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WW II Knife Identification

Gentlemen- I recently recieved several items my grandfather brought back from Germany in the mid forties. Any help identifying it? I have spent hours on the internet. No luck. Single edge, double fuller. brass and appears to be a poly handle?

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Permalink Reply by Kevin D on December 14, 2022 at 17:57

That is really neat.

I am surprised it is only a single edge though.

No markings on the ricasso at all?

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Permalink Reply by Lars Ray on December 14, 2022 at 21:23

Hello Robert - welcome to iKC! Always good to have another bayonet collector in the club! (Yea - I read the bio!)

This fabulous piece you have here is a French M1860 Naval Administration Officer's dirk, or poignard if you prefer. Based on your description above and it's origin into your hands, I can only assume it is an original and not a reproduction.

The design of its hilt is an homage to the hilts of the Directoire and Premier Empire periods, with an ebony grip and brass furniture, and a bi-fullered 38-38.5 cm-long blade. You can easily confirm if your grip is ebony or a poly-type handle by taking it to any reputable wood worker. Old or aged ebony can look and feel like a poly to the untrained eye. If it is indeed ebony - you have the real deal.

The brass rondel on yours (that piece between the blade and the cross guard) looks a bit thin compared to other models I have seen - which really doesn't mean anything, or it could mean yours is either an earlier model or a later one. Hard to say just from the photos.

These were issued with a leather scabbard fitted with a brass Locket (top mount and throat) and frog stud, and a brass Chape (end mount) and finial that hung from a frog like a bayonet rather than a sling as was fashionable in later years.

As to value - well, that's anybody's guess. All the usual factors come into play - condition, scarcity, with or without scabbard, etc, etc, etc. Once you confirm it's authentic, it's worth whatever you want for it providing you find someone who will pay that price!

Military dirks from Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, and Croatia (2nd tier collectibles) in really bad condition with missing parts can run the price range of $150 - $300. Yours looks to be in pretty nice shape - so even without a scabbard, I would not be surprised to see something like this for a $500 starting price.

I hope this will help you sleep better at night now that you know!

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Permalink Reply by Lars Ray on December 14, 2022 at 22:01

P.S. - I forgot to add...being that this reportedly came from Germany makes sense, as this model dirk was also contracted from the French and issued to the German Fire Service. All things being equal, unless there are markings that identify either service specifically, it's hard to say for sure where it saw service. Regardless, it's still an M1860...which is what really matters. In addition, some who have put these up for sale on Ebay in the past have stated that the handle is horn, which again can be mistaken for a poly....but then I do not really trust the casual sale on Ebay for authoritative details such as that.

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Permalink Reply by Dennis Hibar on December 15, 2022 at 3:27

Lars once again comes to the rescue!!

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Permalink Reply by Robert on December 15, 2022 at 4:45

Wow- that was fast. I was thinking French based on the look and feel, but never saw an example close to it. I really appreciate the help on this one. It is authentic as with all the other stuff i received (it was all in the same duffel bag). :). I wanted to research every piece to know where it came from. some items off the field in Belgium. Others from Paris. I think i will keep the lot together and let it age with my son. Thanks again for everyone's responses.