Help identifying a bayonet

[vrichard]

moosedog,The knife with the acorn,I think they called them a hunting dagger,it is a pre war knife.
Dick

Originally posted by moosedog:
Wow vrichard, that is an impressive display / collection.
On the bottom photo, what kind is the top one that has the Acorn displayed on the handle and the sheath?

And thank you for your service in WWII Sir.

 

[Texas Star]

It is indeed a hunting dagger, and seems to have a Damascus steel blade, which was made by some Solingen firms then.

Also seen is a paratrooper knife which, like the German paratrooper helmet, was directly copied by the British.

The dagger with the eagle and swastika guard is a Luftwaffe officer's dagger.

Many military edged weapons have in fact had poor edges, as issued. I recall in reading Field Marshal the Viscount Montgomery of Alamein's memoirs that he said that in WWI, officers were told to have their swords sharpened in 1914. It was soon uncommon to see them in the trenches, and that war killed cavalry charges. (Except in places like Iraq and on the plains of India, where lancers remained very effective against native foes.)

During the War of Northern Aggression (Civil War to Yankees), some cavalrymen had their sabers sharpened, but not to a razor edge, which would "turn" on bone. I read somewhere that men captured while carrying sharpened sabers were sometimes shot by the enemy.

I have seen WW II photos of Commandos having their Fairbairn-Sykes daggers sharpened.

T-Star

 

[Texas Star]

Originally posted by sar4937:
Were these bayonets sharp like a knife when issued, or was it up to the soldier to put an edge on it? Mine had the parkerized finish on the edge but was never sharp enough to cut anything. Were there some issued unsharpened for ceremonies, and parades?

Yes, and yes. See my post above.

T-Star

 

[bummer]

Originally posted by vrichard:
Here is a few of my bayonets.

Dick

Above the German hunting dagger, is that a Bolo bayonet?

 

[oldRoger]

Moosedog;
My uncle (sam) gave me one just like that and an M1 to go with it, no charge, in fact he paid me (a very nominal amount) to carry it around and shoot it, free ammunition.

I would give you my M1 but he made me give it back to him.
Roger.

 

[vrichard]

Bummer,the Bolo is not a bayonet,it is a U.S.Model 1917,made by Plumb.
Dick

 

[n4zov]

More on military edged weapons:

http://www.usmilitaryknives.com/