Original Item. Only One Available. This is a very interesting Imperial German WWI-era private-purchase dress or fighting knife manufactured by Carl Eickhorn of Solingen. Its overall form closely follows the appearance of contemporary German walking-out and dress bayonets, with a bird’s-head pommel, checkered grips, short blade, and steel scabbard, but it lacks the functional mounting arrangement required for attachment to a rifle.

This example has a very nice set of original checkered bakelite grips, held in place by two steel rivets. The bird's head pommel is in good shape, with a moderately-oxidized patina.

The reverse ricasso is stamped with the Carl Eickhorn "Two Squirrel" trademark over C.E., for manufacture by the legendary firm of Carl Eickhorn, located in Solingen, the "City of Blades" in Western Germany. Per J. Anthony Carter's book GERMAN KNIFE AND SWORD MAKERS, this specific version of the mark was used on swords, "walking out" bayonets, and other similar items after 1906. This is exactly the mark that should be on a WWI Blade.

This company was founded in 1865 by Carl Eickhorn, and is arguably the most famous of all Solingen makers. Not only could the family trace their history back 500 years, but they could also demonstrate involvement in the hardening and grinding industries for the same period. Truly the nobility of Solingen Edged weapon dynasties. Eickhorn edged weapons are the most desirable of all makers.

The knife comes in a genuine rolled steel World War One scabbard with a period-replaced belt loop attached by two rivets and nuts. There is heavy loss to the black finish and the leather has raw edges, cut from another larger piece. There is verdigris under one rivet. The belt loop was not designed with a securing strap.

The combination of the short blade, military-style hilt, nonfunctional bayonet fitting, private-purchase construction, and compact scabbard is consistent with the broad family of German dress and fighting knives carried privately by soldiers during the Imperial period.

Such knives are frequently referred to by collectors as trench knives, although that term should not be taken to mean that every example was specifically manufactured for or documented as having been used in trench combat.

This example is especially interesting for its strong Two Squirrel / C.E. Carl Eickhorn trademark, original checkered grips, distinctive bird’s-head pommel, and surviving WWI-style steel scabbard. The oxidized hilt, heavy scabbard finish loss, verdigris, and replaced leather belt loop all reflect substantial age and use while preserving the knife’s principal original features.

Dimensions:
Blade length: 5 3/4”
Overall length: 10 1/8”
Scabbard length: 6 1/8" + frog