Böker Acht-Acht Flak Damast

Boker introduces its inaugural military-historical artillery tribute with the Eight-Eight (8-8) Flak Damascus collector's dagger. This exclusive piece pays homage to the iconic 8.8 cm Flak gun—widely regarded by experts as the most effective and versatile artillery piece of World War II. Initially engineered for anti-aircraft purposes, the 8.8 cm Flak (commonly known as the "Eight-Eight") earned its legendary reputation primarily through its exceptional performance in ground combat.

At the time, most anti-tank guns ranged from 3.7 cm to a maximum of 7.5 cm in caliber and were generally underpowered against contemporary armored vehicles. In contrast, anti-aircraft artillery like the 8.8 cm Flak featured larger barrel diameters. This made the Eight-Eight particularly effective against heavily armored tanks such as the British Matilda II and the Soviet T-34—even at long ranges up to 2,000 meters. A key factor in its ground combat effectiveness was its ability to depress the barrel below the horizontal—an unusual feature for anti-aircraft guns—which allowed it to target ground-based threats. Additionally, its mount design enabled 360-degree horizontal rotation using a cruciform base with four outriggers for stability.

Another notable advantage was its mobility and firing speed. The gun’s quick deployment—thanks to the easily assembled/disassembled cruciform mount—combined with its semi-automatic firing mechanism, contributed to a high rate of fire. The recoil-operated breech would automatically open after each shot, cocking the firing pin and ejecting the spent cartridge. A well-trained crew of nine could achieve firing rates of up to 20 rounds per minute. In terms of anti-aircraft effectiveness, German crews could down approximately 9 out of every 1,000 enemy aircraft—a seemingly modest figure, yet still considered the highest kill rate ever recorded for anti-aircraft artillery.

The 8.8 cm Flak was also integral to the reputation of other iconic WWII weapons. Notably, it served as the main gun in the turret of the Panzerkampfwagen VI, better known as the Tiger tank—a model previously featured by Boker in another Damascus steel knife edition. Its success further led to its integration into the Nashorn ("Rhino") tank destroyer.

Boker’s Eight-Eight (8-8) Flak Damascus edition takes the form of a full-size dagger with medieval design influences. The centerpiece is an 18.1 cm long, narrow but robust Damascus blade, forged from original steel taken from an 8.8 cm Flak gun. The handle is crafted from domestically stabilized hornbeam wood, featuring 16 grip notches (jimpings). Subtle design cues pay tribute to the gun’s architecture: the radii and dimensions of the 5 mm thick stainless-steel crossguard evoke the profile of the Flak gun’s transportable side-folding cross mounts, while the end cap hints at the silhouette of the gun's unfolded base structure. The dagger includes a dark brown leather sheath with belt loop and reinforced stitching at key stress points. It comes packaged in a premium presentation box, complete with a certificate of authenticity and a unique serial number.