[DKA]

This knife was given to my father in the mid 70's by a friend in the military and he said that it was made in Germany and the blade was Blue Steel. No name or id marks except the number 5000.
http://i50.tinypic.com/21jd9ae.jpg

[Gordon]

It looks like an original SOG bowie . Different SF groups gave them to their people. The ones given out in Nam were made in Seki Japan and were a decent blade. I am wondering if the German based SF units contracted out to Soligen companies for a batch for their people. Could be. Otherwise it is made in Japan and worth hundreds.

[hso]

I agree with Gordon. That looks like one of the SOG knives. If your father is still alive ask if his friend was SF and if he had been SF in Vietnam.

[Mp7]

Wow. Beauty!

I believe Solingen was going stainless very early ...
and i've never seen on of those around here.

Blue steel made in Seki? Great.
But even if it was made on local contract in Solingen
it would have a couple of hundreds worth in
collectors value ... around here.

[hso]

Hitachi super blue steel may not have been available before 1967 because Hitachi didn't acquire the forge/foundry capable of producing the steel before then. The "blue" part of the name comes from the color of the paper wrapping the steel when it ships.

Of course, the steel could have come from the foundry Hitachi acquired prior to the merger.

[DKA]

He served with MACVSOG forces in Vietnam. Was with 5th Special Forces.

[bikerdoc]

You are one luckly son of a gun if that is the real deal! Congrats

[Cpt. America]

I agree it looks like an early SOG. It even has the hard leather handle.

[hso]

He served with MACVSOG forces in Vietnam. Was with 5th Special Forces.


Then he probably actually picked it up while serving in Vietnam instead of Germany. I've never read of any copies being made in Germany.

[DKA]

My father probably got it mixed up, because when the guy retired, he had just returned from Nam.

[hso]

Is the guy alive and can you get anything in writing from him on the knife?

Establishing provenance corroborating the stories on their origins increases the historical and monetary value.

[DKA]

Yes he is alive, but he is very old now. He still will not talk about the things that he did when he was at work, as he called it. Could probably get something in writing, but I know when it came and have given it to my grandson. If he wants something can probably get it. I would not sell it because of the ties and don't think that my grandson will ever sell it, but you never know. I have printed a lot of info up for him on this knife and the circumstances surrounding it's design and how it came about. Have done quiet a bit of research on t6his knife since finding the proper links.

[hso]

It's very important that the provenance is established. The men that were given these knives did exceptional things. The knives are a link to that history. Without a brief explanation of the knife's origins that link is broken.

A name, affiliation, rank, date and place is all that's needed. No need for "war stories".

[DKA]

I have all of that. Thought you meant something of more depth.

[hso]

Nope, that's all. It's a bonus if you have anything else, but anything in his hand writing that just outlines the brief history of how he was originally given the knife makes that link to history.