not2sharp
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Jun 29, 1999
- Messages
- 20,413
We often think in terms of the products of the major industrial power. But, sometime even the smallest of societies can contribute colorful knives to the military. One of my favorite examples of this, as well as, one of my favorite knives was made by the Chamorro smiths of Guam. A tiny island which had a population of about 1000 people when the US took possession after the Spanish American War. Knives and knife making had evolved a high cultural value on the island and the US presence on the island boosted production until a couple of dozen makers were active there as World War II approached. I usually think of these as Theater Knives.
You can see examples of the knives here:
This is a nice article on the history of knife making on the island:
www.guampedia.com
While not exactly issued military items, these knives were often purchased by military personnel and I have examples with marking in English and even an example marked in Japanese. Japan had invaded and occupied the island during the War. If you look closely at the classic documentary Victory at Sea, there is a small chapter on the liberation of Guam and one of the locals is shown using one of these knives.
Unfortunately, the last active knife maker on the island passed away in 1915. I was able to share some of my knives with him and he was eager to look at them because he was a third generation smith and he said they had likely been made by someone in his family.
n2s
You can see examples of the knives here:
Chamarro Machetes from Guam
I recently asked for help with an ID for a big blade that I picked up and believed to be an early American weapon or cleaver. Eventually, Bernard Levine and a guy called Not2Sharp at Bladeforums determined that it is a Sese blade from Guam. Apparently Guam has a history of smithing these big...
bushcraftusa.com
This is a nice article on the history of knife making on the island:
Blacksmithing - Guampedia
Herreron CHamoru. Blacksmithing, in the form that it is most known today, has only existed on Guam for a few centuries. On the surface blacksmithing on Guam might appear to be something which was introduced by the Spanish.
While not exactly issued military items, these knives were often purchased by military personnel and I have examples with marking in English and even an example marked in Japanese. Japan had invaded and occupied the island during the War. If you look closely at the classic documentary Victory at Sea, there is a small chapter on the liberation of Guam and one of the locals is shown using one of these knives.
Unfortunately, the last active knife maker on the island passed away in 1915. I was able to share some of my knives with him and he was eager to look at them because he was a third generation smith and he said they had likely been made by someone in his family.
n2s
