PUMA Robuster, Micarta – Survival-Messer entworfen von Tony Lennartz, gefertigt in Solingen

There are knives that tell a story. And there are knives that are created because their maker needed them in the wilderness. The new PUMA "Robuster" falls into the second category – designed by Anton "Tony" Lennartz, handcrafted in our factory in Solingen.

More than twenty years ago, an article titled "A Man and His Knife" appeared in a knife magazine, featuring Tony Lennartz and his designed "German Expedition Knife" as well as its smaller sibling, the "Europamesser". Since then, many designs have emerged from Tony's pen. The latest bears a name that speaks for itself: Robuster – available in two versions with handle scales made of Micarta or walnut wood.

From GEK to Robuster – the Lennartz Line Grows

Those familiar with the "German Expedition Knife" will immediately recognize a kinship in the Robuster. However, the new model is not a second GEK – it is an independent tool for different tasks. Tony Lennartz himself explained to us in an interview what makes the difference:

"If I expect dense vegetation and thorny vines, even the proven GEK quickly reaches its physical limits. If the trip takes me through the wilderness for three weeks, but I only need a machete for one day, I'm reluctant to carry the half-meter long tool with me for the rest of the time. In such a situation, the Robuster offers a welcome alternative." – Tony Lennartz

The Robuster thus deliberately fills the gap between bushcraft knife and machete – a tool that can chop, strike, cut, and provision without needing three different blades on your belt.

Hammer in Hand – the Construction

Anyone picking up the Robuster for the first time immediately feels it: this is a knife for serious work. With an overall length of 32 cm, a blade almost 20 cm long and 5 mm thick, and a weight of 377 g, you hold a real piece of steel in your hand. The full-tang construction runs completely through the handle – a knife can hardly be built more stably.

For the blade, we chose Böhler N690 – a high-quality, corrosion-resistant knife steel that holds its edge for a long time and is easy to resharpen. The surface is evenly bead-blasted, and the flat grind sits slightly above the blade's center axis. In the rear area of the blade spine, there is a moderate thumb rest, and at the end of the handle, a lanyard hole lined with brass, factory-equipped with a generous leather cord.

For the handle scales, we offer two variants: light brown grained Micarta for maximum durability and moisture-resistant grip, or warm grained walnut wood for those who appreciate the classic character of a noble natural material. Both variants are rounded and three-dimensionally contoured. Tony deliberately shaped the handle to be truly ergonomic:

"Unlike typical knife handles, the rear circumference of this handle is significantly smaller, allowing the shorter ring and little fingers to completely enclose the grip. The curved shape of the handle piece and the resulting hook effect significantly reduce strain during pulling cuts and knife strikes." – Tony Lennartz

The classic, double guard was deliberately omitted – so that the thumb can freely reach the rest on the blade spine. The lower guard piece still offers sufficient safety for the hand.

In the Field Test – what Jörg Hübner writes about the Robuster

In the PUMA Stories, Jörg Hübner thoroughly examined our new knife. His first impression was consistently positive: optically perfectly crafted blade, cleanly contoured handle scales, no annoying gaps between scales and tang. Regarding practical use, he writes that the Robuster provides "a lot of striking and chopping power," "especially when chopping small to medium-sized wood."

His conclusion after prolonged use summarizes why we built the Robuster: "The handcrafted Robuster from Solingen is a very solid knife, excellently suited for outdoor, bushcraft, and hunting. We were particularly impressed by its stability and robustness – here, the name truly says it all." The cutting performance of the N690 blade also "lasted even with prolonged use, without needing resharpening."

We take one small point of criticism to heart: the simple standard packaging. For the collectors among you, we are already thinking about a more appealing solution.

Three Carrying Methods – the Quiver Sheath made of Saddle Leather

A knife is only as good as its sheath. For the Robuster, we designed a slim quiver sheath made of 2 mm thick saddle leather – without securing straps, without snap fasteners, without buckles. The knife adheres securely in the sheath solely due to its precise fit, but can also be drawn quickly in stressful situations or "blindly."

Tony placed particular emphasis on the sheath allowing for three different carrying methods:

Classic right-sided – the usual carrying method for the majority of knife users.
Cross Draw – supports a quick, controllable draw and secure re-sheathing.
Native – the sheath is clamped directly between the belt and waistband without a belt loop; a hook-shaped cutout secures it against loss.

We deliberately avoided a Kydex version. Tony explains this as follows:

"I do not consider a Kydex knife sheath for my Robuster, as this material produces disturbing noises when touched by hard objects." – Tony Lennartz

Field Test in the Canadian Raincoast Mountains

Before the Robuster went into series production, Tony himself tested it where knives have to prove what they can really do – in the Canadian wilderness:

"A few months ago, I was with my team in the Canadian Raincoast Mountains. Two experienced Canadian hunters and mountain men accompanied us. Each carried a Robuster. There in the bush, we lived and worked with the knives. We even levered glacier ice with them, blazed our trails through thorny thickets, and cut poles for our changing camps. The performance and edge retention of this new knife absolutely convinced us. PUMA meticulously realized my concept and brought it to perfection." – Tony Lennartz

Form Follows Function – the Design Philosophy

Those who know Tony Lennartz know that for him, every form follows a function. For the Robuster, this specifically means: No pronounced ricasso, because that's where most of the force is applied to the blade. A handle ending at a right angle, so that the knife thrust can be supported with an additional push from the free hand or a striking tool. And a moderate thumb rest that ergonomically also supports the "reverse grip."

"I always develop my designs according to the principle 'form follows function'. Nature offers an inexhaustible reservoir of ingenious solutions. What could be more obvious than to take these insights as a model? I try to guide biological forms with technical efficiency to stylistic perfection and high utility value." – Tony Lennartz

Who is the Robuster for?

Tony puts it succinctly: "The Robuster is designed for big tasks in the wilderness. It functions both as a trail and camp knife, as well as a useful hunting stand clearers and a welcome tool for field dressing large game in the wild."

This makes it clear: The Robuster is not an EDC knife for your pocket. It is a full-fledged survival and outdoor tool for all those who truly venture into the wilderness – on longer trips, multi-day camps, in impassable terrain. It is the knife you want to have with you when you actually need a machete, but don't want to carry it for three weeks.

Solingen Handcraft – Two Variants in the Shop

The PUMA Robuster is manufactured in our factory in Solingen – from Böhler N690 steel and with a quiver sheath made of saddle leather with three carrying options. For the handle, you have a choice between two variants:

PUMA Robuster, Micarta – light brown grained Micarta for maximum durability, moisture-resistant, and particularly grippy even when wet.
PUMA Robuster, Walnut Wood – warm grained walnut wood for those who appreciate the classic, noble character of a natural material.

Both variants share the blade, geometry, sheath, and Tony Lennartz's design principles – the choice is purely a matter of personal taste.

PUMA Robuster, Micarta – Survival-Messer von Tony Lennartz aus Solingen
PUMA Robuster, Nussbaumholz – Survival-Messer von Tony Lennartz aus Solingen

Technical Data at a Glance

  • Blade length: approx. 200 mm
  • Blade thickness: 5 mm
  • Overall length: approx. 320 mm
  • Steel: Böhler N690
  • Handle scales: Micarta (light brown) or walnut wood
  • Weight: 377 g
  • Sheath: Quiver sheath made of saddle leather, three carrying methods
  • Design: Anton "Tony" Lennartz
  • Manufactured: Solingen, Germany

👉 View PUMA Robuster, Micarta in the shop
👉 View PUMA Robuster, Walnut Wood in the shop

More Knives by Tony Lennartz

The Robuster is not the only knife designed by Tony that we manufacture in Solingen. Those who are enthusiastic about his design philosophy will find two other classics in our range – each with its own specific area of application:

PUMA GEK – German Expedition Knife – The classic with which Tony's collaboration with PUMA began in 1992. The versatile survival knife for all those looking for a proven, handy all-rounder for the wilderness.
PUMA PARA, EDC Steel – The compact EDC knife made of Böhler N690, continuously numbered. For all those who want Tony's design principles in everyday life or as a backup knife on their belt.

With thanks to Jörg Hübner for the detailed review in the PUMA Stories and to Tony Lennartz for the interview.