WWII German Gravity Knife Repair

[Dr Death]

I am new here to the forum and appreciate the opportunity to join. I am a retired/disabled Vet and a second generation knifemaker. I have been repairing and restoring WWII German Third Reich edged weapons for several years now, mainly the Flieger Kapp-Messer, more commonly known as the gravity knife. At last count I have repaired 85+ of these so far. Original parts are impossible to get, especially in any quantity. So I make my own springs, (from 440c stainless) and operating levers (316 stainless). I don't use any spot welding to install new springs, I rivet them in place just as originally done. I can replace either spring on type 1 nontakedown or type 2 takedown versions. On the Type 1 non takedown version I can replace either spring without splitting the knife into its two halves, (the heads of the rivets are on the inside of the knife). Repairing them the way I do leaves the knife looking untouched and original aside from any new parts. The collectors I have done work for so far have all been very happy with my work. I am posting some photos of a couple of knives I have repaired for anyone interested. For any questions or if someone has a knife they want repaired, feel free to email me at: [email protected]

[Dr Death]

Here is a small gallery of some of the work I have done lately and in the past. Before and after of a type 1 takedown version and some photos of some type 2 non takedown models. There are also some photos of springs I have made after they have been heat treated and levers I have made. There is also a before and after of an RLB Dagger that came to me in pieces in a ziploc bag as well as a mini Luftwaffe presentation sword that I restored and made a scabbard for from scratch using photos. Enjoy and any questions or comments please, [email protected].

[Dr Death]

Part 2 of gallery

[C-WADE7]

Great looking work, you are a great craftsman.

[1967redrider]

Looks awesome! I have a SMF and Paul Weyersberg, neither are the take-down versions. Glad to have you aboard because those springs are a definite weak link on these knives.

My SMF must have been tipped and reprofiled at some point. The Weyersberg has had a new spring and trigger installed by the Roadside Imports guy, pre-2020. It also has "theater artwork" engraved into the wood on the other side.

[CarMan]

Nice work. They look great.

[Dr Death]

Nice knives 1967redrider. For future reference and just in case you ever want one, I have a small quantity of postwar Bundeswhehr gravity knife blades that I rework and make like WWII versions and acid etch the SMF maker mark on so that they can hardly be told from originals. Just a FYI out to everyone.

[Marshall1]

In search of ---- Personalized German Gravity Knife SMF with retipped blade. Dad brought it home after WW2. My brother took it hunting many times. The last time he managed to break the blade nearly in half. I retipped it as best as I could. Dad sold it along with all his other WW2 items back in the early 1970's in Western PA. One grip has our last name carved on it - CROBAK.