UBB.threads Forums Edged Weapons European Edged Weapons Italian Fascist Youth Knife

Here is one that came across by path. I liked the condition but need you guys to tell me more about this model.
All comments welcome...Thanks -wagner-

Hi Wagner.

There are various opinions on these "Italian Youth Knives". Some people believe these were the equivalent of boy scout knives for the Italian Youth pre WWII. There are even different colored painted grips which are attributed to different sevices. Ie. AF youth Knife, army youth knife, etc.

Myself and most of the Italians believe these are 1944/45 production from leftover parts that were sold to the GI's as souveniers. This is why you do not see them in the collections and literature related to WWII Italian daggers.

Of course, this is open to interpretation. Still, they are popular to have. I myself have this Horster model and one of the smaller pieces.

Anyone else?

Jim

Hi Jim,

Thanks for your insight. I guess nobody has found any period "in wear" photos?
-wagner-

iT IS VERY STRANGE that these have popped up all over the place in the past several years and yet never has one showed up in a period photo is correct and says allot about these knives.

PAUL

It actually goes a bit deeper guys. At a show in Reno, I had the pleasure of meeting a gentleman who had his original Italian Youth uniform and his youth knife. Keep in mind these were his. The knife was the model 1932 dagger. Nothing like what we see today.

Jim

Hallo everybody.
The only real dagger existed during the fascist era, similar in shape and in design to this, was the one which served for the academist of the militian police. But that was provided with a 'wolf head' instead of this 'eagle head' (like the same sabre). Also, it was supplied in very very small quantity (I never had the opportunity to watch phisically one of those...only on some rare pictures...).
As already explained, the most of the italian collectors - me too - do not believe to the genuinity of this one here exposed. But on the contrary, I remember that in one of Calamandrei's books (the master of the italian edged weapons story)I red that ''it appears that Mr. Rudy D'Angelo was not so convinced that it never existed. Maybe it was a sample manufactured for the academist of the Regia Aeronautica''
Anyway, admitting the possibility this was really happened, we cannot explain the great moltitude of the same daggers we currently see on the market, if it was a sampling lot.
So, to me and to the mostly, this was a Scuotto's Naples firm souvenir for the american soldier from '43 to '48 (at that date the us soldier were in italy again)....for what concerning the blade marked Horster (already seen on these same daggers)...I have no idea....maybe, simply, the italian firm bought knives blades stocks from horster in the immediate post war just for the manufacturing of these souvenirs (horster was still in work in the post war period)

I have discussed this with Jim Wallace and one of the theories we've both heard is that these daggers were made from left over Italian Air Force sword parts. I personally find this to be unlikely since if you put the hilts of the sword and dagger side by side they are quite different dimensionally. As an additional point; the beak on the sword is slotted to accept the top of the guard while the beak of the dagger is solid.
Jim

"Verrryy Interesting! - Arte Johnson- Laugh In-