Elusive trench dagger stamped "R" only M1917?

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ColdEthyl
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Elusive trench dagger stamped "R" only M1917?

Post by ColdEthyl »

It appears to have been well-used. I had a grandpa who was in Korea and one of the WWs...but that's all I know. He was actually on my mom's side of the family, and this was in my dad's collection. Any help greatly appreciated!
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Last edited by ColdEthyl on Sat Mar 25, 2023 2:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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ColdEthyl
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Re: Elusive trench dagger stamped "R" only?

Post by ColdEthyl »

I read somewhere along the way that the "R" could stand for George Roth.
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Killgar
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Re: Elusive trench dagger stamped "R" only?

Post by Killgar »

That is a WW1 M1917 Austro-Hungarian Sturmmesser fighting knife. And from my research the "R" stands for the factory in Resicka where it was made.

Being Austro-Hungarian, there should be a small eagle proof mark stamped into the underside of one side of the guard (example below). But it's easy to miss, and doesn't really look like an eagle.

And below it is another example of the "R" stamp.

Image
Image
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ColdEthyl
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Re: Elusive trench dagger stamped "R" only?

Post by ColdEthyl »

Killgar wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 12:05 am That is a WW1 M1917 Austro-Hungarian Sturmmesser fighting knife. And from my research the "R" stands for the factory in Resicka where it was made.

Being Austro-Hungarian, there should be a small eagle proof mark stamped into the underside of one side of the guard (example below). But it's easy to miss, and doesn't really look like an eagle.

And below it is another example of the "R" stamp.

Image
Image
Thank you, Killgar...it was between that and an M17? Maybe it's the same thing. I was afraid to "clean" it to look for other marks...but it's entirely possible that there is an eagle under the ledge. That's what I'm callin' it..."The Ledge" of the knife. Some of the research, however, was very confusing. I'll attach a couple photos that made me wonder. I think they are intimating that more than one place made the same knife?
Trench_Stamps.jpeg
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Killgar
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Re: Elusive trench dagger stamped "R" only M1917?

Post by Killgar »

Your welcome ColdEthyl.

They are also referred to as M17.

It was not uncommon for military knives to be made by multiple factories during war time.
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