Sponsored Content
Yannick Dorn has been Marketing Manager at PUMA from Solingen since fall 2023. In his presentation at KNIFE 2024, Yannick will shed light on the history and special features of the Puma White Hunter, one of the most famous hunting knives in the world. Thanks to the support of collectors and fans of the brand, it was possible to gather extensive visual material and information.
The Puma White Hunter has sold over 1.5 million units since its introduction and in peak years up to 30,000 units were produced annually, with the majority being exported to America. The knife was developed in collaboration with the East African hunting community to create a robust tool for hunters. Oswald von Frankenberg und Ludwigsdorf, a passionate hunter and then head of the Puma factory, played a key role in the development of the knife. He ensured that the blade shape was designed to meet the needs of hunters.
The knife is characterized by its top-heavy blade with a high-set grind and stable tip. A cleaver edge is ground into the middle of the back of the blade, which is used for rough work such as splitting firewood or chopping bones. The lower back of the blade has jimpings, fine grooves that allow the thumb to rest better. A fine serration in the lower third of the blade makes it easier to cut fish skin and fibrous materials, for example.
The name "White Hunter" refers to the European hunters who hunted big game in Africa. This term was coined by the East African Hunting Society, which advocated the strict regulation of big game hunting in order to prevent poaching. The society was known for its efforts to make hunting sustainable and to protect elephants and other big game species from uncontrolled hunting.
The Puma White Hunter gained additional fame through its use in the Vietnam War. US pilots used the knife as a survival tool, which increased its popularity among soldiers and later also in civilian use. This spread was further promoted by the depiction of the knife in films and books. The movie "The Treasure in Silver Lake" in particular contributed to the popularity of the knife, although the big hype did not start until around 20 years later.
In addition to its use as a hunting knife, the Puma White Hunter was also marketed as a so-called "car knife", which was specially designed for drivers. It was intended to be carried in the vehicle so that it could be used in a variety of ways in an emergency, for example to get out of a car after an accident or to cut grass and branches to free the car from mud.
The White Hunter has even been used by the GSG 9 and the German Armed Forces. Due to its robustness and versatility, the GSG 9 ordered the knife to equip the then newly founded special unit of the German Federal Police. The Bundeswehr also tested the use of the White Hunter and equipped its pilots with it to provide them with a versatile tool in the fight for survival after a crash. The knife was also used for a time by remote scouts. Through this military use, the knife gained further recognition and consolidated its reputation as a versatile and reliable tool.
The Puma White Hunter is not only a functional hunting knife, but also a piece of history that was appreciated worldwide as one of the first survival knives. Its robust construction and versatility have made it a legendary tool that has since become a popular collector's item in its various versions.
Presentation and pictures: Puma GmbH IP Solingen
Coverbild: Nimrod Archiv
You can find a comprehensive archive at www.pumahunter.de, who supported Yannick with pictures and information during his presentation.
