Why no milsurp knives?

[19-3Ben]

We've got plenty of Milsurp rifles and even a few handguns available to the public.

Do armies sell us their knives? You just know that the Ruskies had to have issued a field knife during WW2 (the big one). Why aren't those coming over on the same boat as the Mosins/SKS, etc..?

I'd love to be able to buy old beat up mil issue knives for $5-10 if they were available.

So why not? DO armies just not keep them around? Do they let the soldiers take them home at the end of service?

What gives?

 

[Mp7]

...

i have a Glock knife .. milsurp by austrian army.
Plus two german army knives from the 5ßs amd 60s.

Usually pick the mup on big fleamarkets.

The Glock is fine for such a cheap knife.

The german stuff ... is light, cheap and Sturdy.

Just like the rifles ... milsurp is good for the toolbox.

 

[hso]

There are whole conventions where military knives make up tables and tables of collectables for sale. Books are dedicated to detailing every little nuance of which company made what model of which knife issued by what service. I have casual and dedicated military knife collectors frequently asking me to help them find this make/model/manufacturer or the other. There are collectors that spend hours a day on old military knives (folder, fixed and bayonets). A buddy of mine uses auction sniper software hunting for every hint of an auction that deals with old knives and old military knives particularly. We missed going to an auction in NC this weekend because of work. That auction had 120 individual lots of switchblades. 20 of those knives were interesting milsurp autos. There were another 50 lots just of military folders and fixed blades. I think you've just not been looking in the right place for milsurp knives.



As to Mosin Nagant rifles, their bayonets were usually spike bayonets.

 

[19-3Ben]

Yeah i know about Mosin bayonets. Mine are all in my closet at the moment, and long enough to poke a guy across the yard!!!!

That's interesting. I kinda figured there must be milsurp field knives. I guess I just don't have much exposure to them (aside from the typical Ruskie one that you always see associated with the AK).

Also, you mentioned that knife inventories get sold off long before the rifle ones. Perhaps I just didn't get into the hobby in time.

Thanks for the info guys.

 

[hso]

The "Golden Age" of milsurp firearms has passed, but that perfect moment in milsurp knives passed decades ago. If you make a dedicated search you can find these knives in junk shops and flea markets and at auctions still.

 

[19-3Ben]

I'm just a young'un (25YO) and only relatively recently got into milsurps and got my C&R (Summer 2008).

So I just caught the very tip of the tail end of the age of Milsurp rifles. Pity.
And I guess I had no idea about such things when the knives were around.
Ugh.

Well, at least I'm here for the golden are of concealed carry, right?

 

[BHP FAN]

At least you're here.There are far too few of your generation interested in historic arms of any type.Thank God for each and every one of you.

 

[hso]

Look for old military knives on ebay for starters.

Here's a WWII M8 knife going in a few minutes with a $44 bid. http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-USM8-Mi...aultDomain_0?hash=item439d569fa2#ht_500wt_956

Here's an old Colonial USN WWII http://cgi.ebay.com/WWII-U-S-USN-MK...ltDomain_0?hash=item1e5a7a8513#ht_5059wt_1167

Here's WWII German trench knife going for far more than we paid from Sarco last year for a dozen of them. http://cgi.ebay.com/WW2-German-Para...ultDomain_0?hash=item45f1279b09#ht_500wt_1182

BTW, do check out Sarco since they do still carry "edged weapons".

I forgot about Atlanta Cutlery. They'll have odd and interesting things.

 

[HorseSoldier]

I'd love to be able to buy old beat up mil issue knives for $5-10 if they were available.

+1 on checking eBay -- there used to be a bunch of mil-surp Mauser bayonets and such for under $20 to be had over there. Inflation may have bumped that some but I can't see a K98 bayonet which doesn't have any specific collectors value going for a whole lot more than that.

 

[Gord]

Semi-related question: obviously, some bayos are rare as heck as I've seen several $400+ examples which are, often, worth more than the rifles they go on.

Since one would imagine these bayos had been issued with the rifles, what happened to them that they're now scarce enough to command such prices while the rifles are still relatively cheap?

Is it just a matter of bayonets being less regulated, more compact and more simply constructed, therefore making it easier to disassemble them and have them melted down for repurposing?

 

[19-3Ben]

Wow!!! Look at those!!!!!

The prices are a lot more than I had imagined, but I guess thats what I get for coming late to the party!
Thanks for the tips hso!

BHPFAN- I enjoy history, and I love firearms. Combine the two and I'm just a total sucker. And if it weren't for your generation, there'd be a lot more C&Rs around for me to buy!!! Jerks!

 

[hso]

TN,

Probably not the melting down part. More likely just sold off easier.

If you want "modern" bayonet sticker shock look at the prices for an authentic Finnish M39 bayonet. I own one and I blanched at the price when I bought it years ago. Jump up on price when you start into early sword bayonets from particular makers.

 

[Limeyfellow]

hso sure has that right. I am still trying to get my wife to let me get a bayonet for my Swiss M1911 full length rifle, as what is a surplus rifle without a bayonet?

Many of the knives are long gone alas, though you find the occasional on ebay, estate auctions as veterans die and they get sold off and various other sales. The supply is kind of small hence why lots of what you see now are reproductions for the reenactment market.

The surplus knives tend to dry up quickly when soldiers get told just to buy your own knife and bayonet get dropped off the list of equipment.

My neighbour had about 20 German WW2 knives and daggers, along with stuff like a fully automatic MP40, but alas it all got stolen so I don't get to play with stuff like that anymore.

 

[hso]

There's a bunch of stuff in the recent Sportsman's Guide HQ catalogue.

 

[Coyote3855]

Back in the day, say 1950's, the real Army Surplus Stores were awash in milsurp knives and bayonets starting at $.50. Wish I'd bought a trunkful.

 

[19-3Ben]

ok, so how do I get my Delorean connected to 1.21 gigawatts so I can go back and get some of these knives? Any tips guys?

 

[hso]

Ben,

You're going to have to work for them like everyone else does these days. Find some guy who can tell you where the flea markets and junk shops are that have these show up from time to time and cruise the net like some jonesing junkie during a dry spell and you occasionally will stumble across a treasure. Research the history on all of the knives that have been used by militaries since 1900. Buy what you can and then trade up as often as possible. Like the rest of us do these days.

 

[19-3Ben]

You got it. Thanks for all the tips.
I'm just sorry I missed the hey day.

 

[Leadhead]

Here's a few that I'm sure could be shipped south..
http://www.tradeexcanada.com/index.php?option=com_paxgallery&task=table&gid=3

 

[Gunfighter123]

Here is a few good links to collecting Military knifes;
http://www.militaryedgedweapons.com/
http://www.militaryfightingknives.com/
http://usmilitaryknives.com/

 

[Speedo66]

Well you just missed out some as recent as last month.

I posted here about a company that was selling used German paratrooper knives for $35. They were out the front gravity knives, not legal everywhere, but nice if you could own it.

I just checked the site and they're not listed anymore, but it might be worth a call to see if they have any odds and ends left.

Here's the original post:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=495664&highlight=paratrooper