This knife was brought to me as a gift by my father, returning from one of his overseas tours. It would have been about 1962, he would have been E7 or E8 then. I was 9 years old. For the next several years, this knife went through the hades that only a boy growing up in the south in the early '60s could dish out. The pommel was used as a hammer. The blade shows the scratches and gouges a kid with a sharpening stone (or a rock) would inflict (glare masks them in this image).
"SOLINGEN GERMANY" is found on one side of the ricasso (shown). Other side says "STAINLESS." The handle appears to be actual antler or horn of some persuasion. The sheath has a pressed-in outline of a stag and "Made in Germany" by the belt slots (which I cut to fit a '60s-era Army pistol belt - seemed like a good idea at the time).
My questions are:
"SOLINGEN GERMANY" is found on one side of the ricasso (shown). Other side says "STAINLESS." The handle appears to be actual antler or horn of some persuasion. The sheath has a pressed-in outline of a stag and "Made in Germany" by the belt slots (which I cut to fit a '60s-era Army pistol belt - seemed like a good idea at the time).
My questions are:
- Does anyone have any idea whether this knife has any value or a point to begin research?
- Can anyone recommend an outfit to restore it - polish the scratches and gouges out of the blade and pommel, etc.?
- Would it be worth restoring?