All About Pocket Knives

I bought this knife on eBay from the Ukraine. Seller said it was found in a barn and was a killed or passing German soldier’s forgotten knife from World War II. The stamp is a hot air balloon with two flags on either side of the balloon. Has anybody ever seen the stamp and is it really German or Eastern European? I will not be disappointed with either. I just want to know what it is.

I've been looking hard, and for whatever it's worth, here's the best I could find-

The knife below has what appears to be a hot air balloon tang stamp with two flags sticking out the sides. It's also marked "J.W. Waterhouse, Sheffield".

Here is some information about J.W. (John William) Waterhouse, not to be confused with the artist by the same name- https://www.hawleysheffieldknives.com/n ... wA&kel=444

I don't know if Waterhouse made this knife themselves, or had it made for them. So the balloon mark could be somebody else.

Like I said, it's the best I could find.

Dude, you’re awesome for even caring about looking for this. I would totally agree with the fact that it is a Sheffield unless this knife literally came from Ukraine. I saw the postmark on the package myself. I talked to the seller in Ukraine and had to translate it. He said it was found in a barn that German soldiers had “supposedly”been around and were using as shelter via oral history during the war, and before it was torn down, they searched it with a metal detector and found this knife. I can’t imagine what a Sheffield would be doing in Ukraine unless a Britt SOE dropped his knife. And you would think anything given to the SOE would have no insignia or stamps so as not to give away their soldiers. Granted the pictures I’ve sent you of this knife are after I have cleaned it up. Perhaps it’s more historically relevant if I had left it in its original condition, but I let it sit in evapo-rust. Because I was curious if there were more markings underneath which I could not see. Unfortunately, the tang stamp which I originally seen was the only thing on the knife to identify it. But I wanna say that yours is the closest I’ve seen so far. So it’s not out of the realm of possibility that the Ukrainian that sold me this knife straight up lied to me. Who really knows right? Thank you again.

Here’s another picture of the stamp. It’s quite a bit more detailed than the Sheffield stamp. I’m not arguing that it’s not a Sheffield. But if it is, it is either a later variation which is much more detailed with different amounts of squares in the balloon and just more details in general. If anyone can find a Sheffield catalog that would be friggin awesome. And if anyone can say, this is Eastern European or more excitedly a German especially a Solingen stamp from the war. Oh, I would be just so giddy. Lol. I kind of doubt that but just know knowing what it is would give me a peace of mind. To everybody who gives a damn. You guys are awesome.

A knife that has been rolling around in an old barn for 80 years cannot look like this. The wood would be rotten and the blade rusted beyond repair.
Someone recently "sharpened" it with emery wheel.

I dont believe its been setting in a barn 80 years looking like that.Maybe in a toolbox or drawer. Keep in mind the German soldier might have got it off a Britt soldier as a souviner if any validity to tye story at all.Most Ukranian buissnessmen I have delt with were Time trapped BS artist with outdated hustle. My magic 8 ball says "ask again later" .Eigther way a cool and unique knife.Has to be somwhat rare.

Yeah, my dumbass put it in evapo rust. I know that’s a cardinal sign for collectors, but I really wanted to see if I could see any other markings.. I should’ve took pictures of it before and after

Cardinal SIN*

And I don’t know if it’s in the picture or not it may be on the other side, but there’s a white streak on it. That’s very soft like it is rotten

The whole handle is soft enough to make an imprint with your fingernail

Other than the evapo rust, that’s the condition I got it in, it looked like it had been sharpened like you guys had said with an emery wheel, but there was a light layer of rust over that as well. But again the reason it looks like it does is because I put it in evapo rust, and maybe I did get lied to about the whole barn thing. Hell people in Ukraine are probably trying to sell anything right now to make a dollar because of the situation they’re in and will say anything, but regardless, I believe it is old. And whether it’s German or not, I’d like to know what it is. I appreciate any input.

One of the best pieces of advise from Mr Levine is "buy the knife, not the story". There are so many stories about knives, most untrue.

https://ebay.us/m/5PxYKI

I found the brand and it is German!!! C.Ed. Ruggeberg Remscheid!!!
Grok finally found it for me
Maybe the story was true or maybe it’s not. I appreciate the words of wisdom from everyone. But I finally found it.