BW combat knife M1968

[Reibert-Austria]

Hi, mates, wanna show you the Kampfmesser of the Bundeswehr "alt", introduced in 1968.

The M1968, ("3rd pattern in olive green"), was accepted and introduced in the Bundeswehr in April 1st, 1968.
In 1992 the purchasing of this pattern model was stopped finally ...

This pattern Bundeswehr combat knife was manufactured by several makers, (OFW, WKC, Robert Klaas, FKS, HSK, also WMF ?, maybe, Puma ? ...).

Rumors say´s that knive´s, marked with HSK, were manufactured in Italy and were delivered from an trader in Nürnberg to the Bundeswehr ...

The design of the hilt wasn´t really ergonomic, the blade lost it´s sharpness very quickly, very dull tip of the blade, the lack of balance, the jangle of the metal scabbard, ...
All these were reasons why, to discard this pattern knife finally.

This pattern fighting knife, today, isn´t really that expensive, (app. Euro´s 45,--), anyway, there´re a lot of commercials, also, fakes, outthere !

Meanwhile, even this pattern Bundeswehr fighting knife, (aka “Brotzeit-Säbel”, or, “Bundeswehr Kampfmesser alt”), is pretty collectible.

Due to the bad quality of the steel most of these knives are coming with a slurred blade …

Want to show you this, 1968 pattern, Bundeswehr combat knife made by Friedrich Koch, Solingen, Friedrichs-Werk, made in 1970, I bought today at a gun show.
This knife is obviously carried, but the edge isn´t slurred.

overall lenght: 26,5 cm
blade lenght: 14,3 cm
width of the blade: 25,5 mm
thickness of the blade: 4,1 mm

[Reibert-Austria]

...

[Reibert-Austria]

Received another 1968 pattern Bundeswehr fighting knive of this maker yesterday.

It´s also a carried one with a very nice blade.

[Reibert-Austria]

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[Reibert-Austria]

Spotted following makers:

FKS 69,
FKS 70,
HSK 70,
R. Klaas 69,
R. Klaas 70,
OFW 69,
OFW 70,
WKC 69,
WKC 70;

Some more maker´s ?

[Reibert-Austria]

Here you can see the "strong" blade:

[Guardian 5]

Well done Sir!

Extremely informative. Thanks for taking the time to post these wonderful photos.

Danke und Gruss,

TJ

[Reibert-Austria]

Thx., T.J. !

Want to show You an scarce fighting knife of the early Bundeswehr.

This, (2nd Pattern), trial, combat knife was introduced in 1964.
Due to the bad quality of the steel of the blade, this knife was withdrawn from service already in 1965.

Maker: OFW, (Otto Förster Witzhelden).

Overall lenght: 249 mm
blade lenght: 141 mm

Scabbard´s painted black, grip plates made of black plastic material.

Very interesting:
This particular knife, (I bought on a flea market), came together with the scabbard of the 1st Pattern BW, trial, (Eickhorn), combat knife !

[Reibert-Austria]

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[Reibert-Austria]

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[Reibert-Austria]

Here´s an other "1964 pattern", trial, fighting knife of the Bundeswehr.
Sadly, it came with the oliv-green scabbard of the Modell 1968 ...

But, I´m really lucky to own two of this rare knives now !

[Reibert-Austria]

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[Reibert-Austria]

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[Reibert-Austria]

Another "Kampfmesser Stumpf", ("combat-knife dull"), made bei OFW in 1969.
Such knives, (meanwhile), are quite collectible !

[Reibert-Austria]

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