Original Item: Only One Available. The Third Reich issued a large number of edge weapons to the military and civilian organizations. The fighting knife featured here was originally designed during WWI. It was widely employed in the trench warfare that took place during the conflict.
This genuine WWII German Luftwaffe fighting knife is held in a scabbard that is designed to clip over the edge of a boot top or belt. It could also clip onto any part of the uniform and was easy to conceal. They were used throughout both world wars by soldiers in the trenches and with this particular style being used extensively by the Fallschirmjäger (paratrooper), Waffen SS and Luftwaffe pilots.
This example is in very good condition and features a blade that is marked with a 6 inside a Weimar Eagle on the ricasso, one of the standard inspection marks used on Luftwaffe edged weapons. The blade is the standard spear-point shape, with a full edge on the bottom, and half edge on the top. The top edge was specific to Paratroopers (Fallschirmjäger), as it helped cut through the rigging. Regular issue knives often only had one edge. The blade does show some use and staining, and has definitely had some post manufacture sharpening near the tip. It looks like the tip may have broken off, and the blade reprofiled. However even with this, a lot of the factory final grind crossgrain is still visible throughout the blade, making this a really nice example.
The knife has wood grips with steel securing bolts, which are in good condition, with no chips or major dents, and a nice color. There are just a few small dents, with little sign of use. The clip back scabbard has the black enamel paint in great shape, with just a bit of wear and crazing, and a small dent on the front.
Offered in very good condition, originals like this are always hard to find.
Specifications:
Blade Length: 6 1/8″
Blade Style: Single Edged Spear Point Knife with Upper Half Edge
Overall length: 10 5/8“
Crossguard: 2 3/16”
Scabbard Length: 7″ with Rear Boot/Belt Clip