Description
WW2 Germany Paul Weyersberg paratrooper knife Fallschirmjäger-Messer “gravity knife”, rare late war takedown 2nd model. Interesting custom-made replacement blade; all original springs are intact; mechanically functional.
Scarce WW2 era German Luftwaffe crews and airborne units “Fallschirmjäger Messer” paratrooper “gravity” knife – this is the late-war production “all-carbon-steel” Fallschirmjäger-Messer Model 2 specimen manufactured by Paul Weyersberg & Co. in Solingen, Germany. This is a pretty rare late-war Model 2 takedown type with what looks like a custom-made replacement blade. The knife is guarantees to be 100% original WW2 item or your money back. The blade seems to me made at a factory as it is expertly finished but it lucks the customary series number at the base. The tip of the blade is very unusual as it incorporates the “catch” for the blade to securely stay inside of the blade when not in use. Could it be the late-war variation or someone’s unique attempt to replace a broken original blade? It’s impossible to tell at this point. The knife is in very good overall condition; the bolster has some light pitting; the spike is in excellent shape; all original springs are intact. Original wood handle scales are in decent condition as well. This rare knife is in very much working order still.
This exact type, as well as earlier non-takedown Model 1 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 nowadays; see the dedicated German gravity knives page, courtesy of Wikipedia. Developed in 1937, this type was originally issued to the German paratroopers as an emergency-assist knife which could be operated one-handed to cut entangled parachute cords, cut lines, untie paracords with the “marlin spike”, 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 Skijäger infantry regiment – “ski troops” 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 take-down Model 2 FS 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 it became a subject of envy to all the rest of the men in uniform.
This is a scarce late-war Paul Weyersberg Model 2 specimen with all high-carbon steel (non-stainless) metal parts and the blade . Original D-ring shackle is stainless. Early-war Model 1 non-takedown Fallschirmjäger-Messers were made from high-quality stainless steel. But by mid-war stainless steel was becoming scarce in Germany and most of the “non-essential” wartime production had to switch to “regular” high-carbon steel. Still, it wasn’t until late in the war when Paul Weyersberg had finally ran out of various stainless steel parts and had switched to all-carbon steel production. Soon thereafter the Allies had bombed the Solingen factories to smithereens, effectively ending all manufacturing until the war’s end. Late-war “all-carbon steel” production Fallschirmjäger-Messers are hard to find because there weren’t many of them manufactured in the first place. This knife is about 6-1/8″ / 15.5 cm closed; the blade is about 4″ / 10.2 cm long. Original patina on the steel; some light pitting on the bolster is noted for accuracy. The blade is razor-sharp still; the tip is intact. The blade comes in and out of the handle well. Heavy-duty marlin spike is about 3-3/4” / 9.5 cm; The base of the spike is sharply stamped with the standard “eagle 5” Luftwaffe proof mark on one side. The knife could be taken apart for maintenance or a blade replacement; the blade lock, the two-part steel bolster and the frame interior are correctly stamped with various late-war production series numbers – see photos. The internal blade spring is nice and tight; the spike holds well – these late-war 2nd model Fallschirmjäger-Messers are scarce in any shape or form nowadays.
Overall, in spite of the advanced age and obvious signs of abuse, this original WW2 Germany Paul Weyersberg paratrooper knife Fallschirmjäger-Messer is in very good shape, considering the age – after 80+ years this original WW2 Germany Paul Weyersberg paratrooper knife is still in good working condition. Today most of the surviving German WW2 era Fallschirmjäger-Messer paratrooper knives are in private collections & rarely come up for sale; don’t miss your chance to add this rare late-war specimen to your collection! 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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