World War II Knives -- Stories, photos and collectibles.
Latest hand-picked WWII news.
German Combat Knives, 1914-1945 by Christian Mery
The extraordinary variety of World War I German daggers and dagger-bayonets which have been discovered have led Histoire & Collections to publish a book that is easy to use, relying on photographs of both the knives and their owners, and completed by short texts. More than 140 colour pictures show the weapons used during both world wars, both in their entire length, as well as with their scabbards; with the addition, when needed, of close-ups of their maker s marks and markings.
(militarymodelling.com)
SS chief Heinrich Himmler`s knife for sale - Inscribed with Himmler`s signature
A hunting knife which belonged to Heinrich Himmler is to be auctioned off by Mullocks auctioneers in Ludlow. The horn-handled knife with 4-inch blade is inscribed with the SS chief`s signature. Himmler gave it to his friend Herman Barth - a high-ranking Nazi responsible for the SS Education School in Berlin during World War II. After the Third Reich collapsed Himmler tried to escape, was caught, and committed suicide, but his friend lived until 2005. The blade comes with a letter from Himmler to Barth. Richard Westwood Brookes said it "serves as an artefact of historical importance as a significant reminder of the evil of the Nazis".
(dailymail.co.uk)
For sale: Benito Mussolini`s 14-inch-long black and silver dagger with 2 eagle symbols (Article no longer available from the original source)
Jerry Steichen says the time is right to auction off an old knife that has been in his family long enough. But this isn`t just any knife: It`s a personalized dagger of Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini. The 14-inch-long black and silver dagger, which has two eagle symbols carved on it, is covered with a sheath that includes the letter M in gold. It was given by the Italians to Clarence Farber, Steichen`s uncle who was in charge of the military police in Italy near the war`s end. "It`s a piece of history, so it shouldn`t be locked up in a safety deposit box."
(rgj.com)
U.S. Navy prevents town from honoring war veterans with knives
A voluntary campaign in Idaho to raise funds and work with the maker of Buck brand name knives to honor veterans returning from the defense of the U.S. has been torpedoed by military administrative rules regarding the value of gifts. And the order wasn`t sitting well with members of the community near Post Falls, where Buck has its headquarters. "Who`s in charge here anyway? Dumb and Dumber?" was asked on a forum. World War II veteran Paul Abschier told: "It`s the stupidest thing I`ve heard of. They`ve put their lives on the line and they can`t receive a knife?"
(worldnetdaily)
Rare World War II combat weapon paratroopers wore stolen
A rare World War II combat weapon was taken from a exhibit at the Washington County Historical Society`s museum. Described as a combination knife/brass knuckles that paratroopers wore strapped to their legs as part of their combat kit. The knife is also known as the "1918 brass knuckle knife," but its correct identification is actually the US Mark I, according to Historical Society information.
(gmtoday)
Factory that made knives for GIs, Marines, Boy Scouts shuts down
It produced the knives carried by millions of American GIs during World War II, and afterward made folding knives for generations of Boy Scouts. This week, the Camillus Cutlery Company outside Syracuse shut down for good. It made 15 (m) million knives for the U-S military - including the Marines - and other Allied forces during the Second World War. The company has made the official folding knife of the Boy Scouts of America for the past 50 years.
(leatherneck.com)
Hitler portrait, wehrmacht daggers, military memorabilia stolen
A portrait of Adolf Hitler and knives and daggers used by his German Army were part of a £25,000 haul of military memorabilia belonging to the Military Antiques dealership stolen. Brass helmets and a white porcelain figure of a mounted cavalry horseman were among the collectables stolen. The portrait was probably a prize for a member of the Hitler Youth (HitlerJugend).
(bbc)
Nazi dagger sale angers Jewish council
The sale of two Nazi daggers at an auction in Christchurch has angered the New Zealand Jewish Council. Watson`s Specialist Auctions has the two knives, which are embossed with swastikas. Auctioneer Barry Watson says the daggers are historcially significant and are works of art. But the head of the Council Stephen Goodman says the sale of Nazi memorabilia is an insult to Holocaust survivors and their families and should be outlawed. Goodman says auction houses need to make their own moral decision whether to sell the memorabilia and says he supports Trade Me`s move to ban Nazi items from its website.
(rnz)