Bombfrog watches and knives at Recon Company – diving watches from the service, for the service

Bombfrog was founded in 2011 by Dirk Assmann – an active mine diver in the German Armed Forces with over 30 years’ service as a solo diver, parachutist and EOD/IED operator. It didn’t start with a business plan, but with frustration: The IWC Porsche Design watch issued to him for duty proved unreliable. As an operations commander responsible for the lives and safety of his men, this was an unacceptable situation. The result is Bombfrog: a small family-run business based in Schleswig-Holstein that develops diving watches for special forces. Customers include US Navy SEALs, US Navy EOD, SEK Berlin, combat swimmers and mine divers. As an ISO 9001-certified retailer, we at Recon ensure that only products meeting our verified quality standards are included in our range.

Bombfrog watches – diving watches for operational use

Bombfrog watches are stripped back to the essentials: a clean dial, maximum legibility and genuine durability. The flagship BT-25 model is powered by a Seiko NH35A automatic movement, is water-resistant to 500 metres and utilises H3 tritium gas light sources – the dial glows without an external power source, even when diving at night. Sapphire crystal for scratch resistance, brushed stainless steel case. The Bombfrog watches in the Professional 500 range are the heavyweights: 500-metre water resistance, special edition models for mine divers, combat swimmers and EOD personnel. On request, Bombfrog supplies watches with the unit’s logo directly on the dial – a service that no major manufacturer offers.

The movement: Sellita, Seiko and the quartz alternative

Depending on the model, Bombfrog relies on tried-and-tested automatic movements – Sellita SW200/1 Elaboré or Seiko NH35A – or on quartz movements for maximum accuracy without the need for servicing. The logic behind this is the same as in operational planning: if you don’t have a backup, you’ve got a problem. Quartz for precise timekeeping, automatic for analogue style without a battery. Bombfrog lets the buyer make this decision consciously – both systems are available in the range.

Bombfrog knives and JARS – the tactical cutting tool

As well as watches, Bombfrog stocks knives in collaboration with the German knife manufacturer JARS. The Bombfrog 42A knife is the compact model: 118 mm blade length, 5.2 mm blade thickness, full-tang construction with a Micarta handle, DLC coating to prevent corrosion and reflections, Kydex sheath with dangler adapter and Velcro fastening. The Bombfrog Professional 500 – or the JARS Bombfrog Pro model – is the larger version with a blade length of 150 mm, available in either CPM3V or N690 steel. CPM3V for maximum toughness in heavy-duty use, N690 as a corrosion-resistant everyday option. If you’re choosing between the steel grades when buying a Bombfrog knife, we’ll provide clear recommendations depending on your intended use.

To be honest: Bombfrog is not a mass-produced item, nor is it a hype brand. The knives are produced in small batches, which can occasionally lead to waiting times. What you get, however, is a product developed by a practitioner for practitioners – and worn in the field by everyone from US Navy SEALs to Bundeswehr combat swimmers.

• Government discount: Government departments and civil servants receive preferential terms on request.
• Field post delivery: We dispatch worldwide to operational personnel via field post – quickly and reliably.
• Expert advice: Our team offers advice online and in-store in Salzgitter – it’s not always obvious which Bombfrog model and which steel grade is best suited to a particular mission.