{"product_id":"original-german-wwii-bakelite-handle-trench-fighting-knife-by-puma-werk-with-custom-leather-sheath","title":"Original German WWII Bakelite Handle Trench Fighting Knife by PUMA-Werk with Custom Leather Sheath","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is a fantastic 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 \u003cstrong\u003ePUMA \/ SOLINGEN \u003c\/strong\u003etrademark.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKnown as the \"City of Blades\", Solingen is a city in western Germany with a blade-making history going back centuries. \u003cem\u003eLauterjung \u0026amp; Sohn, Puma-werk \u003c\/em\u003e(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 \u003cem\u003eGERMAN SWORD AND KNIFE MAKERS\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe custom leather sheath has a very strange design, with an attachment hole that we aren’t familiar with. We aren’t sure if this was meant to be attached to a boot, belt, or what. A good research project. The securing strap and snap are similarly strange, with straight cuts made on both sides, with one half-cut seeming to have weakened the strap. An odd but certainly period example. The sheath shows heavy wear and is a bit stiff.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe knife is in good service-worn condition. There is heavy wear to the blade with some oxidation peppering. There is some sharpening evident near the edge, with two very small chips. The blade buffer is gone, but the bakelite grip scales are in fair condition, with just heavy verdigris to one side.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA great example of a Bakelite-Handle PUMA Fighting knife from WWII, complete with a custom-made sheath and ready to display!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBlade Length: 5 3\/4\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBlade Style: Single Edged Knife with Drop Point\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOverall length: 10“\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCrossguard: 1 1\/2”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan\u003eScabbard Length: 6” + attachment strap\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42603582521413,"sku":"ONSV23JSF1","price":495.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONSV23JSF1__01.jpg?v=1743178110","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-wwii-bakelite-handle-trench-fighting-knife-by-puma-werk-with-custom-leather-sheath","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}