WW1 Trench Knife?

[sb98]

I think this is a fine, original knife and scabbard. I've seen this mark on Erns before. I had a well used one with a different Ern maker mark that also had "Germany" stamped on it. Erns with this mark show up fairly often. They have Imperial inspection marks and I suspect the were sold as surplus and marked "Germany" after the war. Just a hunch about the "Germany", but the knife and scabbard are textbook WWI for me.

[rick1]

Knife is not fake and is 100% original WW1 trench knife...though less desirable with the germany stamp on it. Some of these were marked for export like this one. (even then they were wanted) You dont usually see both the imperial crown and germany stamp, but I have seen them.

[Reibert-Austria]

I think this is a fine, original knife and scabbard. I've seen this mark on Erns before. I had a well used one with a different Ern maker mark that also had "Germany" stamped on it. Erns with this mark show up fairly often. They have Imperial inspection marks and I suspect the were sold as surplus and marked "Germany" after the war. Just a hunch about the "Germany", but the knife and scabbard are textbook WWI for me.

Hi, Tim !

Please, would you show us pics of the knife, you had ?
Was the stamping:
ERN WALD, RHEINL., and, (on the opposite), RASIERMESSER-FABRIK ?

There´re also trench-knive´s from Friedrich Ern, without "proof-mark"
They´re private purchased.

If you want this knife, look here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Very-Nice-WW1-GE...-/270569949482

Rgds.,

R.

[sb98]

Hi Reibert,

Unfortunately the only picture of the knife I used to have is from the seller's ebay listing. It was marked ERN WALD, RHEINL. and GERMANY, but I can't remember if it also had RASIERMESSER-FABRIK. It was well used and had been re-tipped.

[JAYP]

The knife is 100% OK,there were lots of these left over after WW1 and they were exported and sold to the US.They had to be marked Germany due to customs regulations,the same thing was done at the end of WW2 with Afrika Korp pith helmets thousands were imported into the US all stamped made in Germany all are 100% original.Jay Parisi

[Frogprince]

.... exported .... to the US.They had to be marked Germany due to customs regulations ....

I think that where some confusion is caused is that newly manufactured items intended for export to the U.S. had “Germany” on them intentionally. Being properly centered along with the maker’s name on the ricassso - when the item was made.

Versus surplus items. Which had the marking usually applied haphazardly, just to allow them to be imported in whatever condition they were at the time. FP

[sb98]

Hi, Tim !

Please, would you show us pics of the knife, you had ?
Was the stamping:
ERN WALD, RHEINL., and, (on the opposite), RASIERMESSER-FABRIK ?

Hi Reibert,

I came across a couple more pictures of the knife I used to have. It was marked as you said.

[cerick1450]

Hi All

I have a very similar knife that I have posted before. My knife came from a WW2 vets estate. The picker I purchased it from insisted that it was a WW2 vet bringback according to the family that held the estate sale... Here are a few pics.

Charlie

[Reibert-Austria]

Hi, Charlie !

Your trench knife seem´s to be a Hugo Köller.

It´s a pitty, that it is polished extremely ...

[cerick1450]

Hi

I showed it two several collectors at a Military show a while back. They were non-commital . Several thought it was an original blade that was in extremely good condition that has been cleaned/wiped down alot over the years... I am not sure. I have had it for many years. For my own in formation, What is the value on this knife in this condition?

Thanks
Charlie