Description
Germany WW2 Paul Weyersberg Fallschirmjager-Messer paratrooper knife; rare early-production non-takedown Model 1 type; great overall condition, considering the age.
Scarce pre-WW2 manufacture German airborne units “Fallschirmjäger Messer” fighting knife manufactured by Paul Weyersberg & Co. in Solingen, Germany. This is a scarce pre-war manufacture Model 1 specimen with all stainless steel metal parts; a few are stamped with production series number 80 indicating some of the first batches of FS knives manufactured for the Luftwaffe. All springs are intact; the knife is in very much working order still.
Developed in 1937, Fallschirmjäger Messer was originally only issued to the German paratroopers as an emergency-assist knife which could be operated one-handed to cut entangled parachute cords, etc. Later in the war this type was issued to all Luftwaffe aircrews (WW2 German Airforce). In 1944 a number of FS knives were also issued to a Wehrmacht Skijäger – army “ski troops” infantry regiment operating in the northern Ukraine / central Belorussia forests. See a couple of rare WW2 era reference photos of German Skijägers on a winter patrol in the Ukrainian Pripyat region in 1944. One of the Skijägers clearly has a nice Fallschirmjäger Messer dangling off his belt (photos are for reference only and will not be included with the knife). A relatively small number of 350,000 Fallschirmjäger-Messer knives were produced in total by six different manufacturers; very few survived the war in decent condition. The knife was large enough, practical, and reliable in the field; it was well-received by the airborne troops and became a subject of envy to all the rest of the men in uniform. The early FS Model 1 type made by Paul Weyersberg & Co, as well as later take-down Model 2 types are illustrated on pages 239-242 the excellent French reference book Knives and Daggers-Bayonets Used by the German Army During 1914-1945 by Christian Mary (see the book’s scans attached). These large Fallschirmjäger-Messer knives are pretty hard to find in original condition nowadays. See the dedicated German gravity knives page, courtesy of Wikipedia.
Pre-war manufacture specimen with all stainless steel metal parts stamped with early production series numbers. By mid-war stainless steel was becoming scarce in Germany and most of the “non-essential” wartime production had to switch to a “regular” high-carbon steel. In later-production Fallschirmjäger Messer knives stainless steel parts had been gradually replaced by blued carbon steel due to the wartime shortages of the strategic material. Also, I have one well-preserved take-down Model 2 late-war Fallschirmjäger Messers specimen available for sale, if you are interested.
The knife is about 6-1/8″ / 15.5 cm closed; the blade is about 4-1/8″ / 10.5 cm long; the blade has been re-sharpened and is razor-sharp still; the tip is intact. The blade has been re-sharpened but overall it’s in excellent shape, considering the age. Stainless steel blade is finely etched Paul Weyersberg / SOLINGEN / ROSTFREI on one side. Heavy-duty marlin spike is about 3-5/8” / 9.2 cm; spike tip is intact; the base of the spike is stamped with an early “small” eagle 5 Luftwaffe proof mark. The internal blade spring is nice and tight; the spike holds well, original D-ring stainless steel shackle is intact; a utility belt/gear hook is still attached to the shackle. The spike spring is in perfect working order; the spike opens and closes with a sharp snap. Original hardwood handle scales with 4 steel pins; the handle is in very good overall condition with no cracks or chips; a few minor contact marks on the wood are noted for accuracy. All handle parts are tight with no play – this type is rare this nice. These are the actual photos; Stg-44 rounds are not included with the knife 😉
After 80 plus years this original Germany WW2 Paul Weyersberg Fallschirmjager-Messer paratrooper knife is still in very good shape, considering the age. Today most of the surviving model 1 Germany WW2 Paul Weyersberg Fallschirmjager-Messer paratrooper knife types are in private collections & rarely come up for sale; don’t miss your chance to add this specimen to your collection. This is a consignment item with a set reserve. Please check out our Collectable Blades and Militaria sections for a variety of custom-made and various WW1 and WW2 combat knives.
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