Yet another Infanteriemesser...

[Scharf]

Hi guys,

Welk, I finally found a nice IF42 that just looks right to me. Well used and it has most likely seen some action, blade's been sharpened, back scabbard paint is gone due to equipment rubbing on its surface but overall a very nice unmessed with fighting knife and named with initials. Enjoy! (I'll post better pics once it's home)

 

[Scharf]

I thought more people liked fighting knive! This is a late war flat blade, unfortunatly it's been grinded a tad bit as one can see. The sharpening is great, I like that on my knives, not on bayonets though of course!

 

[Guillaume d'Orange]

I thought more people liked fighting knive! This is a late war flat blade, unfortunatly it's been grinded a tad bit as one can see. The sharpening is great, I like that on my knives, not on bayonets though of course!

I’d like to buy one, but I’m watching and learning.
Have you researched them ?

 

[Scharf]

I’d like to buy one, but I’m watching and learning.
Have you researched them ?

A bit, and I've had my share of dissapointments. There are many "fakes" or to be fair, cleaned, bubba'ed knives out there. But they are out there. I've spotted three types of blades :

The classic straight blade with its "spine" running from the handguard to the tip of the blade

Pic 1

The bowie style blade with a large ricasso, this is my favorite

Pic 2

The latter style straight flat blade with largr ricasso, the same as mine.

pic 3

There are also a few variations with some having only two rivet grips instead of three.

Pic 4 Tiger made IF42

And of course the Stiefelmesser / Kampfmesser der Wehrmacht which is not an Infanteriemesser, much scarcer, it has a large crossguard (not talking about the Luftwaffen Kampfmesser). One is seen on the famous Puteaux crossroad offensive photos with the "Hans Tragarski" ss Schütze.

Pic 5

 

[Scharf]

I also forgot the Puma Stiefelmesser with its red phenolic resin grips and scabbard stoper that could be either made of leather of vynil material.

There is a wooden grip version as well but it's very hard to find.

And last but not least, the multi-tool pomel Puma Stiefelmesser which can be found but is crazy expensive. I'll edit and post pictures for you to see

 

[grimlin13]

I love pointy things, my collection of German Militaria consists mostly of bladed items from WWI and WWII. The majority is S84/98 III bayonets, with Ks98s following close in number. I started collecting knives when I wasn`t able to find any bayonets I wanted. As of now I have only WWI trench knives. I almost bought a couple of Nahkampfmessers from a guy a few years back when they were cheaper but, ended up getting a nice unsharpened Puma HJ knife from him instead. I like the boot knife with clip on the scabbard as opposed to the one with the leather strap for attaching to a belt. I intend to get both eventually, as well as the blade variations.
Until then, I can look at other collector`s knives such as yours posted here. Thanks for sharing.
I have seen a wooden grip Puma but sadly it was not for sale. I told the collector I would be interested in acquiring it if he ever gets tired of it, he laughed.

 

[Scharf]

And, it's already there!

 

[Slash]

As Scharf stated there are many variations of these combat knives by numerous individual makers. And for some makers even different trademarks used over time. It should also be noted that by far the greatest majority of Infanteriemesser 1942 are completely unmarked. Here is a short list of the makers I have documented from examples in my collection:

Alexander Coppel & Companie
- AWS Scales Script Alcoso trademark
- fnj

Carl Eickhorn, Waffenfabrik
- 1941 “Over-Shoulder” Squirrel > Original Eickhorn Solingen trademark
- 1941 “Over-Shoulder” Squirrel > Original Eickhorn Solingen (variant style trademark)
- cof

Gebrüder Gräfrath
- hat > 1942

F. W. Höller
- F. W. Höller > Solingen
- Höller Thermometer trademark (etched)
- fze (some with date)

E & F Hörster und Companie
- E & F Horster > Solingen
- asw (some with date)

Robert Klaas
- Klaas Kissing Cranes trademark

Lauterjung & Companie (Tiger Stahlwaren)
- Tiger > Solingen

C. Gustav Spitzer AG
- Spitzer Lion > Solingen trademark

WKC Stahl u Eisenwarenfabric
- cvl (some with date)

Carl Wolfertz & Söhne
- Carl Wolfertz & Söhne > Solingen

These are the marking I have collected for the Infanteriemesser 1942 only. I'm sure there are additional markings as well. It does not include the Puma Kampfmesser or Werkzeugmesser. Or the Luftkampfmesser and other Nahkampfmesser patterns. As noted by Scharf these knives have been reproduced in large quantities both maker marked and unmarked. There are fantasy markings as well.

In addition to the knives themselves there are quite a number of Infanteriemesser 1942 scabbard variants (at least eight) to look for as well. These knives can become a very addicting collecting area.

 

[Scharf]

As Scharf stated there are many variations of these combat knives by numerous individual makers. And for some makers even different trademarks used over time. It should also be noted that by far the greatest majority of Infanteriemesser 1942 are completely unmarked. Here is a short list of the makers I have documented from examples in my collection:

Alexander Coppel & Companie
- AWS Scales Script Alcoso trademark
- fnj

Carl Eickhorn, Waffenfabrik
- 1941 “Over-Shoulder” Squirrel > Original Eickhorn Solingen trademark
- 1941 “Over-Shoulder” Squirrel > Original Eickhorn Solingen (variant style trademark)
- cof

Gebrüder Gräfrath
- hat > 1942

F. W. Höller
- F. W. Höller > Solingen
- Höller Thermometer trademark (etched)
- fze (some with date)

E & F Hörster und Companie
- E & F Horster > Solingen
- asw (some with date)

Robert Klaas
- Klaas Kissing Cranes trademark

Lauterjung & Companie (Tiger Stahlwaren)
- Tiger > Solingen

C. Gustav Spitzer AG
- Spitzer Lion > Solingen trademark

WKC Stahl u Eisenwarenfabric
- cvl (some with date)

Carl Wolfertz & Söhne
- Carl Wolfertz & Söhne > Solingen

These are the marking I have collected for the Infanteriemesser 1942 only. I'm sure there are additional markings as well. It does not include the Puma Kampfmesser or Werkzeugmesser. Or the Luftkampfmesser and other Nahkampfmesser patterns. As noted by Scharf these knives have been reproduced in large quantities both maker marked and unmarked. There are fantasy markings as well.

In addition to the knives themselves there are quite a number of Infanteriemesser 1942 scabbard variants (at least eight) to look for as well. These knives can become a very addicting collecting area.

Thanksfor sharing all this useful info Lance, I had no clue that FZE lade IF42s. Now you have to show a few fighting knives from your collection for our eyes to see!

 

[Scharf]

They're multiplying!

 

[Guillaume d'Orange]

They're multiplying!

Does the new one have a scabbard ?

 

[Scharf]

Does the new one have a scabbard ?

No... for now at least