Description: WW1: STUNNING! GERMAN THEATRE MADE KNIFE FROM WORLD NOTED SWORDSMITH AUGUSTE FONSON! THIS FIGHTING KNIFE WAS MADE FROM AN AUGUSTE FONSON MFG. BELGIAN SUPERIOR OFFICERS 2ND MODEL DOUBLE EDGED HIGHLY DETAILED ENGRAVED SMALL SWORD – I PURCHASED THIS GERMAN MODIFIED CUSTOM FIGHTING KNIFE AND OTHER 19TH CENTURY MILITARY WW1/WW2 AT AUCTION FOR MY COLLECTION. THIS KNIFE & SCABBARD/SHEATH I STUDIED MINUTELY FOR SEVERAL DAYS- AND BECAME INCREASINGLY AWED BY IT. TRACING THE DATA VIA THE ENGRAVED ON THE BLADE SEEN BELOW: Manufacture d’Equipements Militaires Auguste Fonson 49 wurdes Fabriques bruxelles Auguste Fonson- and the Fonson Brothers- were world noted sword manufacturers for several generations. The data Led me to the exact model of sword above- see photos. These matched this customized fighting knife perfectly. This German soldier or, more likely an officer- created a stunning one of a kind combat knife. Looking at a plethora of WW1 and slightly pre-WW1 German combat knives, bayonets, sheaths and scabbards that would have been available from 1914-1918 I was able to grasp how this knife was created. THE SWORD BLADE WAS CUT DOWN, AND THE GUARD REPLACED WITH A GERMAN WW1 NAHKAMPFER Fighting Knife Guard. (Segue: This guard & blade design was the basis for Hitler Youth Knives). The Pommel and Guard Band are from the same sword- again- identical- the pommel top band and top cap were used on this knife. All from THE AUGUSTE FONSON MFG. BELGIAN SUPERIOR OFFICERS 2ND MODEL DOUBLE EDGED SMALL SWORD. - FULL LENGTH OF FIGHTING KNIFE TOP OF POMMEL TO END OF POINT: 12.75 INCHES BLADE LENGTH HILT TO POINT: 8.25 INCHES BLADE WIDTH: TOP OF SPINE TO TRUE EDGE: .75 INCH GRIP LENGTH: FROM UNDER POMMEL TO GUARD: 4 INCHES THE GRIP APPEARS MADE FROM THE SWORD GRIP- SHORTENED AND WIRE REMOVED. THE GRIPS POMMELED TOP COVER AND GUARD BAND ARE HIGHLY DETAILED BRASS-MENTIONED ABOVE- KNIFE WEIGHT: IS 9-OUNCES /IN SCABBARD WEIGHT: 14-OUNCES FULL LENGTH IN SCABBARD: 14.5 INCHES 2 INCH’S AT WIDEST POINT OF GUARD. THIS IS A SLEEK KNIFE. THE CUSTOMIZED SCABBARD: THE THROAT AND TAPERED DRAG ARE FROM A GERMAN M1898 n/A BAYONET SCABBARD (= Second pattern of the M1898 known as the n/A or “neuer Art = “newer model” - ARE A PERFECT MATCH- no other prefix here -This is a straight thin bayonet- not to be confused with the M1898/05 n/A models). THE BLACK LEATHER BODY WAS CUSTOM MADE FOR THIS KNIFE- AND IS OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY. TIGHT AND FIRM STITCHING – TIGHT AND FIRM IN ALL FITTINGS. THE SCABBARD/SHEATH WERE THEN ENAMELED IN A GLOSS BLACK - BY THE MAKER – (In fact- to my eye- the treatment appears identical to that of a German Pickelhaube Helmet- boiled-formed and lacquered; and like a 100+ year old Pickelhaube there was/is some slight shrinkage & crackling- see the below). UNDER THE FEW CHIPS IN THE ENAMEL ARE (IT SHOWS 97+% TRUE)- THE METAL SHOWS “MINT” UNDERNEATH. SCABBARD LENGTH THROAT TO FINIAL: 9.75 INCHES SCABBARD STEEL ENDMOUNT/CHAPE: 3.5 INCHES SCABBARD STEEL TOPMOUNT/LOCKET/THROAT: 3 INCHES SCABBARD LEATHER BODY: 4.75 INCHES MORE ON THE SCABBARD BELOW: AFTER OVER 100-YEARS- THERE IS SHRINKAGE TO THE LEATHER- LEAVING 2/10THS OF AN INCH GAP TO THE GUARD. THAT THIS IS THE ORIGINAL SCABBARD IS NO DOUBT AS THE SLIGHT OXIDATION TO THE TOPMOUNT CAN BE SEEN AS A GENERATIONAL CHANGE: I WOULD EQUATE THIS AS “THE AGE RINGS” ON A TREE TRUNK- ALL ORIGINAL AND DEFINED CORRECTLY. THIS KNIFE IS A KEEN PART OF MY COLLECTION. I WAS THRILLED TO HAVE IT- I HAVE NOT TOUCHED THIS KNIFE- LEFT AS PURCHASED AT AUCTION. THE SLIGHT TARNISH SPOT WILL BUFF OUT IF YOU CHOOSE TO “BRING IT BACK”- IT WILL HOLD A HIGH SHINE AS DID THE SWORD IT WAS CUT FROM 100+YEARS AGO. HISTORICAL NOTES: IN WW1 BRUSSELS WAS ABANDONED TO THE GERMAN’S ON AUGUST 17TH 1914 FOLLOWING THE BATTLE OF LIEGE ON AUGUST 7TH, 1914. AS THE GERMAN 1ST, 2ND AND 3RD ARMIES ADVANCED. THE GERMAN OCCUPATION OF BRUSSELS LASTED UNTIL THE END OF THE WAR 11-11-1918. All Auguste Fonson data you see here- will be sent with this knife- including the pictures located of Auguste Fonson swords/sabers. SHIPPING DATA: WILL BE PLASTIC WATER SEALED, FOLLOWED BY MULTIPLE LAYERS OF BUBBLE WRAP, AND SHIPPED IN A THICK TUBE WITH SEALED CAPS. TUBE: 16X4X4 PACKED WEIGHT EST: 1.75 POUNDS
Price: 499 USD
Location: Grosse Pointe, Michigan
End Time: 2024-11-19T19:05:29.000Z
Shipping Cost: N/A USD
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Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
GERMAN WW1 NAHKAMPFER Fighting Knife Guard: 1916
Conflict: WW I (1914-18)
Original/Reproduction: Original
Theme: Militaria
CUSTOM MADE FROM BELGIAN SWORD & GERMAN FIGHTING KNIFE W/BAYONET: 1916
MADE FROM A CAPTURED AUGUSTE FONSON SWORD: 1916
Country/Region of Manufacture: Germany
Region of Origin: Germany