Early GI knife

surgi-sharp · 7th October 2025, 11:02 PM

I don't remember the makers name of this item used by US in WW2

CutlassCollector · Yesterday, 11:03 AM

K-Bar perhaps?

drac2k · Yesterday, 12:46 PM

One of the variations made by E.G.W(E.G.Waterman), out of N.Y.;usually they will be marked "EGW."

Jim McDougall · Yesterday, 08:07 PM

Surgi-
I guess the notes I made on the tomahawk post last May weren't too clear?
Where do you usually post militaria and reproductions?

Our lead moderator Fernando passed away a year ago, and was adamant about keeping these topics out of these pages, where we discuss arms from all periods and places up to 1900, with certain exceptions with items from those earlier periods transcending into later use.

I guess now that he's gone, the guidelines we set in 2008 are as well?

Hotspur · Yesterday, 11:03 PM

When are too many not enough? Most of the below are WWII, while examples with red spacers will prove to be the '50s.

There are several discussions that predate my interests. My dad had one, aboard the U.S.S. Dayton. I don't know if it was issued, or he had bought one. The examples with no clip to the blade are sterile and associated with the USMC.

Wonderful knives, as far as weight, etc.

https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/for...omment-3172668

Cheers
GC

Hotspur · Yesterday, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

Surgi-
I guess the notes I made on the tomahawk post last May weren't too clear?
Where do you usually post militaria and reproductions?

Our lead moderator Fernando passed away a year ago, and was adamant about keeping these topics out of these pages, where we discuss arms from all periods and places up to 1900, with certain exceptions with items from those earlier periods transcending into later use.

I guess now that he's gone, the guidelines we set in 2008 are as well?

I would defer to Lee on this. The Waterman knives are some of my newest military blades. Maybe the curb might be military knives and swords (generally) but there are all the Wiemar period commercial hunting swords and knives.

It might be inferred that pre 1900 items are somehow more noble.

That said, the link to that forum is where I would point to for US military and Blade Forums for everything else. These forums are a dying breed.

https://www.bladeforums.com/forums/b...ification.691/

also SBG

https://sbg-sword-forum.forums.net/

Nihonto

https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/?&_f...&ct=1632190636

The Facebook groups can be very twitchy in posting and can be difficult to navigate. I kinda hate them at times.

Cheers
GC

drac2k · Today, 02:01 PM

Hotspur, that is one heck of a Spring Cleaning!What a wonderful collection!
I myself am a fan ot the "theatre Knife," whether it be a Civil War Bowie to a WW2 Dagger.Some are no better than "Prison Shanks," while others are truly fearsome and works of art; often they will be personalized,with places they have been, a picture of their loved one embedded in the handle, a pinup girl drawn on the scabbard, etc.
They tell a story, they are a piece of history, and maybe they deserve a place here?

gp · Today, 03:54 PM

Question as I read "GI" and"by US" ....what this has to do with the topic "European Armoury"....?

I know that the geography knowledge of a lot of folks in the good Ol' U S of A is not perfect, but I did believe (simple man I am), that after some difference of mind and party in a city in New England about some taxes on tea, the link with Ingland has been broken of...and that country is neither part of that dominian anymore nor part of the Commenwealth...

Or did I miss the latest news that after Greenland a grandson for a German form Kallstadt, now additionally wants to take Europe as well into his realm...?

Lee · Today, 05:10 PM

These forums have been provided for the discussion of ethnographic arms and armour, such being defined as "traditional handmade edged weapons and armour of many diverse cultures worldwide, some currently, but mostly formerly, in production and use." A 10th Century Viking sword and a 20th Century Indonesian keris are both going to fit into that category. Militaria (even a venerable model 1860 U.S. cavalry saber) have been excluded as have reproductions except, for the former, in rare cases where reuse and reworking have brought an item into the definition and, for the later, as an entirely peripheral example of form or decoration. There is nothing wrong with these excluded items and it is understood that many member's interests also extend into this territory (as do mine,) but we do need to maintain focus here.

Hotspur has helpfully provided links above to other forums specializing in these areas of study and collecting where such discussions may be more appropriately carried out. Traditional Japanese swords fit the definition, but I personally go to the Nihonto Message Board, listed as the final link above, because it is the best place for that specialty. I follow some of the Facebook groups as well, but those discussions seem very much "in the moment" and I rarely can find one again, so I tend to agree with Hotspur here.

I am leaving this thread open and invite you to reply with links to other forums and groups that may be of interest to the membership.

drac2k · Today, 09:50 PM

I don't want to belabor the argument, however "Theatre Knives," are not the sole dominion of the "US or GI's." Just today I received a WW2 Japanese fighting Knife, made from the end of a French M1866 bayonet, complete with kanji writing on the handle,so you see, sometimes the lines are blurred.Are we talking about a M1866 French Bayonet or a WW2 Japanese fighting Knife?
Also, just maybe, such topics could attract a younger crowd,so that when all of us old guys expire, a new group will take our place.

7th October 2025, 11:02 PM	#1
surgi-sharp Member Join Date: Mar 2021 Posts: 13	Early GI knife I don't remember the makers name of this item used by US in WW2 Attached Images

Yesterday, 11:03 PM	#5
Hotspur Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Nipmuc USA Posts: 534	When are too many not enough? Most of the below are WWII, while examples with red spacers will prove to be the '50s. There are several discussions that predate my interests. My dad had one, aboard the U.S.S. Dayton. I don't know if it was issued, or he had bought one. The examples with no clip to the blade are sterile and associated with the USMC. Wonderful knives, as far as weight, etc. https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/for...omment-3172668 Cheers GC Attached Images

Today, 05:10 PM	#9
Lee EAAF Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Upstate New York, USA Posts: 961	Policy Statement These forums have been provided for the discussion of ethnographic arms and armour, such being defined as "traditional handmade edged weapons and armour of many diverse cultures worldwide, some currently, but mostly formerly, in production and use." A 10th Century Viking sword and a 20th Century Indonesian keris are both going to fit into that category. Militaria (even a venerable model 1860 U.S. cavalry saber) have been excluded as have reproductions except, for the former, in rare cases where reuse and reworking have brought an item into the definition and, for the later, as an entirely peripheral example of form or decoration. There is nothing wrong with these excluded items and it is understood that many member's interests also extend into this territory (as do mine,) but we do need to maintain focus here. Hotspur has helpfully provided links above to other forums specializing in these areas of study and collecting where such discussions may be more appropriately carried out. Traditional Japanese swords fit the definition, but I personally go to the Nihonto Message Board, listed as the final link above, because it is the best place for that specialty. I follow some of the Facebook groups as well, but those discussions seem very much "in the moment" and I rarely can find one again, so I tend to agree with Hotspur here. I am leaving this thread open and invite you to reply with links to other forums and groups that may be of interest to the membership.

Yesterday, 11:03 AM	#2
CutlassCollector Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Scotland Posts: 369	K-Bar perhaps?

Yesterday, 12:46 PM	#3
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,291	One of the variations made by E.G.W(E.G.Waterman), out of N.Y.;usually they will be marked "EGW."

Yesterday, 08:07 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,621	Surgi- I guess the notes I made on the tomahawk post last May weren't too clear? Where do you usually post militaria and reproductions? Our lead moderator Fernando passed away a year ago, and was adamant about keeping these topics out of these pages, where we discuss arms from all periods and places up to 1900, with certain exceptions with items from those earlier periods transcending into later use. I guess now that he's gone, the guidelines we set in 2008 are as well?

Today, 02:01 PM	#7
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,291	Hotspur, that is one heck of a Spring Cleaning!What a wonderful collection! I myself am a fan ot the "theatre Knife," whether it be a Civil War Bowie to a WW2 Dagger.Some are no better than "Prison Shanks," while others are truly fearsome and works of art; often they will be personalized,with places they have been, a picture of their loved one embedded in the handle, a pinup girl drawn on the scabbard, etc. They tell a story, they are a piece of history, and maybe they deserve a place here?

Today, 03:54 PM	#8
gp Member Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 914	Question as I read "GI" and"by US" ....what this has to do with the topic "European Armoury"....? I know that the geography knowledge of a lot of folks in the good Ol' U S of A is not perfect, but I did believe (simple man I am), that after some difference of mind and party in a city in New England about some taxes on tea, the link with Ingland has been broken of...and that country is neither part of that dominian anymore nor part of the Commenwealth... Or did I miss the latest news that after Greenland a grandson for a German form Kallstadt, now additionally wants to take Europe as well into his realm...?

Today, 09:50 PM	#10
drac2k Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 1,291	I don't want to belabor the argument, however "Theatre Knives," are not the sole dominion of the "US or GI's." Just today I received a WW2 Japanese fighting Knife, made from the end of a French M1866 bayonet, complete with kanji writing on the handle,so you see, sometimes the lines are blurred.Are we talking about a M1866 French Bayonet or a WW2 Japanese fighting Knife? Also, just maybe, such topics could attract a younger crowd,so that when all of us old guys expire, a new group will take our place.