This just finished on eBay....any ideas

kronckew · 18th June 2008, 09:34 AM

trench knives encompass a wide variety of issue and improvised weapons used for close hand to hand fighting in the ww1 trenches. this (attached) is a screen dump from http://www.snyderstreasures.com/page...kle_knives.htm which shows quite a variety including the french nail knives. german grabendolch trench knives were usually a bit more conventional spearpoint blade, short or long giard, wood scales, steel scabbard with leather blet loop, etc. no knucklebows...

another more elaborate french nail version, smith had time to forge a real blade on this one. i've seen them with similar triple rod hilts and the more common rough spearpoint-like nail blade. repro's abound so caveat emptor.

katana · 18th June 2008, 10:50 AM

Great info Kronckew

,
trench made knives and daggers fabricated 'in field' were very varied. Made for use, in what was known as 'trench clearing'

the majority I have seen tend to be stabbing impliments, with simple needle/stiletto blades. Easily made and effective.

What struck me about the 'knife' which started the thread, is the deliberate curve of the blade. It seems idealy suited for slashing, and with a shortish blade suggested it may have required some skill to use (if it is indeed a weapon). I was thinking it may have been used in a similar way as the Indonesian Karambit, perhaps in pairs, one in each hand (been watching too many martial art films I suppose

)

I suppose this could be a tool, but seems to small for an agricultural tool (although I believe the Karambit started life as a 'crop cutter') or effective as a wood working tool.

Having said all that, I hope I'm not going down the 'same road' as I did with my 'deadly' Asparagus Spear.....eh Kronckew

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ight=asparagus

Regards David

kronckew · 19th June 2008, 08:49 AM

reminds me a bit of this viking ''woman's knife''

yours is just a bit more macho.

possibly grip/ grip-blade angle has been bent a bit more than when 1st made? i suspect that when the blade was forged single edged it naturally formed a curved blade as the edge was hammered thinner the displaced metal bends the spine. double edged and spear point variants do not have that problem (or feature). somebody wanted a slicer rather than a thruster.

(still might be a victorian gardening impliment

)

kronckew · 21st June 2008, 08:36 AM

shortly after the above, i found this one on ebay:

as i didn't have one, it's now mine.

18th June 2008, 09:34 AM	#1
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	trench knives encompass a wide variety of issue and improvised weapons used for close hand to hand fighting in the ww1 trenches. this (attached) is a screen dump from http://www.snyderstreasures.com/page...kle_knives.htm which shows quite a variety including the french nail knives. german grabendolch trench knives were usually a bit more conventional spearpoint blade, short or long giard, wood scales, steel scabbard with leather blet loop, etc. no knucklebows... another more elaborate french nail version, smith had time to forge a real blade on this one. i've seen them with similar triple rod hilts and the more common rough spearpoint-like nail blade. repro's abound so caveat emptor. Attached Images Last edited by kronckew; 18th June 2008 at 09:47 AM.

18th June 2008, 10:50 AM	#2
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	Great info Kronckew , trench made knives and daggers fabricated 'in field' were very varied. Made for use, in what was known as 'trench clearing' the majority I have seen tend to be stabbing impliments, with simple needle/stiletto blades. Easily made and effective. What struck me about the 'knife' which started the thread, is the deliberate curve of the blade. It seems idealy suited for slashing, and with a shortish blade suggested it may have required some skill to use (if it is indeed a weapon). I was thinking it may have been used in a similar way as the Indonesian Karambit, perhaps in pairs, one in each hand (been watching too many martial art films I suppose ) I suppose this could be a tool, but seems to small for an agricultural tool (although I believe the Karambit started life as a 'crop cutter') or effective as a wood working tool. Having said all that, I hope I'm not going down the 'same road' as I did with my 'deadly' Asparagus Spear.....eh Kronckew http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ight=asparagus Regards David

19th June 2008, 08:49 AM	#3
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	reminds me a bit of this viking ''woman's knife'' yours is just a bit more macho. possibly grip/ grip-blade angle has been bent a bit more than when 1st made? i suspect that when the blade was forged single edged it naturally formed a curved blade as the edge was hammered thinner the displaced metal bends the spine. double edged and spear point variants do not have that problem (or feature). somebody wanted a slicer rather than a thruster. (still might be a victorian gardening impliment )

21st June 2008, 08:36 AM	#4
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,215	shortly after the above, i found this one on ebay: as i didn't have one, it's now mine.