Unkown Fighting Knife

[warbuff]

Cheers,

I am posting this knife for a friend who says a relative got it off of a dead Japanese soldier in the pacific campaign. however I have my doubts. To me, it looks like a theater made US fighting knife. Does anyone know what this knife is?

Cheers,
Warbuff

[Walkwolf]

Looks like a US theater made knife to me as well.
There appears to be some wording on the
ricasso near the crossguard, but I can't
make it out.

Lol - seems every souvenir item, no matter if it's
from Europe or the Pacific, was "taken off
a dead soldier".........

[MAP]

Yes, theater made knife. If you look at the blade it has some writing on it. Can you tell what it says? It's not Japanese.

But these are collectable in their own right. Martin C has started a whole thread on them.

Theater Knife, Post Your Favorite(s) here

[warbuff]

My thanks for confirming my thoughts

[RH1941]

It very well could have been taken off a japanese soldier. They took trophy s also . I worked with a guy years ago that his father took two ivory gripped 1911 45s off a german or so the story goes . I did see the pistols they were very nice . Gary

[Anderson]

This type of knife sometimes falls into the category of "trench art" as well. One common factor is the use of clear aircraft perspex for the grip. In a combat zone crashed aircraft supplying a material for servicemen with time on their hands. I've seen Hitler Youth knives with perspex grips as well as daggers. Some close up photos of the blade would be nice. Doesn't look at all Japanese.

[CBH]

Also at the time plexiglass and the like were rarely seen . Having just been invented .