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Greetings all,
Offered for your perusal are three examples of the same styled knife, though each was manufactured by a different company. The top knife is from the firm of Union Messer-und Metallwaren Fabrik Zella. The middle one is from the firm of Hugo Koller and the bottom knife is unmarked and its maker remains unknown. This style of knife is most commonly associated with the firm of Union Messer commonly and erroneously referred to as “Union Zella” because of the blade’s markings. Of the three knives pictured, the Union Messer’s variant seems to be the most commonly encountered.
Only the Hugo Koller variant has a “fraktur” acceptance stamp of the letter “C” marked upon the (opposite from the manufacture’s logo side) ricasso. This indicates a government sanctioned inspector had deemed the knife satisfied a minimal level of quality to be utilized by a Soldier/Sailor of the Imperial German armed forces. The implication being, a knife with a “”fraktur” mark was something that was cleared to be purchased by the government for issue hence the inspection. If there’s no “fraktur” mark present, it’s generally assumed the weapon was a privately purchased item offered for sale to the Soldier/Sailor and purchased with their personal funds. Trench Knives and various knife bayonets were offered for sale at the Soldiers’/Sailors’ canteens, from traveling salesmen/outfitters, at various specialty stores, and through direct mail order.
These three knives may be viewed in Halasz, H. v. (1996). Deutsche Kampfmesser: Band I. Norderstedt: Militar-Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. The Hugo Koller variant is shown on p. 67, the Union Messer on p. 68 and the unmarked variant on p. 69. The Union Messer variant is also shown in Méry, Christian. German combat knives: 1914-1945. Paris: Histoire & Collections, 2011, on p. 42. The two pictured German Soldiers wearing similar styled knives are also from p. 42 of Méry’s outstanding book. Fellow forum member, “Reibert” has posted a very nice postcard of a WWI German Soldier with one of these styled knives found in the very first post of his thread here Postcard of a German Soldier with trench knife
Regards,
Lance
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12-10-2013 07:34 PM
# ADS
Circuit advertisement
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Greetings all,
This week’s specimen is a private purchase model. The blade’s length measures 125mm. Though scaled down, it comes with a quality metal scabbard and frog more reminiscent of a contemporary issue bayonet.
Regards,
Lance
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Super nice.
Good pics as well.
Blade looks as efficient as a modern EK dagger or Gerber MKII.
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Another peronalized Sturmmesser M1917
Greetings all,
Here’s another example of a personalized/modified Austrian Sturmmesser M1917 with a blade’s length of 210mm. It has been personalized with a letter “H” monogram and some fancy metal work on its handle. Previous owner said that the knife had been owned by a Soldier serving in the 53rd Croatian, (Zagreb based) Infantry Regiment. Unfortunately, it did not come with the Soldier’s name. Lower picture shows this knife on the left and another “S” marked M1917 on the right. Though both knives possess the same “S” marking, notice the differing fonts’ sizes. Additionally, the knife on the left’s cross-guard measures 54mm in length, whilst the one on the right is 58mm.
No one has determined what the “S” trademark definitively stands for. There have been plenty of guesses (Solingen, Stainless Steel, etc.), but nothing that has been verified/backed by citable evidence.
Regards,
Lance
P.S. Yes, I've buffed off the finger prints as seen on the blade on the right.
Double click on pictures to enlarge.
P.S. I've just received some additional information from the seller "WWI trench knife-carrying is; Joseph Penev - member 53 Zagreb Regiment.
His son Stephen Penev wore it in WWII. The army NDH 1942 -1945, as a member of the elite home guard units, "Mountain Brigade and hunting."
(Mountain and Hunting units). With the Austrian trenches were armed with knives and parachute units of the army NDH."
Last edited by MilitariaOne; 01-19-2014 at 05:08 PM.
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Good looking personalized knife with a bit of story to it.
Great pic as well with the raised dagger and another soldier with what looks like a HEBEL (?) flare gun stuck in his belt (cant see the opening mechanism for the belt).
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