Original Item: Only One Available. This is a fair example of the rare German WWII Bakelite Handled Trench Knife with a custom leather sheath, either put together by a German soldier or an Allied soldier who captured it. It is made in typical World War II "trench knife" style, with a 5 3/4 inch drop-point dagger blade and an overall length of 10 inches. The knife has contoured red bakelite grip scales, retained with three pins. The hilt has a small oval cross guard and the blade is stamped on the ricasso with the PUMA / SOLINGEN trademark.

Known as the "City of Blades", Solingen is a city in western Germany with a blade-making history going back centuries. Lauterjung & Sohn, Puma-werk (PumaWorks) is a known producer of SS, SA, and NSKK daggers during the Pre-WWII period and after, and made a full line of private purchase items during WWII. The company was originally founded on a small scale in 1796, and later Nathanael Lauterjung officially opened a cutlery and knife making workshop in Solingen during 1855. After his death, the name was changed and registered as "Puma-Werk", to avoid confusion with the other Lauterjung-owned workshops in Solingen. For more information please see J. Anthony Carter's fine work GERMAN SWORD AND KNIFE MAKERS.

The custom leather sheath has a very strange design, with a very thin belt loop and securing strap. The securing strap is a bit weak so exercise caution when handling it. The stitching of the body is heavily missing, but there is a small leather loop riveted to the bottom with a hanging ring for a lanyard.

The knife is in good service-worn condition. There is heavy sharpening to the blade with some oxidation peppering where it has not been sharpened. The blade buffer is gone, but the bakelite grip scales are in fair condition, with some cracking at the pommel on one side.

Solingen had been one of Germany’s principal centers of edged-tool manufacture for centuries. The Lauterjung family’s PUMA enterprise traces its documented origins to the 18th century, with the PUMA-Werk, Lauterjung & Sohn name later registered for the Solingen business.

During the Third Reich era, PUMA manufactured military and political edged weapons as well as commercial knives available for private purchase. Compact fighting knives were not always standardized issue equipment, and many German soldiers acquired suitable commercial patterns through military outfitters or civilian retailers.

The PUMA-marked blade, red Bakelite scales, compact fighting-knife profile, heavy sharpening, and improvised leather sheath give this example the appearance of a knife that experienced extended practical use. The cracked grip, absent blade buffer, oxidation, modified edge, weak retaining strap, and missing sheath stitching are all significant condition factors, but the principal components remain together as an evocative example of a WWII-period German private-purchase fighting knife.

Specifications:
Blade Length: 5 3/4"
Blade Style: Single Edged Knife with Drop Point
Overall length: 10“
Crossguard: 1 1/2”
Scabbard Length: 7 3/8” + belt loop