Boot Knife Opinions Please

[FloridaLancer]

Hey guys,
I'm interested in this boot knife, but have heard of many repro's done in the 90's, so I wanted to get your opinions first.. Not the best pictures, but hopefully you guys still tell.. The only marking is "Tiger Solingen"

Thanks for your help guys!

[AndyC]

Looks ok to me
I have nearly the same model



Andy

[AndyC]

2

[Reibert-Austria]

Looks ok to me
I have nearly the same model



Andy

Hi, Andy !

You do have the same pattern knife !

Both of them are Infanteriemesser 42 and both of them are WWII made.

[AndyC]

Yes and i understand that they are not so common on the market


Andy

[Reibert-Austria]

.. The only marking is "Tiger Solingen"

...

Would you post an image of the maker ?

Interesting, that the grip plates are fixed with only two rivets, (usually they´re fixed with three rivets on this pattern fighting knife !).

BTW, Lauterjung & Co., Tiger Stahlwaren und Waffenfabrik, Solingen manufactured an other pattern fighting knife also, (grip-plates also fixed with two rivets), in almost the same design of the Infanteriemesser 42.

[AndyC]

I miss that thing when i did a comment.
Yes normaly the should have 3 rivets


Andy

[FloridaLancer]

Unfortunately they are the sellers pics, but here is a picture of the maker from a distance. Would this be a later war variant?

[Reibert-Austria]

... Would this be a later war variant?

This kind of fighting knives were manufactured from 1942 on, so, what do you mean with "later war variant" ?

Some folks mean, "edged" grip plates are characteristics of "late war variants" but I think, it´s an evidence for one, (or more), specific maker(s).
Other ones mean, coded maker´s upon the blade are signs of "late war variants".

Both I cannot confirm.

This pattern fighting knife is not really seldom seen and I´d pass on this particular Infanteriemesser 42 .
It shows a heavilly slurred and, obviously, shortened blade.

[FloridaLancer]

I was just wondering why there would be this kind of variant, and I guessed that it might be a late war piece... But I know nothing about these knives..

[Reibert-Austria]

I was just wondering why there would be this kind of variant, and I guessed that it might be a late war piece... But I know nothing about these knives..

Believe me, Bud, not many guy´s are knowin´ much more ´bout this knife than you !

It´s a fact that this pattern fighting knife of the Wehrmacht was "officially" termed as "Infanteriemesser 42", (source: Merkblatt 25/3. Anleitung für den Nahkampf, 15.4.1944), and was made by Gebr. Gräfrath, Tiger, Alcoso, Gebr. Weyersberg, F.W. Höller, Herder, Eickhorn, W.K.C., Klaas and Karl Wolfertz & Söhne, (these are the maker´s I found out and, IMO, these are not all of them ! ...).

It´s a fact, that the Infanteriemesser 42 was made in different blade versions, the scabbards were comin´ with different scabbard clips and the grip plates usually were made of walnut, (some few were comin´ with staghorn grips, IMO, private purchased), and were fixed with three rivets.
There´re also belt loops known, made of plastic, (mostly seen on Infanteriemesser 42, made by Eickhorn).

It´s a fact, that the grip plates were coming in differen variations, (blunt and edged).

The makers were marked with a logo or a code upon the blade.
IMO most of the Infanteriemesser 42 were not maker marked !

There´re Infanteriemeeser 42 marked with a code, and, also, the year of manufacture, f.e. hat 1942, (Gebrüder Gräfrath, knife manufactured in 1942).
Till today I only have seen coded knives, manufactured in 1942, (f.e. 42 hat, 42 fze, 42 cvl, 42 asw).

There´s nothin´ known ´bout the manufactured quantity, nothing, when the production started in 1942 and when it stopped finally.
There´s nothin´ known about, if this knife was initially provided for, (worn in), "special" units only, or in "common" units also.
There´s nothing known about, if this knife was in use in units of the Luftwaffe also, (Feld-Divisionen).

I never, ever heard about an Infanteriemesser 42 with an acceptance mark stamped upon the blade, or, upon of one of the grip plates !

Infanteriemesser 42, showin´ an Wehrmacht-Heer acceptance mark, or, an RBNr., ("Reichsbetriebs-Nummer"), or, an Wehrmacht-Luftwaffe-Acceptance mark are, (IMO !), fakes !

Rgds.,

R.

[FloridaLancer]

Excellent information!!! Thanks for all of your help!!!!

[JohnZ]

Reibert:

What is your opinion of ones marked 'cof' alone?

And, I saw for sale on a dealer site a boot knife with the over shoulder Eickhorn squirrel mark. Is this a legitimate marking?

John

[Reibert-Austria]

...

What is your opinion of ones marked 'cof' alone?

And, I saw for sale on a dealer site a boot knife with the over shoulder Eickhorn squirrel mark. Is this a legitimate marking?

...

Yes, both of these Eickhorn markings are OK !

Rgd. the "over sholder sqirrel" Eick:
below the sqirrel the marking:
ORIGINAL
EICKHORN
SOLINGEN

[JohnZ]

Reibert:

Thank you.

John