Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of the French WWI M1916 type 2 Fighting Knife, pattern 41 made by GONON, as marked on the blade ricasso. It comes complete with it's original blued steel scabbard. These are often called Le Vengeur de 1870 (The Avenger of 1870), in reference to the lost war against the Prussian Army in 1870. After the defeat of France in 1940 the Germans captured large quantities M1916's and these were then used in Norway. The M1916 knife was also tested in Sweden during the immediate post war years.
The blade design on these knives is quite similar to that of the U.S. Mark 1 Trench knife, with a 6 1/2 inch long double-edged spear point shape, out of the overall length of 11 inches. This example still bears much of the original factory final grind cross grain, with some light staining from age. The blade also has been sharpened post-factory, but not to a large extent. The blade marking is mostly clear, though the "G" in Gonon looks to be a "C".
The flat steel crossguard remains nice and straight, though it does have staining and light oxidation on the unfinished steel. The nicely toned walnut grip has a great color and grain with cracks, chips, or major dents. The handle is on solidly, with no play on the blade tang.
The blued steel scabbard is in very nice condition, with no major damage we can see. It was however wrapped with electrical tape, probably as an effort to make it less reflective, sometime during the post WWII Period.
A very nice example of a WWI French fighting knife! Ready to display!
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