Made in Solingen – What the name legally means

“Solingen” appears on countless scissors, knives and nail instruments. Many people take it for a marketing word. In fact it is a legal term – and a surprisingly strict one.

A law of its own for the name of a city

The name is protected by the Verordnung zum Schutz des Namens Solingen (Ordinance on the Protection of the Name Solingen), the Solingen Ordinance for short. It dates from 16 December 1994, came into force on 1 January 1995 and is based on § 137 of the German Trade Mark Act.

Its predecessor was the “Gesetz zum Schutze des Namens Solingen” of 1938 – the very first rule to give the name legal protection for cutlery goods. Solingen is thus considered the only city name in the world with a protective ordinance of its own of this kind.

Two conditions – and both must be met

§ 1 of the ordinance is short and unambiguous. The name Solingen may be used in commerce only for cutlery goods that

• have been worked on and completed at every essential stage of manufacture within the Solingen industrial area, and
• are, by their material and workmanship, capable of fulfilling the purpose proper to their kind.

The decisive word is “and”. If even one of the two conditions is not met, use of the name is not permitted.

That has a consequence which surprises many people: a pair of scissors can be made in Solingen and still not be allowed to carry the name – namely if it does not meet the quality requirement. Solingen is therefore not only a statement of origin but also one of quality.

Where is the “Solingen industrial area”?

The ordinance defines the area clearly: the city of Solingen and the town of Haan in the district of Mettmann. Nothing more.

The most common misconception

The rumour persists that it is enough to give a blade made elsewhere a quick regrind in Solingen or to set a rivet there. That is wrong. The ordinance demands every essential stage of manufacture – a single operation is not enough.

What exactly counts as an “essential stage of manufacture” is deliberately not laid down in detail by the ordinance. That question was left to the practice of the local companies; the responsible associations and the chamber of industry and commerce have formulated minimum requirements for it.

What all counts as “cutlery goods”

The term is broader than one might think, and the list in the ordinance is not exhaustive. It includes, among others:

• scissors, knives, cutlery and blades
• table tools such as nutcrackers, corkscrews, letter openers or cigar cutters – even where they do not cut at all
• cutting kitchen tools such as tin openers and knife sharpeners
• straight razors, razor blades and razors
• hair clippers and other personal care devices
• bladed weapons

Nail scissors, nail nippers and cuticle scissors therefore clearly fall under the protection.

What this means for you when buying

Where an instrument lawfully carries the word “Solingen”, you know two things: it was made in Solingen or Haan – and it meets a quality requirement that goes beyond mere origin.

What to look out for:

• “Solingen” on its own says more than “German Design” or “Solingen Steel”. Such wordings sidestep the ordinance linguistically, because they do not refer directly to the origin of the goods.
• The maker's name belongs on it. Reputable Solingen workshops stamp their company mark into the instrument.
• The price is an indicator. A genuine pair of Solingen scissors goes through around 80 working steps. It is not to be had at bargain prices.

Conclusion

The name Solingen is not an advertising promise but a legally secured statement about origin and quality. That is precisely why it is so often misused – and precisely why a second look at the instrument is worth it.

This article gives an overview and is not legal advice. The text of the ordinance is publicly available at gesetze-im-internet.de.

Genuine Solingen instruments at nagelzange.de:

• Nail scissors from Solingen
• Dreiturm Solingen – the complete range
• Cuticle scissors and cuticle nippers
• Nail nippers

Read also: How a pair of Solingen scissors is made and The anatomy of a pair of scissors.

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