Need help identifying a couple WW2 knives

[nachosgrande]

Just received these from my grandfather who passed away recently. He brought them back from WW2 and I thought I'd seek your advice to determine if they have any historical significance or context related to that war. The first is a German Linder Messer bowie knife and the second has "Philippines 1945" engraved on the blade. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
https://imgur.com/WR2gRu0

 

[tltt]

Linder knife isn't WWII, it's more like 50's - 70's. The company is still in business - https://www.linder.de/en/welcome . They might be able to tighten up the dates. After the War, Linder really pushed into the US market both as a standalone brand and as a contractor for other brands / importers.

Philippines knife is a souvenir knife, but of decent quality. These were made and sold to soldiers, the 1945 date is in reference to -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippines_Campaign_(1944–1945) . Most I've seen that could be pinned down to a specific dates in 1945 were bought in the spring - end of 1945.

Yours has a pretty nice handle and form to it. They tended to not be as fancy in later years.

 

[nachosgrande]

Thanks so much tltt. Can't tell you how much I appreciate your expertise on this matter. Means a lot to know the origin of these blades.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Your questions have been answered, but I want to add that you should give the blades a light coat of mineral oil and to not store them in their sheaths.
They definitely look to be in great shape.

 

[nachosgrande]

Will do that, thanks.

 

[igreaves]

Just to add to what titt has said. Your Filipino knife may have been made in 1945, but many of these so marked are actually made later and are therefore commemorative items. There are a lot of this style of knife around, including the so-called "Negrito" bolos, made primarily for sale to GIs stationed at Clark AFB and Subic Bay. Like yours, they are in the Ilocano style of knife making. Decoration with inlaid aluminum was quite common and usually signified post-WWII manufacture. There was quite an industry in keeping GIs supplied with these mementos of their time in the Philippines, including those servicemen on R&R during the Vietnam War.