Help identifying a knife...

[Jamey Saunders]

Merry Christmas Folks,

I don't know if this is the right place to post this, but I really need some help identifying this knife. It was given to me by my grandfather before he passed away. Christmas was his favorite time of year, and every year we go through the things we have of his, and I re-found this knife. He brought it back from Germany at the end of WWII, and he told me he took it off of a dead German paratrooper. It is not spring activated, just gravity operated. Push on the release and with a flick of the wrist, the blade comes out. Push the release again, hole the knife blade up, and the blade falls back into the handle. There is also a rather large ice pick that folds out of the handle.

If anyone can help me identify the history behind this knife, I would be eternally grateful. Or if you can point me to another place that may have some answers for me, I'd appreciate that, too.





Thanks, everyone.

Merry Christmas!

[Raymond Richard]

I can't help you in identifying this knife but sure wouldn't mind having it myself. I'm sure someone can help you out with the identification. Hope you not planning on getting rid of it, looks like a real keep sake if you ask me....... I'll email this to a friend who might be able to help......

[Bob Warner]

Don't do anything to it until you determine the history. Many times things like this are more valuable the way they are and loose value if you try to "Improve" them.

[Colin KC]

Jamey,
That'll be a gravity knife, issued to para's all over Europe (including British jump jocks) probably the best place to ask is the European forum, sorry I cant be much more help

[hammerdownnow]

http://www.knifeforums.com/ubbthread...at=&Board=UBB9


try the bernard levine forum here: Just don't ask him for a value unless you are willing to pay a 25 dollar fee. he is more than happy to tell you some history tho.

[Jamey Saunders]

hammerdownnow, thanks for the link. I'll try that.

Don't worry, everyone. I'm not going to do anything to the knife. I'm not going to get rid of it, either. This is one of my most prized possessions. I've just always been curious about the history. I've been wanting to ask y'all for two months, but my camera's been mad at my computer and they haven't been talking. Maybe the Christmas spirit got into them, because they started talking again today.

[hammerdownnow]

Looks like those two are getting along swell J. Include a close up of the makers mark with your inquiry if possible. The more info Mr. Levine has the more complete his answer can be. Good luck. Nice knife

[Raymond Richard]

I got this reply from a friend of mine, pretty much the same as the others but with some advice:
This is one of many styles of "gravity knife" that were used by
paratroopers. The switchblade and gravity style 'one-hand-openers' were used
by these troops to cut shoud lines in the event that they were tangled on
landing , or in an attempt to get rid of the chute quickly. Gravity knives
had no spring mechanism, just a lock that would act on the blade when
retracted into the handle or when fully extended.

Mr. Levine could most likely give a full identification of the knife if the
owner would include a close-up of the maker's mark in a message to him.

One caution: Gravity knives as well as switchblades are illegal to own or
carry in many states. You might want to warn the owner to be careful about
showing or displaying it if he wants to keep it!

[Jamey Saunders]

"Gravity knife, officer? What gravity knife?"

[wrathlord]

yup it's a chute knife,german,the marlin spike was for tying and untying of knots,very collectable

[nifeman]

Hey Jamey, I have one myself. Got it about 20 yrs ago at a Salvation Army thrift store. The lady running the store said she didn't like knives and I purchased it for a song. I found out it is indeed a German gravity knife and here in the South at the gun shows they usually go for about $175 in good to exc. shape. The one I bought still had cosmoline on the marlinspike.
Hope this helps a little...Bud