FuzzyBunny
Member
I was told by my uncle who was a para in WWII and went in D-Day that they had a switchblade in a special pocket in thier jumpsuit/jacket.
Anyone have any info on these or pics?
Anyone have any info on these or pics?
WWII Paratroopers Knife
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rcmodel
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In WWII, paratroopers were issued the Schrade M2 single-blade "Presto" Switchblade pocket knife starting in 1941.
Early ones had jigged bone handle scales, and later ones had black imitation bone scales with no laynard ring.
They later added a lanyard ring attached to either the front or rear rivet, and came packaged with a "thong" for attaching to the ring & web gear.
These were very high quality knives, and nowhere near the crappy quality of the later MC-1 switchblade with the orange handle & line cutter hook.
There was never anything like the one in the drawing above ever in U.S. service.
Here is an early one:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=120086395
Here is a later one:
http://www.sharperdeals.net/auction_details.php?auction_id=22242
rc
Early ones had jigged bone handle scales, and later ones had black imitation bone scales with no laynard ring.
They later added a lanyard ring attached to either the front or rear rivet, and came packaged with a "thong" for attaching to the ring & web gear.
These were very high quality knives, and nowhere near the crappy quality of the later MC-1 switchblade with the orange handle & line cutter hook.
There was never anything like the one in the drawing above ever in U.S. service.
Here is an early one:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=120086395
Here is a later one:
http://www.sharperdeals.net/auction_details.php?auction_id=22242
rc
Last edited:
BHP FAN
Member
That's a WWII German Falshimjager knife.
Gordon
Member
I'm NOT a Nazi phile BUT I remember hearing that the 'Pantograph knives' are virtually all fakes as they were never officially adopted. Rather the real Falshirmjager knife is what is called "the gravity knife"
http://www.usmbooks.com/gravity_knife_1.html
http://www.usmbooks.com/gravity_knife_1.html
Last edited:
kBob
Member
Re German Parachutist/air crew knives.
Old SS man once commented (early to mid 1970s)that he could have give away shoe spoons stamped with a supposedly nazi insignia and make a fortune on them.
The pantogragh knife seems to fall into that catagory.
I carried the wood handled marlin spiked gravity knife for a bit. It and every otherone I saw in germany rattled when colapsed and some like the one in the sale had a bit of the tip stick out the gaurd area.
I replaced it with what I was told was a later gravity knife used in nazi service but have since been told that this was a post war knife...despite having a FJ of wwII service asking to see it and commenting that it was just like the once they got begining in 1944.
It had no marlin spike, was much thinner and had black plastic scales and a bale. There was also a little door over the hole the blade dropped from atha prevented the problem the older had with the protruding blade tip. It still rattled.
I replaced that with a then german issue "green butter knife" a sheath knife of single edge that cansisted of a blade, a guard, rubber washer. one piece plastic handle (shaped something like the SA and SS dagger handle, but rounded) and a bolt and nut with a lanyard hole through it. The sheath was metal, painted green to match the plastic handle and had a stud that fitted it in a leather frog. Not as cool as either FJ knife, but a better tools and weapon and it did not rattle.
I traded the older for a nice modern switch blade that I later "loaned to someone permanantly" and the second after not carrying for a bit I left to a freind that liked it when I got my orders back to stateside.
I do not know if it still exist but Bo Randall used to keep a little museum of knives folks sent him that included a host of military issue folders and switch blades. Visiting it with him was among the highlights of a visit with him with a friend whose uncle had been Mr. Randalls first worker. Mr. Randall expressed a low opinion of most military folders he showed that day.
-Bob Hollingsworth
Old SS man once commented (early to mid 1970s)that he could have give away shoe spoons stamped with a supposedly nazi insignia and make a fortune on them.
The pantogragh knife seems to fall into that catagory.
I carried the wood handled marlin spiked gravity knife for a bit. It and every otherone I saw in germany rattled when colapsed and some like the one in the sale had a bit of the tip stick out the gaurd area.
I replaced it with what I was told was a later gravity knife used in nazi service but have since been told that this was a post war knife...despite having a FJ of wwII service asking to see it and commenting that it was just like the once they got begining in 1944.
It had no marlin spike, was much thinner and had black plastic scales and a bale. There was also a little door over the hole the blade dropped from atha prevented the problem the older had with the protruding blade tip. It still rattled.
I replaced that with a then german issue "green butter knife" a sheath knife of single edge that cansisted of a blade, a guard, rubber washer. one piece plastic handle (shaped something like the SA and SS dagger handle, but rounded) and a bolt and nut with a lanyard hole through it. The sheath was metal, painted green to match the plastic handle and had a stud that fitted it in a leather frog. Not as cool as either FJ knife, but a better tools and weapon and it did not rattle.
I traded the older for a nice modern switch blade that I later "loaned to someone permanantly" and the second after not carrying for a bit I left to a freind that liked it when I got my orders back to stateside.
I do not know if it still exist but Bo Randall used to keep a little museum of knives folks sent him that included a host of military issue folders and switch blades. Visiting it with him was among the highlights of a visit with him with a friend whose uncle had been Mr. Randalls first worker. Mr. Randall expressed a low opinion of most military folders he showed that day.
-Bob Hollingsworth
4thPointOfContact
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The WWII parachutist's coat had a double-zippered pocket on the front placket located between the top and second buttons. The original knives with their spring-loaded blade could be stored there, accessible to either hand, should the other be injured. Oddly, it was the cutting blade instead of the hook shaped shroud cutting blade that was spring loaded.
They are being manufactured again, with choices in handle color, serrated blade and (I bellieve) a choice of which blade is spring loaded.
The German Fallschirmjäger knife was carried in a pocket located at knee level if I remember correctly and yes, it did rattle. A lot.
It did have the advantage of a longer blade and could be opened with either hand.
They are being manufactured again, with choices in handle color, serrated blade and (I bellieve) a choice of which blade is spring loaded.
The German Fallschirmjäger knife was carried in a pocket located at knee level if I remember correctly and yes, it did rattle. A lot.
It did have the advantage of a longer blade and could be opened with either hand.
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