WWII German Combination Tool Trench Knife variants

[MilitariaOne]

Greetings all,

First, I’d like to thank forum member “Antiquebill” for allowing me to purchase the next variation shown on this thread. Here is his original post How rare is a Puma Boot Knife marked Patronenheber MG 34? As fellow collector and forum member “Reibert” discussed earlier in post #7 this (below) variation is the PATRONENHEBER MG 34 “Cartridge Lifter” marked Puma made variant. As you can see, it has a specific tool for pulling stuck 7.92mm cartridges from an MG 34’s barrel. It is not a ruptured cartridge removal tool (one type of ruptured cartridge removal tool is actually pictured acting as the extracted cartridge in the second picture below). These knives were not issued kit with the MG 34, but were private purchase affairs. Fun fact: the tool works just as well on MG 42’s barrels as well (I’ve checked).

This is the only one of these particular variants I have ever viewed; as such, variant-wise it would appear they were not that popular. Perhaps, as one loses the standard screw driver’s bit with this tool’s addition/selection most customers thought a screw driver was of more use. If you were not assigned to an MG 34/42's crew, that is most assuredly the case.

Regards,

Lance

Double click on images to enlarge.


Below as compared with the other “Puma made” variant shown in post #4 (PATRONENHEBER MG 34 variant is the top knife).

And finally, all of variants together (PATRONENHEBER MG 34 variant is now the bottom knife)

[MilitariaOne]

Greetings all,

For your perusal, an “S” marked variant with a phenolic plastic or micarta plastic handles. I wished to post it with the others in this thread. While I appreciate the craftsmanship of this knife’s handles, I do not believe this was how this knife left the factory when it was originally made.

I believe this knife was re-handled post-WWII when (perhaps) the original wooden slab grips cracked, which is a problem when these knives are dropped on a hard surface (please, don’t ask how I know that). There are four reasons why I believe the grips have been replaced. The first, the knife’s metal surfaces have been mechanically buffed (its metal is shiny even in the nooks/crannies covered by the handles; not something you ever see on other examples, but something that you would do if you had it disassembled for repair in order to remove corrosion/staining). Secondly, when the knife was reassembled they peened the brass retaining pins so tightly it takes a pair of plyers to open up any of the tools (it would have never left the factory with that noticeable fault, unless ripping out your finger's nails was their true intent). The third reason, notice that there is no finger groove molded in to assist with pulling out the leather punch (compare the circled areas in the top of image #3) again, not something you’d see omitted on other factory finished models. And last, is the flattening out of the rivets on the backside of the scabbard’s belt retention clip (see an unaltered scabbard pictured next to it for comparison in the bottom of image #3 ) this was most likely done to tighten up the wobble these clips are prone to after long-periods of use. This scabbard belt clip’s tightening up, would have been something (logically) done in concert with getting a new replacement grip made.

Now, who would put that time and effort into refurbing a knife with broken wooden handles? My supposition would be any number of armorers located in post-WWII Eastern-European countries. The knife’s main blade still functions fine, so why throw it away and too, these were not affluent times; well-made equipment was hard to come by.

The grips possess that layered material effect you typically see when you look at British No. 7 Land Service Bayonets’ handles, but with a slightly tighter mesh and not so red colored (see Ade’s post here British No7 MkI Land Service Bayonet). During the 50s & 60s, the Soviets and their satellite countries used similar phenolic plastic’s materials for AK-47 Bayonets’. So, my guess is someone with time, some skill, and the required materials brought this knife back to life by cleaning, re-handling, and tightening up the scabbard’s wobble, so it could be carried and used once again.

Whatever the truth may be, whomever made the handles did a pretty decent job of it (except for the impairment of the handle tools’ use). Notice too, how the handles are wasp-waisted and this effect enables a very comfortable grip. OK, I’m done “guessing” about this example, just enjoy another oddball variant, I assure you I do.

Regards,

Lance

Double click on images to enlarge.

Above is a comparison view of the phenolic plastic gripped "S" marked variant (top) & the standard wooden handled "S" marked variant.

Above is a nice view of the "S" markings & the layer/grain evident in the phenolic plastic gripped variant.

Above note the circled differences/points of interest mentioned earlier in the text.

Above the standard family portrait where all the variants are exhibited together.

[MilitariaOne]

Greetings all,

This aged reproduction hailing from Brooklyn, NY. recently sold on eBay as item #173288365911. This knife possesses spurious “M in a triangle” stamps on three separate locations (yellow circles) and had odd aged finish to it (something akin to buffed/polished out rust… like I said odd). The seller has other offerings of dubious originality, which frankly is good, because one look at their other “original” items and the wise buyer would know to shop elsewhere.

The simplest way to tell this knife’s example was a faux aged and recently manufactured reproduction was the missing thumb’s assist on the bottle opener (red circle). On the reproduction, the thumb assist is attached with a small Phillip’s head screw. It is of course missing in the above eBay’s sold variant, but you may view it in place on the unmodified reproduction as compared below (also red circle). On all variants of originals there is nothing visible on the backside of the thumb’s assist (i.e. no hole) the surface is flat and without any indication of what is on the other side.

The scabbard too is same type associated with the new made reproduction. Bottom line, someone likely bought this knife and believes they were getting an unknown variant and too, at a decent price. When this combo shows up again, (& likely it will) now you will know to stear clear of it.

Caveat Emptor,

V/r Lance

[MilitariaOne]

Greetings all,

Below, please find another aged reproduction’s example originating from the same eBay’s seller as viewed above in post #23. It is currently being offered on eBay as item #173527728934. This time, the seller has it correctly listed in the reproductions category, however there’s no discussion of that not so subtle detail in the seller’s description. And frankly, why bother to “age” the knife unless you wanted folks to think it is older than it actually is? What reenactor is ever going to use that trashed scabbard?

This time, our Brooklyn-based artiste has chosen to leave the knurled version of the bottle opener thumb’s catch on (view arrow #1) and yet, has hidden the view of the small Phillip’s head screw (used only on repros), which attaches it by not showing that side in any of their provided images. However, if you simply review post #12 in this thread, you will view that all variants’ original thumb’s opening assists are smooth (i.e. without the knurls/ridges as cast into the reproduction’s versions).

Note too, the “unique” eagle’s stamp on the knife’s ricasso (view arrow #2). The concern here is less about this particular seller’s offering of a reproduction listed as such, but more about the next time this knife shows up on the market being offered as “original.”

Bottom line, if you view one of these styled knives originating from Brooklyn, New York, USA; pay close attention to its details as it is likely the work of this seller. Lastly, the seller’s negative feedback says all a prudent collector needs to know about this individual’s intentions.

Best,

V/r Lance

Double click on images to enlarge.