8MM Posted April 12, 2015 Share #1 Posted April 12, 2015 So I went to visit my 90 year old Grandpa today,and got quite a surprise.. He gave me this collection of knives he had in his closet! He was in the CBI theater in WW2 (1943-1945),and apparently had a lot of free time,as he made the entire handle of the plexiglass fighting knife,and put plexiglass spacers in the Imperial fighting knife.The all plexiglass one he made in Fiji,and he traded something to a Marine for the Imperial,then customized it.I cant see any marking on the all plexiglass one The machete he said he bought at a surplus store in the 50s or 60s-he also claimed he used it to clear an entire acre of blackberry bushes! Blade says True Temper US 1945..scabbard is Viner Brothers 1944 The Bolo (?) he cannot remember getting,and said it was probably in one of his trade deals or in an old abandoned house or building (He was a crane operator for many years,and did a lot of work at building demolitions) Marked on blade No 1005 The stag horn and bayonet are not US Military,but thought they were neat as well. He USED these knives,and it shows.Nobody back then cared or knew that this junk would be worth saving,so no,they arent pristine. Best part is,MY name and "1977" is written on the back of the Imperial scabbard..He told me when I was very young,he let me carry it around on our camping trips to use as boys do,making bows and arrows,carving trees,etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8MM Posted April 12, 2015 Author Share #2 Posted April 12, 2015 more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8MM Posted April 12, 2015 Author Share #3 Posted April 12, 2015 more Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McDermut99 Posted April 12, 2015 Share #4 Posted April 12, 2015 Awesome knives! Especially the plexiglass-handled one! Even more valuable are memories made with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USdog Posted April 12, 2015 Share #5 Posted April 12, 2015 Very cool knives! Especially coming from your grandfather! That theater made imperial is a real beauty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorin6 Posted April 12, 2015 Share #6 Posted April 12, 2015 The bayonet looks like a US Krag; what markings are on the blade? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8MM Posted April 12, 2015 Author Share #7 Posted April 12, 2015 The bayonet looks like a US Krag; what markings are on the blade? Unfortunately,its Swiss.. Marked "Maschinenfabrik Bern" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camillus Posted April 12, 2015 Share #8 Posted April 12, 2015 great collection, lots off memories Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddy.502 Posted April 13, 2015 Share #9 Posted April 13, 2015 Wow those knives are awesome, great collection to have in the family Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron norman Posted April 15, 2015 Share #10 Posted April 15, 2015 allow me to give you the VERY BEST advice I can give as a collector for over 70 years, Photograph the collection of knives owned and carried by your grandfather or aquired by him in the war and describe each one in complete detail on a document and have the history of his service and as much detail as you can write and have him sign it and have it NOTARIZED and have at least two originals kept with the knives, This alone will more than double their value and preserve the history for your children for the future, The balance of the knives that you received from him can be put on another form with his history as to how and when he aquired them and also NOTARIZED and that will add to future family knowledge and history and Value Also if you can add a copy of a photo of him in Uniform and any of his service related documents. Also you are just beginning. If he knows you care there could also be several more things such as his uniforms medals ect, SO Don't stop there. Put it all together as a collection and let him know you care and will keep it altogether for future generations of your family. If you do this you will all be WINNERS Ron Norman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tachyoner Posted April 15, 2015 Share #11 Posted April 15, 2015 A neat little collection, and worth even more when it's from your own family. You're lucky and take good care of them for the future! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8MM Posted April 15, 2015 Author Share #12 Posted April 15, 2015 allow me to give you the VERY BEST advice I can give as a collector for over 70 years, Photograph the collection of knives owned and carried by your grandfather or aquired by him in the war and describe each one in complete detail on a document and have the history of his service and as much detail as you can write and have him sign it and have it NOTARIZED and have at least two originals kept with the knives, This alone will more than double their value and preserve the history for your children for the future, The balance of the knives that you received from him can be put on another form with his history as to how and when he aquired them and also NOTARIZED and that will add to future family knowledge and history and Value Also if you can add a copy of a photo of him in Uniform and any of his service related documents. Also you are just beginning. If he knows you care there could also be several more things such as his uniforms medals ect, SO Don't stop there. Put it all together as a collection and let him know you care and will keep it altogether for future generations of your family. If you do this you will all be WINNERS Ron Norman Thank you for the sound advice,Sir. I already latched onto everything he can find-most of it I've had for 30 years aready.There may be more bits and pieces here and there though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK101 Posted April 18, 2015 Share #13 Posted April 18, 2015 The Bolo is a Collins 1005 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted April 18, 2015 Share #14 Posted April 18, 2015 allow me to give you the VERY BEST advice I can give as a collector for over 70 years, Photograph the collection of knives owned and carried by your grandfather or aquired by him in the war and describe each one in complete detail on a document and have the history of his service and as much detail as you can write and have him sign it and have it NOTARIZED and have at least two originals kept with the knives, This alone will more than double their value and preserve the history for your children for the future, The balance of the knives that you received from him can be put on another form with his history as to how and when he aquired them and also NOTARIZED and that will add to future family knowledge and history and Value Also if you can add a copy of a photo of him in Uniform and any of his service related documents. Also you are just beginning. If he knows you care there could also be several more things such as his uniforms medals ect, SO Don't stop there. Put it all together as a collection and let him know you care and will keep it altogether for future generations of your family. If you do this you will all be WINNERS Ron Norman Another idea is to sit down and if he is willing, talk with him about his service and video your conversation(s). The Library of Congress Veterans History Project also collects first-hand accounts of U.S. Veterans. Here is a Youtube video explaining the Project: Great knife collection! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrentRock Posted June 14, 2015 Share #15 Posted June 14, 2015 This post made my day I got started on knife collecting (again) when I found my dad's old knives in a drawer at my mom's house The part I like most about knife colelcting is holding old knives and day dreaming about where the knife has been (used)... Those Solingen knives must have been very popular in the 70's They are all over EBAY This is my father's The Old Man's Shank by Trenton Ulysses Rock, on Flickr Thanks for sharing I LOVE looking at grandpa knives.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Backtheattack Posted June 19, 2015 Share #16 Posted June 19, 2015 Great knifes, think they are in good hands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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