WWII Luftwaffe Gravity Knife

Description

8/9/24 - This an original gravity knife issued to Luftwaffe paratroopers during WWII. These were designed primarily for cutting through a Luftwaffe air crew members harness in the event of a tangled parachute, requiring them to be razor sharp and easily accessible. To that end, paratrooper uniforms contained a hidden compartment for speedy and convenient blade removal, both for general use and more crucially, in emergencies. The spike was used to untie knots while packing the parachutes. These remarkable blades were sharp and strong enough to cut through the aluminum hull of the aircraft after a crash landing. This particular example is in great overall condition. The blade is maker marked on the front with "Rostfrei", meaning made with "rust free" stainless steel, as well as "Weyersberg Solingen" and is correctly serialized and matching on the release lever and side plate with the number "365". The spike has the proper "Eagle 5" Luftwaffe proof stamp. There are light surface scratches throughout the blade and small dings on both sides of the metal at the top of the handle. The blade has been lightly sharpened, not enough to change the profile, The grip panels are in great overall condition, but are different colors which means at least one has been replaced. Some very small dings in the wood. The welded fastener responsible for holding in the side plate appears to have been damaged and rewelded, and it rests ever so slightly askew. It sits mostly flush and allows the blade to retain full functionality, with smooth extension and retraction using the release lever. The blade locks well and is tight in its locked state. The repaired side plate, does create a small problem in that, when "closed", the very tip of blade does stick out ever so slightly. Spike functions perfectly.