Hello, yesterday I found this item at a hang 5 meter below a German foxhole. http://520083239907-0001.bei.t-online.de/SonstigeBilder/Kampfmesser.jpg The disc at the bottom carries an inscription which is not readable any more. Following picture shows the remains. http://520083239907-0001.bei.t-online.de/SonstigeBilder/KampfmesserBodeninschrift.jpg Is this a WW II military knife? Bye, Thorsten
I don't have time to research right now, but this looks to me similar to a US-issue fighting knife ? It certainly isn't a German-pattern item... Hopefully more later when I have time...
This is driving me nuts - and someone will come along soon & say I've got it all wrong anyhow ! But it really does look American - maybe the grip covering has been replaced at some time ?? Such a personal item would have been a prized 'souvenir' for a German soldier. Look for instance at ; - http://www.militaryspecialtiesinc.com/web/US/ww2usedged/Pic_Mk2CamillusUSN.htm There were several different variants and manufacturers but the basic shape is there - German issue knives certainly didn't use the 'Bowie' type of blade.... Come on, guys - any knife experts out there or am I barking up the wrong tree ??
Don't worry Martin, you were absolutely right. I just received word that it is indeed an US WW 2 knife! This widespread type is called KaBar knife after one (but not the only one) manufacturer. There should be markings on the part of the blade next to the handle. Another wonderful find by my standards it is currently receiving careful attention. The first thing is to protect the leather handle so I treat it with weapon oil. Bye, Thorsten
This is great fun ! Congratulations on your new find, Thorsten - you are obviously 'on to something'. With patience and dedication, who knows what else is waiting to be found ?
Someone who knows more about US knives may correct me on this but I think it is an M3, I am not sure if that is the same as the KA-BAR but I was under the impression that the latter was specifically a USMC knife used in the pacific. Does that make sense?
This gets more interesting - I am suddenly learning a little about US fighting knives ! Here is a photo of the modern K-Bar reproduction and we can definitely see the lineage to Thorsten's relic ; - http://www.uswings.com/knives.asp They do seem have been USMC issue. However it was not unknown in Allied forces for soldiers to 'appropriate' desirable weapons for their own use from alternative sources. M3? K-Bar? Can someone give us a definitive answer ?
Hi Thorsten--i got here late and I see Martin already correctly answered. I had thought it was K-bar knife. My father had one when he served in ww2 and carried it with him in Korea. Today--I have no idea where this knife is--I guess maybe in my brothers collection? There was a program I think on the History Channel that talked about the K-Bar knife and they said it was widely manufactured during ww2 and saw service with our soldiers fighting on both fronts. The K-Bar made its way with many GIs to the Korean War as well as a few with GIs during the Vietman War. [ 14. August 2003, 03:27 PM: Message edited by: C.Evans ]
Hello, the company of Martin's link offers M3 knifes as well. http://www.uswings.com/knives.asp#M3 KaBar knifes are more similar to the find than M3. Anyway, the important thing at this stage is to determine nationality and time period. Both is known now and I am very content with this quick success. The exact type will be determined after cleaning but I think KaBar is a good candidate. This item is the only US WW II piece of equipment at this place found to date. It raises the question how a US knife comes into a German position that saw very little or no combat and was given up after a few days since war ended. At presence we can just speculate. If it only could tell its story... Bye, Thorsten
It's a fair cop guv, I forgot about the M3's thinner blade and paid too much attention to the handle. I hope you all accept my most humble apologies, please exscuse me whilst I go into a corner and cry
Stefan, there is certainly no need for apologies. Seriously, a hypothesis can be helpful even if it turns out to be wrong. Bye, Thorsten
Thats exactly what I was thinking No.9. Dont worry Thorsten, I was kidding, the knife is a mighty good find and must ha very interesting tale to tell, if it could speak. Strange how German soldiers picked up souveniers and so on.
Thats exactly what I was thinking No.9. Dont worry Thorsten, I was kidding, the knife is a mighty good find and must ha very interesting tale to tell, if it could speak. Strange how German soldiers picked up souveniers and so on. It just occured to me, maybe I am hopeing for too much but did you find any old leather or rivets which could be part of a scabard? I know that German soldiers liked to take enemy knives but I have seen little explanation for how they were carried, often the scabards seem to have been left behind or ditched as they wouldent fit the belt.
Hi Thorsten, The knife is a cross between the M3 and a Kabar. Kutmaster, Western and a few other knife companies made fighting knives using the M3 handle design and the thicker K-bar blade design. Yours looks like a Kutmaster which is a nice find. I hope this helps.
