Original Item. Only One Available. This is an original German WWII PUMA Solingen fixed-blade fighting knife, commonly referred to as a Nahkampfmesser or "boot knife," complete with its steel scabbard. Manufactured by PUMA-Werk, Lauterjung & Sohn of Solingen, Germany, the knife features a broad, single-edged steel blade with a gradually tapering profile and sharply pointed tip. The blade has a pronounced ricasso and is clearly stamped with the manufacturer's two-line marking:

PUMA SOLINGEN

The hilt consists of two smoothly contoured, dark reddish-brown wooden grip scales secured to the full tang by three metal rivets. The grip widens toward its rounded pommel and narrows toward the guard, providing a comfortable and secure hold. A simple, slightly oval steel crossguard separates the grip from the blade.

The accompanying steel scabbard has a black-painted finish, a rounded throat, and a tapered body terminating in a rounded point. A long, flat steel spring clip is riveted to the reverse, allowing the knife to be carried on a belt, attached to equipment, or tucked inside a tall boot.

The knife and scabbard are in well-worn condition, showing considerable age, use, and storage wear. The blade has extensive surface scratching, sharpening marks, scattered dark oxidation, staining, and areas of discoloration across both faces. The original surface finish is substantially worn, although the blade retains its full general profile, pointed tip, and legible PUMA SOLINGEN marking. The wooden grip scales remain intact, showing surface scratches, scuffing, and wear to the finish, while the steel guard displays scratches and age-related discoloration. The scabbard exhibits particularly heavy wear, with extensive loss of its black painted finish, widespread oxidation, surface staining, and abrasions exposing the underlying metal. The scabbard tip is visibly dented and deformed, with localized distortion of the metal at its end. The rear spring clip remains attached and exhibits oxidation and surface wear.

Measurements:

Blade Length: 5¾" [14.6 cm]
Overall Knife Length: 10" [25.4 cm]
Scabbard Length: 6¼" [15.9 cm]
Overall Length When Sheathed: 10½" [26.7 cm]

Historical Context

The Nahkampfmesser, or close-combat knife, had an established place in German military equipment by the outbreak of WWII. Its origins can be traced to the trench fighting of WWI, when German soldiers increasingly carried short fixed-blade knives for use in confined defensive positions, dugouts, and close-quarters engagements. These weapons became known as Grabendolche, or trench daggers, and helped establish a practical pattern of compact military knives that remained in use during the interwar years.

During WWII, German soldiers continued to carry Nahkampfmesser for both combat and ordinary field duties. Their compact size made them convenient personal tools for cutting rope, preparing food, opening supplies, and maintaining equipment. The steel spring clips fitted to many scabbards permitted several carrying arrangements, including placement inside a tall marching boot. This method of carriage gave rise to the familiar designation "boot knife," although these knives could also be attached to belts and other field equipment.

Production involved established German cutlery manufacturers, particularly firms operating in Solingen, the country's principal center of edged-weapon manufacture. One of these was PUMA-Werk, Lauterjung & Sohn, whose origins date to the eighteenth century. The Lauterjung family had been involved in the manufacture of blades since at least 1769, and the PUMA-Werk name was formally registered in 1900. By the early twentieth century, the company had developed an extensive range of hunting, sporting, and military knives, supported by an international export business.

Following the expansion of German rearmament in the 1930s, PUMA became increasingly involved in military production. Between 1936 and 1945, the firm's output included bayonets, officer daggers, Fahrtenmesser, and combat knives intended for military use. Its existing experience in manufacturing durable fixed-blade knives suited the demands of wartime production, when large quantities of practical edged weapons were required for the rapidly expanding armed forces.

German fighting knives of this period were obtained through various military and commercial channels, and their use extended across different branches of the armed forces. Although particularly associated with infantrymen and personnel operating in forward positions, the Nahkampfmesser was a general-purpose personal weapon whose practical value extended throughout military service. The continuing manufacture of these knives during WWII illustrates the importance of traditional edged weapons even as automatic firearms and mechanized warfare increasingly dominated the battlefield.