"Sansouchi" DR Mark 2

Z

Zemapeli

Joined
Jan 26, 2013
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I figured I would share. This knife is stamped "Sanssouci D.R." inside of a diamond. The knife was issued to the Dominican Republic from what I understand. When I saw this knife I was amazed at how much it resembled a Kabar Mark 2 combat knife. I saw this while searching the net. Does anyone else have any information about this knife? I might just pick one up for my collection. I wonder if this thread would have been better off in Bernard Levine's forum, but I figured this would be enjoyed in this thread more. Looks like the Mark 2 design was copied long ago and adopted by the Dominican Republic.
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The knife has nothing to do with the Domincan Republic, that is an old wives tale. If it had been from the Dominican Republic it would be marked RD, nor DR since in that country they are the Republica Dominicana. These knives were made up from surplus parts from many MK2 making companies after WW2 by a firm named Weske in Sandusky, OH. The so-called KA-BAR UDT knives were actually made by them also and had nothing to do with any USN UDT teams. Weske also made other knives which were not made from surplus parts but ones like the one pictured are fairly common so they must have made a lot of them. There have been may theories about these knives over the years and some spurious info in Cole's books on American Military knives, but Frank Trzaska has proven all those theories incorrect and the Weske company is truly where they were made. Weske was only in business from 1946 to around 1952. By the way, Sans souci is French for "without worry" or "without care". The Weske family member contacted by Frank remembered them making the knives but did not know how that name was chosen. I do have one that has the same mark on the front ricasso and Sandusky OH on the back ricasso. All those poor guys who paid several hundred or more for the UDT knives have knives proven to be post war civilian market composite knives by Weske.
 
Great Job Gunsil Thanks for the answers to those Questions we all come across, thanks for sharing your knowledge as I for one love to learn
 
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