Need the experts Identifying weird hinged/folding scissor handled pocket knife

[BBChapnick]

Hi folks,
Im new to these forums though have gotten many books worth of knowledge from here over the years. Everything from knifemaking to antique knives, ect..........However this morning a really neat knife caught my attention at the local flea-market and thus gave me a reason to finally sign up!

I cant really find much on it, no idea what its called let alone how to describe it......but its very crude however the "cool factor" is definitely there along with being EXTREMELY ingenious and just plain cool!

I know its not a masterpiece, I do not need troll-speech on the craftsmanship/quality etc however what is needed is if anyone could ID it, or possibly provide any insight into the mark? or construction style? that would be GREATLY APPRECIATED.

I immediately thought it had a kind of "trench-art" look but it has a makers mark with foreign letters on the blade so right now its a bit of a mystery that I thought would be fun to share! Maybe its a one off...maybe not?

Here's the photos! (along with a gif!)

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[evilgreg]

There are bajillions of cheaply made pantographic/paratrooper knives out there like this. I'm no help with the maker's mark, but I have a similar knife kicking around somewhere just for the weirdness factor.

 

[Getting older]

Paratrooper knife

 

[BBChapnick]

Very good! learn something new every day, paratrooper knife it is!

Man that took all of 7 minutes....love this forum.....Thanks again guys



If anyone has any lightbulbs go off in regards to the makers mark or the Language/region that's the last bit of curiosity I've got! I swear!

 

[evilgreg]

I meant to add: IIRC mine came from a flea market as well.

 

[tltt]

There are bajillions of cheaply made pantographic/paratrooper knives out there like this. I'm no help with the maker's mark, but I have a similar knife kicking around somewhere just for the weirdness factor.

Just to add on to this, your knife is Indian. Years ago (late 60s, 70s) this style of knife was used as a fantasy fake WWII Nazi Paratrooper knife. The fakers used the Indian makers to build them, and the Indians kept the pattern (along with various Bowie knife, Knuckle, knife, F-S knife patterns). They still sell them occassionally, but even they are moving to Chinese imports.

This style was also called a "lazy tongs" knife for a brief period, but the other names won out.

Here's the old 1929 patent for the style -

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[Michel Droz]

Why do people call this kind of knife a paratrooper knife? There is no logic behind that. If you are a parachutist you need a knife to cut your schroud lines or if you have to dump your leg bag you need either a fixed blade or one that opens with one hand. Try fumbling with this when you are dangling from a tree with people shooting at you. Or if your chute fails and you have to get rid of it so you can open your emergency chute. Lanyard attachment? " Oooops, i´m stuck in a tree and I just dropped my knife". And you will be wearing gloves. Try opening this one with one hand and your teeth and you will have to get your lips sown back on. Makes no sense. Annoying...

 

[Silent H]

Why do people call this kind of knife a paratrooper knife?

I don't know if they really were used/issued during WWII, but after the war many of these types of knives were marketed as "German Paratrooper Knives" often with nazi markings on them. That's why they are known as paratrooper knives. Often times names such as this are created by marketing, not reality.

 

[Michel Droz]

I don't know if they really were used/issued during WWII, but after the war many of these types of knives were marketed as "German Paratrooper Knives" often with nazi markings on them. That's why they are known as paratrooper knives. Often times names such as this are created by marketing, not reality.

I used to have one with Waffen SS markings on it. Sold it for 20 bucks to a person after explaining that was a complete fake. He probably sold it to some idiot for 500. Well, as P.T. Barnum used to say...