UBB.threads Forums Uniform & Accessories German Military Uniform Forum RBNo. Take Down Knife Value?

Hi; Picked up a real nice one. Second one of these I've had. Have had lots of the stainless non-takedown ones. Doug

In my opinion, only the RB numbered examples are original to WWII. From 1965, when I started collecting this stuff, until about 2000, there were no examples with stainless blades. None. Never saw one. The only takedowns were RBN's. Then a few years ago, the stainless knives started appearing. I think somebody is either putting together parts, or they're completely reproduction, I'm not sure, but I wouldn't own one. I think a really nice, pristine example of the RBN'd takedown is worth $800-1000.

Hi; Thanks Chris. Checked out the book on these. SMF and WKC stainless ones seem way more common. Never seen a double edged one before. I allways thought it was kind of cool how the lanyard ring locked the marlin spike.

This one has some little flecking but not sharpened or goofed around with. Kind of hard to belive as it is a usefull knife unlike all the goofy daggers. I couldn't pass up a repo lanyard on Eban cheap. Couldn't quite go the box although it would look good in one. To bad we haven't been able to dope out the RBNr's yet. Maybe some day. Thanks Again. I'll just stick in my gunshow stuff to drag around. Tried a German auction site and Eban and got knocked off. It's not in my area. Doug

Many people seem to take it on faith that anything that is printed in a book is somehow true, as if there were some heavenly truth filter attached to printing presses, and only truth could come out the other end. Many people today believe if it's printed in a newspaper, for example, it must be true. The sad reality is, many, many "reference books" are just publications full of the author's fakes in order to enable him and his cronies to sell lots more of them.

Cris M; I hate to dump on you but here it goes. I've been collecting this stuff for 45+years. I've had two of the RBN jobs. But around 40 of the stainless ones. At least half of those are vet. direct buys for next to nothing going back to 1962. I find it hard to belive that it is a giant repo operation in occupied Germany or elsewhere. Maybe, but real hard to belive. Doug

Well, that's the beauty of collecting hobbies -- to each his own. If you like the stainless blade takedown knives, enjoy them in good health and more power to you. I personally wouldn't own one, wouldn't accept one in trade, and wouldn't sell one as original. But that's just me.

Hi Guys,
I've re-read this thread a few times and I suspect people are talking at cross purposes here.
Please correct me if I am wrong, but I think Chris is only talking about 2nd pattern take-down knives with stainless ( ie, non RBNred ) blades. I think others are talking about 1st pattern ( ie, non take down knives). Two entirely different things !

Regards,
Steve

I'm a little confused on this one .I have a Paul Weyersberg takedown with a carbon steel blade not a S.S. blade.The only mark I see is an acceptance stick bird with a #5 on the spike.There is no RBN #.So what do I have??

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Alright! We're finally getting some discussion going on the FJ forum!

To clarify my position: I believe, on second model ("takedown") gravity knives, all components should be blued, and the blades should be RBN'd, because IMO all these knives were created AFTER the regulation requiring Reichs Betriebs numbers replace all names and trademarks for security reasons.

I also believe there are now superb fakes of gravity knives on the market, as good as or better than the best dagger fakes. A nice gravity knife today will fetch $800-1000, much more than a dagger would at the time that fakers began producing excellent dagger fakes.

Furthermore, I believe that, because for many years, gravity knives were not faked, the collecting hobby has been lulled into sleep on this, and accepts hundreds if not thousands of knives as genuine which are, in fact, good fakes.

What do others think?

Ok now I understand .thanks for the lesson and info Chris