Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. This is a wonderful WWII U.S. Army "Theater Made" fighting knife, 11 3/4 inches in length, with a 7 1/2 inch steel spear point blade. These knives were made by the armorers and engineers on request, and were quite popular with paratroopers. Usually the blades were made from existing weapons or from steel components, and the hilts were cast from metals such as aluminum or zinc.
This example has a very nice stacked leather grip with aluminum and brass washers interspersed, and has an aluminum pommel, while the cross guard is brass. The pommel also bears the initials and Army Serial Number of the owner:
C.G.
42091432
Research at the NARA Archive indicates this knife was owned by Clifford Goff, born in 1925, who was from Niagara County New York and enlisted 12/23/43. Unfortunately Goff was Killed in action in Belgium on January 2 1945. Records show he was first listed as LWA (Lightly Wounded in Action), but this was updated subsequently to KIA. These records are located at the 134th Infantry Regiment Casualty Report. This regiment was part of the 35th Infantry Division, which had moved to Arlon, Belgium December 25–26, and took part in the fighting to relieve Bastogne, throwing off the attacks of four German divisions, taking Villers-laBonne-Eau on 10 January, after a 13-day fight and Lutrebois in a 5-day engagement. It was during this engagement that Clifford Goff almost certainly lost his life.
However, this is somewhat interesting, as the 134th was drawn from the Omaha Nebraska Area, and was a National Guard unit prior to being federalized for the war. Clifford Goff may have been reassigned there as a relief soldier, as if we look at the scabbard, it would appear that he was not originally assigned there.
The scabbard is marked with a Parachute Symbol over 82 and 504, which would indicate the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division. Both units were the same areas of Belgium during the war, so it is not unlikely that a soldier could have been transferred as needed.
Definitely an interesting piece of WWII Militaria. Ready to research and display!
Specifications:
Blade Length: 7 ½"
Blade Style: Spear Point Double Edged Knife
Overall length: 11 ¾“
Crossguard: 2”
Scabbard Length: 8" with Belt Loop
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