All About Pocket Knives

1. Bundeswehr Taschenmesser 5110-12-162-8215 a.k.a. German Army Knife (GAK) 108 mm. The next model is 111mm, one hand opening, from 2003. Produced for the army by at least 10 companies.
2. Kabelklappmesser 5110-12-120-0816. The first samples for the Bundeswehr were delivered in 1959, produced by the following companies: JOWIKA / Carl Wittgens / IROKA, Jurgen Stamm, Otto Forster-Witzhelden, Donges GmbH & Co. KG.
3. Takelmesser Bundesmarine 5110-12-120-3974, a.k.a. Bordmesser mit Marlspieker. The first samples of the Bordmesser mit Marlspieker (sailors knife with marlin spike) 5110-12-120-3974, namely so it is called in official documents, were produced and delivered to the Navy from 1958 to 1992 where they are still used today. Produced by several subcontractors (Hugo Koller, Dr. Feicke GmbH, Jurgen Stamm, Otto Forste
4. Fallmesser-Kappmesser 1095-12-120-1119 / 7340-12-120-1119, or a paratrooper gravity knife. On armament from 59 to 63. Produced by Weyersberg, Kirschbaum & Co (WKC), Carl Eickhorn, Othello and Anton Wingen Jr. After that there is another model BW Kappmesser fur LL-Truppe 7340-12-140-1031, which I hope one day to own.

Nice collection of military knives. Thank you for showing them and explaining their histories. Are these difficult to find?

Ken

The first two are easy and are not expensive. Manufactured by many companies and in large quantities. There are also many civilian copies.
The third - Marlin spike - is difficult to find from the production intended for the German Navy. At the moment I can find on sale only in Russia, but the order is little risky from there. There are a lot of civilian copies of various Chinese companies. Only the Italian Fox Company had an order for this knife from the Bundesmarine and sells the same model freely.
The most difficult to find is the gravity knife, especially in good condition. It was only 3 years of armament, and small quantities were produced exclusively for the army. Currently, according to Germany's laws, it is illegal to own.

Thank you for the information. In my experience it is very rare to see Bundeswehr knives in USA. Since mid-1980s until 2013 I have spent a good deal of time off and on in Western Europe (as far east as Budapest) and do not recall seeing any Bundeswehr knives there either. Which is what led me to ask the question. Perhaps I wasn't looking in the right places, or they have been made illegal so they are not sold.

Ken

The Germans have found a way to bypass the legal requirements - selling handles and blades separately.

https://www.ebay.de/itm/Bundeswehr-nur- ... Sw8A1aav8c

https://www.ebay.de/itm/Bundeswehrmesse ... 0005.m1851

Very informative thread, thank you

The W.W.II (earlier) version of their "gravity" knife has wood grips on it. //Look carefully at the springy blade retention device if you find one of these!!! The metal is almost always cracked right near where one of the pins goes thru it; the blade will still work(come out of the handle in spite of this defect).thank you...

Good information thank you very much

New addition Bundeswehr kampfmesser

6 years to the day! Awesome group, Georgi, I love that gravity knife.

German navy bundesmarine takelmesser.

Full tang and well built.

1967redrider wrote: ↑Tue Jan 28, 2025 4:46 pm Full tang and well built.

I've been wanting one in good condition for a long time. I like its simple shape.

Georgi, you would really like this Ontario Knife Co. Blackbird. 4 ¾" blade, 9 ⅞" overall, full tang and linen Micarta.

Eustace wrote: ↑Tue Jan 28, 2025 5:46 pm

1967redrider wrote: ↑Tue Jan 28, 2025 4:46 pm Full tang and well built.

I've been wanting one in good condition for a long time. I like its simple shape.

Easy to see why you like it Georgi. Simple shape but so usable. Congrats.

1967redrider wrote: ↑Tue Jan 28, 2025 11:49 pm Georgi, you would really like this Ontario Knife Co. Blackbird. 4 ¾" blade, 9 ⅞" overall, full tang and linen Micarta.

Actually yes, I like it. I think to make something like this. Do you know what is the steel?

doglegg wrote: ↑Wed Jan 29, 2025 1:08 am

Eustace wrote: ↑Tue Jan 28, 2025 5:46 pm

1967redrider wrote: ↑Tue Jan 28, 2025 4:46 pm Full tang and well built.

I've been wanting one in good condition for a long time. I like its simple shape.

Easy to see why you like it Georgi. Simple shape but so usable. Congrats.

Thanks, Floyd!

Eustace wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 6:35 pm

1967redrider wrote: ↑Tue Jan 28, 2025 11:49 pm Georgi, you would really like this Ontario Knife Co. Blackbird. 4 ¾" blade, 9 ⅞" overall, full tang and linen Micarta.

Actually yes, I like it. I think to make something like this. Do you know what is the steel?

154CM blade.