French "M 1916" "Avenger"

[Mery Christian]

All logos manufacturers french knife model 1916.
Amitiés de France.
excerpt from my book on French daggers of the war 14/18.
Editions du Brevail

[Mery Christian]

Marque rare Pataud

[PRE]

Does the '41 GONON' marked example indicate manufacture in 1941, as it would seem? If so, who were the intended end users in a time of occupation?

Also, where are you gentlemen finding these? I'd love to add one to my collection of period edged weapons.
Best,
Pat

[Mery Christian]

Gonon 41 is not the date of manufacture but the manufacturer's mark which was under the company's brand S.G.C.O. S.G.C.O. Société Générale de Coutellerie & d'Orfèvrerie of which produced knives in 1916 with this brand.
This knife was used by the Germans during the Second World War under the reference the French knife-dagger model 1916 which takes the name (116f).
You can find it on shopping sites like eBay or Delcampe, but prices are very high.
I can try to find you a copy or you can purchase a copy in France and I can send you.

[PRE]

Thank you for the quick response, Mery! PM sent.
Pat

[Das Edelweiss]

I could have made a new thread for it, but I think it better fits in this - very informative - one.
Here's my "76" ; thought of getting one of these since 40+ years, almost forgot about that, then this guy crossed my path very abruptly a couple of days ago. Could not let it go away.

As far as I know, the maker "76" was Bessette-Murs in Thiers. By the way, thanks to Mr Merry for posting here some pages of his book.

[PRE]

Beautiful example, congratulations! I like these types of fighting knives.

Pat

[Reibert]

Hi, mates,

AFAIK the "Vengeur" was very popular in the Kriegsmarine.

[Das Edelweiss]

Reibert : thanks for this great studio photo. I guess these accessories were only for the looks, and that they didn't stab anybody in combat with these knives.

Back to the origins, below a picture of a "Section de zigouilleurs" ("SZ", with grenade, knife and revolver symbols) ; an absolutely un-translatable funny slang term, but one could get close with "[Trench-]snuffers section". The photo is taken in an obviously funny manner too, but there's no doubt it was done with the intend to mask the reality of their actions on the field. These guys were the primary users of Vengeur knives, among a lot of other different stabbing devices.

[Das Edelweiss]

The reason for the reinforcement of the base of the handle with a metal ring on the second models : crack of the wood on a 1st model by Bourgade and another (on 2 different places of the handle) by Astier-Prodon.