M-1916 Trench Knife with Vet Art

Product Description: This M-1916 Trench Knife with Vet Art is an outstanding and unique display object. It’s a very interesting trench knife, that has itself been made into a piece of trench art. The M-1916 trench knife is what is known as a Type 2 French knife. The blade is nice and clean, and very bright, with only some very minor marks. The blade ricasso is maker marked “COUTELLERIE THIERS ” in a double circle with “31 BRESSET” inside. The wooden grip is intact, with minor traces of wear and age, and is adorned with the brass roundel of an SA belt buckle. The roundel is held in place with 4 steel nails, which show expected age patina. The scabbard is really nice, with virtually all of the original blued finish. The leather frog is marked with “K.v.s.t. 18-1929” and has been extensively customized, with three rows of boot hobnails as well as a very nice, early SS visor cap eagle. The eagle has been vaulted to fit the contour of the frog, and has beautiful age toning to the original silver finish. This original veteran bring-back souvenir is an evocative piece of history, in excellent plus condition.

Historical Description: The typical German fighting knife of the World Wars was a conventional, general purpose knife, sturdily made, with a full tang and slab grips, and a steel scabbard. The blade length was about 6 inches long. Between 1914 and 1918, there were many makers of these knives, known as “Grabenmesser” (trench knives). Wooden handles were common, and most had a leather belt loop on the scabbard. Some of these knives were privately purchased by the soldiers, while others were issued items. There were many variations, including stag grips, solid metal handles, and even some with offset handles and slots that allowed them to be fixed to rifles, bayonet style.

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