collaboration with the forestry writer and master hunter Walter Frevert. Together they developed designs that remain signature—blades like the Waidmesser, Waidbesteck, and Jagdnicker.

In 1956, Puma introduced the White Hunter, forged in agreement with East African professional hunters. The knife embodied the rugged, expedition‑tested ideal: dependable, versatile, and battle tough.

A year later, in 1957, Puma made its move into the U.S. by partnering with Kurt Gutmann of Gutmann Cutlery in New York — giving American field hunters their first real access to Puma's steel.

Marking Time & Expanding Reach

By the 1960s and 1970s, Puma knives entered U.S. outdoor catalogs and stores, building momentum among sport hunters and collectors. Puma introduced a date‑coding system in 1965 so each knife carried its birth year — a built‑in provenance mark. Meanwhile, the Military Series launched in 1964 further testified to Puma's rugged workhorse ambitions.

Through the years, Puma blended tradition and modernization. By the 1990s, CNC machines and laser techniques entered the mix to support efficiency without losing the soul of hand finishing.

In 1969, a fire ravaged Puma's facilities, consuming old records and machinery. Ownership and facilities would shift in coming decades: a sale in 1991 to the Hindrichs family, and later in 1998 to Heiner Hiepass‑Aryus, along with relocation to the Solingen industrial park "Aufderhohe."

New Lines for New Days: IP, Tec, SGB, XP

Facing globalization and market shifts, Puma adapted:

  • In 2003, Puma introduced Puma IP (International Production). These knives are made with overseas partners (notably Spanish production), with design oversight and quality control retained in Solingen.
  • Puma Tec arrived in 2008, targeting the EDC / tactical crowd. Blades in that line use contemporary materials (G‑10, modern steels, even Damascus) and often include one‑hand mechanisms.
  • More recently, Puma expanded with SGB and XP series. SGB brings German steel lines in more accessible packages. Meanwhile, XP is a U.S.-assembled line bridging classic Puma character with domestic assembly.

In fact, SGB embodies Puma's long legacy, reintroducing classic forms in modern, value-conscious guise.

Now & Always: Forged for Use, Built for Generations

After more than 250 years, Puma stands as a bridge across eras — heritage in hand, innovation in blade. Solingen‑originated knives still anchor the brand's premium identity, while IP, Tec, SGB, and XP lines open access for hunters, EDC users, and professionals across continents.

Every Puma knife you carry is shaped by rivers, fire, forest hunts, and workshop grit. In the field or on display, the steel should do the talking — and in Puma's case, it speaks of tradition that never quits.