A new-to-me German knife

[DRYHEAT]

As the son of two German born parents I figured it was time to get one of these for my collection:
West German Army (Bundeswehr) Eickhorn Paratrooper Gravity Knife – circa 1982

I may have to start collecting more of them.

 

[italiansport]

These are a very useful one handed tool and an update to the famous wood gripped examples made for paratroopers during WW II.
Jim

 

[wingriderz]

Very nice indeed

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Good looking tool! Well done.

 

[Absalom]

Nice one. When I was in the Bundeswehr in the 1970s, these Fallschirmjäger knives were hard to get; even the regular field knives were only issued to some units, and I had to buy one privately (and foolishly resold it to a new guy when I left the service).

Sevral years ago, just for the fun of it, I accumulated the three knives then current issue to the BW; obviously dramatically better quality, but lacking the Cold War charme of the old stuff

Victorinox pocket knife, general issue.
Kampfmesser KSK, issue to special forces (commercial Applegate-Fairbairn Black)
Kampfmesser 2000 Eickhorn, last I heard mostly still issued only to infantry and other frontline units

In contrast to the old stuff, which never left Germany, the new stuff saw extensive “field testing“ in Afghanistan since 2003.

 

[Texas Star]

Absalom-

There's one missing. A basic combat-utility knife. Mine was made by Hen & Rooster, I think. Maybe by Robt. Klass/Kissing Crane. I sold it long ago. Had an OD green handle and satin polished blade. Green sheath. Checkered plastic handle. Sharp only on the normal edge, not double-edged. German eagle embossed on the handle. I think the sheath was metal.

Sound familiar ?

Are you German, then? I enjoy your posts. But wish that you'd clean and oil your Puma Model 3589 and Model 959. They looked neglected in your photo of them.

I have Puma Models 3589 and 943. Good knives. I had to go directly to Puma to get both, as they weren't imported to the USA.

 

[Absalom]

Absalom-

There's one missing. A basic combat-utility knife. Mine was made by Hen & Rooster, I think. Maybe by Robt. Klass/Kissing Crane. I sold it long ago. Had an OD green handle and satin polished blade. Green sheath. Checkered plastic handle. Sharp only on the normal edge, not double-edged. German eagle embossed on the handle. I think the sheath was metal.

Sound familiar ?

Are you German, then? I enjoy your posts. But wish that you'd clean and oil your Puma Model 3589 and Model 959. They looked neglected in your photo of them.

I have Puma Models 3589 and 943. Good knives. I had to go directly to Puma to get both, as they weren't imported to the USA.

Did it look like on the attached picture? That would be the old style field knife I was talking about which I had in the service. Has been history for decades, and people want silly collector prices for them now; there are quite a few made-in-China fakes on the surplus market both in Germany and here.

Yeah, I’ve got to get on those Pumas. They show many years of hard service; since they’re now long retired, and just sit on the shelf, I don’t take care of them anymore as I should

 

[Texas Star]

Did it look like on the attached picture? That would be the old style field knife I was talking about which I had in the service. Has been history for decades, and people want silly collector prices for them now; there are quite a few made-in-China fakes on the surplus market both in Germany and here.

Yeah, I’ve got to get on those Pumas. They show many years of hard service; since they’re now long retired, and just sit on the shelf, I don’t take care of them anymore as I should

Yes, that is the very knife! Didn't know it was being faked in China. Is there anything they or the Japanese don't copy, even to outright fakes?!

Gary Randall told me some Japanese man was trying to register the Randall Made trademark in Japan and fake the knives there. And this was legal, under Japanese law!

Randall took action to prevent it, but it was a nasty experience.