Our new member "Trainer" is an advanced collector of DDR/NVA knives. He was kind enough to allow me to translate his excellent article on the NVA Paratrooper Combat Knife / Kampfmesser M 1966 (KM66) to English and use his photos:
NVA Paratrooper Combat Knife / Kampfmesser M 1966 / KM66
The original manufacturer name of the knife was Combat Knife TGL 108-64019 (Kampfmesser TGL 108 - 64 019).
This was the first pure combat knife produced by VEB Fahrzeug- und Jagdwaffenfabrik Ernst Thälmann (vehicle and hunting weapons factory) in Suhl, Germany. It was issued in 1966 for reconnaissance and parachute units. It was also used by the NVA, VP and the Stasi.
The fighting knife was renamed the M 1966 (1966 - year of introduction) and had a sharpened lens-shaped blade which shape is similar to a dagger with an additional fillet in the middle. To protect against reflection the entire blade has finished with phosphate coating. The grips on these knives are dark red to dark brown. The grip contains a black insert that indicates that the plastic should be able to withstand 500 volts of electricity.
A wrist strap attached to the handle end secured the knife against loss during use. There are knives with "blunt" and sharpened blades. Both of these blades are regarded as contemporary. The M 1966 came with special additional straps to allow it to be attached to the leg of paratrooper combat uniform pants. The later issued combat uniform pants had a special strap and pocket on the leg for the metal sheath of the knife to attach to.
Many reconnaissance scouts and NVA paratroopers say they never used or even handled this knife during their military service. Some only knew of it through rumor and hearsay. This is possibly because the knives were stored in the Armories of these units and may not have been issued.
These knives were used for knife fight training as were other knives or bayonets.
Some collectors are in possession of combat knives with black handles. However, during the DDR time KM 66 knives were not mass-produced with black handles. Some older paratroopers had during their time the red handled knives that were painted over with black "blackboard paint". Those are the only knives with (subsequently produced) black handle, from DDR production.
There are three proven models of KM1966. The distinguishing features are:
1st model:
- The handle had two places where the wrist strap could be attached, the second was on the lower part of the handle near the blade on the guard (Parierelement )
2nd model:
- This second attachment was removed (probably for safety/security reasons). The recess where it should be is visible.
3rd model:
- The handle (Parierstück) was "poured out" completely, the recess for the lower strap is completely gone.
Each knife has a serial number on edge of the guard at the bottom of the handle. Some believe the serial numbers can be assigned to models as follows:
1st Model = 1-999
2nd Model = 1000 – 9999
3rd Model = 10000 - XXX (the final number is unknown but is believed to be at least 14,000)
... they are greatly mistaken
For example, the 2d Model would have a three digit serial number (eg 805) and the 3rd Model a four-digit serial number (eg, 9689).
Models exist without any numbering on the collectors' market, these are called "Zero-series". There is thought to be two versions. According to the first edition of the book „Vom Himmel auf die Erde ins Gefecht“ (From Heaven to Earth to Battle) about NVA paratroopers (page 207), there was a fighting knife without any numbering. This had a plastic handle (not bakelite). This handle is not as brittle as the previously mentioned models. This book also emphasizes that there is no KM 66 knife that was equipped with a black handle.
The other variant of the "zero series" was from the remnants (parts) from the manufacturing plant, produced post 1990, after the unification of Germany. They display a handle material from a kind of black to dark gray hard rubber that is "Poured” or partially cured over the blade and painted red.
Other sources:
e.g. Dietmar Pohl - German special forces knives (Messer deutscher Spezialeinheiten)
http://veb-schneidwaren.de.to
NVA Paratrooper Combat Knife / Kampfmesser M 1966 / KM66
The original manufacturer name of the knife was Combat Knife TGL 108-64019 (Kampfmesser TGL 108 - 64 019).
This was the first pure combat knife produced by VEB Fahrzeug- und Jagdwaffenfabrik Ernst Thälmann (vehicle and hunting weapons factory) in Suhl, Germany. It was issued in 1966 for reconnaissance and parachute units. It was also used by the NVA, VP and the Stasi.
The fighting knife was renamed the M 1966 (1966 - year of introduction) and had a sharpened lens-shaped blade which shape is similar to a dagger with an additional fillet in the middle. To protect against reflection the entire blade has finished with phosphate coating. The grips on these knives are dark red to dark brown. The grip contains a black insert that indicates that the plastic should be able to withstand 500 volts of electricity.
A wrist strap attached to the handle end secured the knife against loss during use. There are knives with "blunt" and sharpened blades. Both of these blades are regarded as contemporary. The M 1966 came with special additional straps to allow it to be attached to the leg of paratrooper combat uniform pants. The later issued combat uniform pants had a special strap and pocket on the leg for the metal sheath of the knife to attach to.
Many reconnaissance scouts and NVA paratroopers say they never used or even handled this knife during their military service. Some only knew of it through rumor and hearsay. This is possibly because the knives were stored in the Armories of these units and may not have been issued.
These knives were used for knife fight training as were other knives or bayonets.
Some collectors are in possession of combat knives with black handles. However, during the DDR time KM 66 knives were not mass-produced with black handles. Some older paratroopers had during their time the red handled knives that were painted over with black "blackboard paint". Those are the only knives with (subsequently produced) black handle, from DDR production.
There are three proven models of KM1966. The distinguishing features are:
1st model:
- The handle had two places where the wrist strap could be attached, the second was on the lower part of the handle near the blade on the guard (Parierelement )
2nd model:
- This second attachment was removed (probably for safety/security reasons). The recess where it should be is visible.
3rd model:
- The handle (Parierstück) was "poured out" completely, the recess for the lower strap is completely gone.
Each knife has a serial number on edge of the guard at the bottom of the handle. Some believe the serial numbers can be assigned to models as follows:
1st Model = 1-999
2nd Model = 1000 – 9999
3rd Model = 10000 - XXX (the final number is unknown but is believed to be at least 14,000)
... they are greatly mistaken
For example, the 2d Model would have a three digit serial number (eg 805) and the 3rd Model a four-digit serial number (eg, 9689).
Models exist without any numbering on the collectors' market, these are called "Zero-series". There is thought to be two versions. According to the first edition of the book „Vom Himmel auf die Erde ins Gefecht“ (From Heaven to Earth to Battle) about NVA paratroopers (page 207), there was a fighting knife without any numbering. This had a plastic handle (not bakelite). This handle is not as brittle as the previously mentioned models. This book also emphasizes that there is no KM 66 knife that was equipped with a black handle.
The other variant of the "zero series" was from the remnants (parts) from the manufacturing plant, produced post 1990, after the unification of Germany. They display a handle material from a kind of black to dark gray hard rubber that is "Poured” or partially cured over the blade and painted red.
Other sources:
e.g. Dietmar Pohl - German special forces knives (Messer deutscher Spezialeinheiten)
http://veb-schneidwaren.de.to
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