Bundeswehr utility knife: mil contractor or knockoff?

[Silver Puss]

I have what looks like a Bundeswehr utility knife. I purchased it at a gun show a few years ago. This is the knife with which most people are familiar: green metal sheath, green leather frog, checkered green "coke bottle" handle, and a short stubby blade which is less suitable as a fighting weapon than as an entrenching tool. On the ricasso is an shield enclosing an eagle and the legend "BW ROSTFREI".

This knife came in a box that had the stock number UC855, which I thought might be from United Cutlery. However I haven't been able to find this knife in any listing of UC products.

Wherever this knife was made, it has a MUCH higher standard of materials and workmanship than the ones offered by surplus dealers which are claimed to be former military issue. Also the surplus knives I saw did not have the shield-eagle. The surplus knives may have had "B-W" or "BW" on the handle (mine does not).

So my questions:

1. Is this a United Cutlery product?

2. Who made it and in what country?

I'm not unhappy with the knife. It's very nice looking in fact. It's just that its origins are a mystery to me.

Thanks.

 

[THEAVENGER]

A common misconception people have is that United makes knives. United is an importer. Yes, your knife was imported by United Cutlery. Yes, your knife is a genuine German knife and not a knockoff. It was offered commercially by the maker, Kissing Crane. united no longer stocks this model, which is why you can't find it. I hope this helps you out.

 

[Rugger]

More's the pity- Kissing Crane made a nice one. I'm familiar w/ the knife- there are examples that range from Very Nice to Crap (the Chinese knock-offs).

 

[Silver Puss]

Thanks Avenger. I know that United is just an importer, mainly of things that can be found in the Smoky Mountain catalog. But I did not expect that they would carry anything by Robt. Klaas.

I wonder why Klaas didn't mark this knife. The one I have has no markings except for "BW ROSTFREI". It is workmanship to be proud of.

I have several Kissing Crane stilettos. The early ones were very nicely done with close attention paid to the fitting of the stag handles. But I ordered two in late 1994 in which the stag-to-metal fit (and the stag itself) is of poorer quality. Perhaps there was an increased demand for this type of knife (especially the big one) after the OJ Simpson case. I thought their fixed blade knives were always good though.