|
|
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,245
|
OP
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,245 |
Making a tread about this well known Flyers and Paratroopers Utility Knife ,-Fliegerkappmesser model 1 This is a German paratrooper gravity knife. The handle is constructed of wood with a metal frame. The blade is usually labeled with the manufacturer's emblem. Known as the "gravity" knife because the blade is kept hidden until the knife is pointed downward and a lever is pressed, causing the blade to slide down and become exposed for use. The blade is kept secured in place by a spring lever. A big ring is mounted at the butt end so that the paratrooper could attach a rope and kept it within reach during action. This is a type 1 model which came out in the early part of the war and was used during the war and out. Blade is marked with the maker Paul Weiersberg ROSTFREI. The spike is Luftwaffe waffenamped. remember the spikes have 2 types of markings. Early Luftwaffe stamps . One type from 1937 to about 1938 and the other more common type Eagle with "5" used from about 1938/39 to the end of 45. Some knifes can also be marked with an "S" ( Luftamp) The Gravity have many makers and here a some of them listed below. SMF SOLINGEN PAUL WEIERSBERG SOLINGEN ANTON WINGEN Jr Solingen /gyq Alcoso fnj WKC F&A helbig Malch & Ambron Paul Seilheimer. 1 model no takedown. Paul Weiersberg produsent maker. The patina in the grip are very good & the finish Nickel-plated fittings is exellent . First time i got this in my hand i feel WOW what a big knife. They are big and have very fine balance in your hand . Hope you enjoy the pics ( my collection) Regards LH 600   
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,245
|
|
OP
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,245 |
New Gravity in my collection . SMF makers mark. Near mint.   takedown wanted. 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 621
|
|
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 621 |
Very nice LH 600.
Your Gravity knife seems to be near mint. Very seldom to see them in this condition.
Regards
Trond.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,072
|
|
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,072 |
Think that you could add a Gustave Weyersberg, I had seen one when Wittmann just started the dedicated online offering. I amsure my spelling is off a bit also  Oops!!! and Eickhorn. You should start a list include the RBn numbers also. Bret
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 118
|
|
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 118 |
I love these things! Here is my SMF gravity knife. Spike is marked with eagle 5.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 118
|
|
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 118 |
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,245
|
|
OP
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,245 |
quote: Originally posted by painter80:
I love these things! Here is my SMF gravity knife. Spike is marked with eagle 5.
Hello Painter80. Good too see others Gravitys knifes here Very nice SMF. Thanks for sharing . Regards LH 600
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,245
|
|
OP
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,245 |
Here a newbee into my collection.  Found in the Domb�s area Norway,- after the German paratroopers landings during the war in Norway. Early HELBIG Gravity knife no takedown. The blade have some sharpings after use, but otherwise very good. Eagle 5 marked on the spike. No other markings eksept the logo "Helbig " on the blade I have searched the net for Helbig knifes , but no results. They are rarer than the other more commom Gravitys like SMF / Paul Weyersberg etc..   
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 621
|
|
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 621 |
Very nice.
I see your collection are growing rapidly.
Regards Trond
Regards
Trond.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,245
|
|
OP
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,245 |
quote: Originally posted by Bismarck:
Very nice.
I see your collection are growing rapidly.
Regards Trond
hehe Yes thank you my freind for fine words I couldnt say no too this one you know  Its have 100 % provience to Norway. Thats very good. regards LH 600
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 5,024 Likes: 31
|
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 5,024 Likes: 31 |
Here are some photographs of one of mine. although not the requested mod.1 I think it is an interesting one.
Contrary to former assumption of a member here the special double edge on the end of the blade is due to crosscraining and overall manufacturing since original production of this knife.
wotan, gd.c-b#105
"Never look for sqare eggs" as a late owner of an original FHH-dagger used to say.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 5,024 Likes: 31
|
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 5,024 Likes: 31 |
wotan, gd.c-b#105
"Never look for sqare eggs" as a late owner of an original FHH-dagger used to say.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 5,024 Likes: 31
|
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 5,024 Likes: 31 |
wotan, gd.c-b#105
"Never look for sqare eggs" as a late owner of an original FHH-dagger used to say.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 621
|
|
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 621 |
I have to agree, very nice. Never been a LW kind of guy, but the fascination is rapidly growing. 
Regards
Trond.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,072
|
|
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,072 |
LH600, can you see if one of the inner plates has electric pencil number on your Helbig if so I would like to know the number please. If you wish to share it? The side with the spike may have the number engraved on the inner metal plate. Wotan, I have only seen 4 of the G. Weyersbergs. One was an early one the rest were later blued type you show. Its the one to find. Helbig is also very rare. Loggy if he is still on the forum had a super example of an Eick. Bret Van Sant
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,072
|
|
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,072 |
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,245
|
|
OP
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,245 |
quote: Originally posted by cog-hammer: LH600, can you see if one of the inner plates has electric pencil number on your Helbig if so I would like to know the number please. If you wish to share it? The side with the spike may have the number engraved on the inner metal plate. Wotan, I have only seen 4 of the G. Weyersbergs. One was an early one the rest were later blued type you show. Its the one to find. Helbig is also very rare. Loggy if he is still on the forum had a super example of an Eick. Bret Van Sant
hello Bret. I have just checked my knife properly for markings one more time . No markings on my Helbig. There is no grinding either. Only i can tell you this knifes have the history from seeing use in Norway near Domb�s. Many German fellshirmjegers landed here in the war. This knife was a part of a lot selling out some years ago from an old man own this before. He was 82 years old when he sold all his ww 2 items he have collect . The knife work very fine. The logo HELBIG is on the blade but some sharpings have sort out some of the marking. I only collect near mint knifes, but this was a must buy since the history of it. I like used knifes too
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,970
|
|
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,970 |
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,245
|
|
OP
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,245 |
Is there some opinions of the landyard ? Some say this is a repro . A Norwegian collector told me here a day he have seen very similar and he ment this may be a orginal ? He have noticed a near like in a flyers suit he have in his collection earlier. Opinions ? 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,245
|
|
OP
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,245 |
quote: Originally posted by cog-hammer: LH600, can you see if one of the inner plates has electric pencil number on your Helbig if so I would like to know the number please. If you wish to share it? The side with the spike may have the number engraved on the inner metal plate. Wotan, I have only seen 4 of the G. Weyersbergs. One was an early one the rest were later blued type you show. Its the one to find. Helbig is also very rare. Loggy if he is still on the forum had a super example of an Eick. Bret Van Sant
Do you have any clue why mine Helbig dont have the pencil marks ingraved ? Lh 600
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,615 Likes: 1
|
|
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,615 Likes: 1 |
I didn't know that Helbig's were marked in that fashion. Good info Brent thanks! Would like to see yours LH but did you take the photos down? Here is my Helbig with the nicest looking grip I ever had on a Gravity knife. Regards, -serge- 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,245
|
|
OP
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,245 |
Nice FKM Serge
That HELBIG looks very fine .
the pics is gone because of server error.
Lh 600
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,615 Likes: 1
|
|
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,615 Likes: 1 |
Thanks LH. Here is one more with a post card of Hauptmann Helbig. Regards, -serge- 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 943
|
|
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 943 |
FUR EHR' UND PFLICHT BIS HERZ UND KLINGE BRICHT
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,245
|
|
OP
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,245 |
Great fkm``s Is there any marking on your Serge ? Spikemarking and numbers ? LH
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,615 Likes: 1
|
|
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,615 Likes: 1 |
LH, There is what looks like a 757 number here. 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,615 Likes: 1
|
|
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,615 Likes: 1 |
...and the spike has only a partial stamp on it and it looks what might be a waf.amt.5 or 8. Don't think they had an 8 so it must be a 5. Regards, -serge- 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 831
|
|
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 831 |
Great info!
My Helbig has got 5824 electro-pencilled in the same place, unless I knew about it I'd never have found it!!!
Cheers,
Tor-Helge
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 831
|
|
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 831 |
Very hard to see, especially when it was covered in grime and dirt...
Spike has a half sticky-bird with 5.
Cheers,
Tor-Helge
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,245
|
|
OP
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,245 |
Serge.
Helbig often use marking with electro pencil that place.
I have seen that on sevaral types of that maker.
I do have a Helbig myself , but this have no elecromarks engraved. Only the spike mark.
Gravityes have been found with spike marking waf.amt "8" and "5".
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,615 Likes: 1
|
|
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,615 Likes: 1 |
When I looked through a loupe it looked like more of an 8 than a 5. Since I didn't know some Gravity knives came with an 8 I assumed it was 5. Can't be 100% certain it's an 8. Thanks for that info LH. Regards, -serge-
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,245
|
|
OP
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,245 |
quote: Originally posted by cog-hammer: LH600, can you see if one of the inner plates has electric pencil number on your Helbig if so I would like to know the number please. If you wish to share it? The side with the spike may have the number engraved on the inner metal plate. Wotan, I have only seen 4 of the G. Weyersbergs. One was an early one the rest were later blued type you show. Its the one to find. Helbig is also very rare. Loggy if he is still on the forum had a super example of an Eick. Bret Van Sant
hello bret van sant Do you have any pics of your knife ? Lh 600
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,072
|
|
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,072 |
Let me dig around, if not I'll shoot some new ones for you. I did have it on my site but yahoo closed me down due to content(dirty rat basturds!)
Bret Van Sant
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,615 Likes: 1
|
|
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,615 Likes: 1 |
Cog's got a site? Let's see it? Yahoo crashed n burned. What they don't like Nazi stuff? Not our kind of people then! Anyone got a Seilheimer Gravity they can show? Regards, -serge- 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,072
|
|
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,072 |
Had a site. In the migration process about 8 weeks ago the dumped me. I did copy my pages onto paper but that was all. I'm off for a month or so, so I'm learning the hard way html and all the code. I was working on a online tag gallery but guess in the long run I'm better off with out yahoo. I have scored several nice tags since they flushed me so its all good. I now have 24/7 online and phone help. Its nice to have customer service!!
LH 600 I'll shoot some pics of the gravity for you. Roland Skull had them on his site many years ago but I think he has closed shop. last I had spoke with him was 3 or 4 years ago. Try the "wayback machine" maybe you will score a hit. Roland was a good guy.
Bret Van Sant
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,245
|
|
OP
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,245 |
quote: Originally posted by cog-hammer: LH 600, here is Rolands site from the wayback machine. Not any pics but some decent content. You may find something of use. I'm working on a set of pics for you also and will post on sat or sunday. Bret Van Sant http://web.archive.org/web/20030213221613/www.fortuneci...our/1478/gravff.html
Great Cog hammer. I look forward too look at the pics of that Helbig. I will take some new shots soon from my collection and lay out varia pics. I hope Dave can moderate ,so i can put in some pics in the beginning of the tread. Your site doesn`t work properly ? no pics yet. All the best LH
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,072
|
|
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,072 |
LH, the link I posted is Roland Skull's old web based gravity knife research site. its an old site and the link itself is from the "wayback machine" on the web. Go to the "wayback machine"on a google search and look around you can look at sites that are no more or see how they were back several years ago. Its a web crawler kinda cool. You can even see GDC back in the day !!!
Bret
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,072
|
|
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,072 |
Here ya go, as always my images do leave a bit to be desired. I dont have the fancy light box crap and I dont wear gloves . I'll load them and give a link and load a few small images here. I was going for all the makers but seemed kinda dumb after a while. The helbig is pictured in TW luft book but was not mine then. Came from Mike Hansen an ex-member and mod here and he is no longer a collector either. Bret Van Sant
|
|
|
|
Forums42
Topics31,695
Posts329,185
Members7,531
| |
Most Online5,900
Dec 19th, 2019
|
|
|
10 members (Jonesy, Tanker, seany, bushido, Documentalist, Mikee, Ric Ferrari, Dave, Nietzsche, Luftbud),
604
guests, and
81
robots. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|
.jpg){kind=link}
