German Paratrooper Gravity Knife

I used to have one and didn't like it. Lock-up is not very secure. If you try to stab something the lock fails. It's bulky and the blade is small for the size of the knife. It does open fast. Mine broke and I threw it away.
 
My mom found a original german paratrooper knife in a box of stuff she bought at a auction. I researched it and found out that it was indeed an original from the war, A collector paid her $750.00 for it. Not bad for a dollar investment.
 
I could be wrong but I think those type of knives were more for cutting your way out of a hung up 'chute than general utility use..

They're illegal here in the UK. IMO more of a collectors piece than a user..
 
MikeJackmin said:
Here you go:

http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/German_Paratrooper_LL-80_Gravity_Knife.html
Click to expand...

That's the knife. I got one from One Stop Knife Shop, which no longer carries them. Mine was made by Eickhorn (I think they all are) and marked with their squirrel logo and LL80 but the knife was sold as the Colt Search and Rescue CSAR. Like the AimSurplus, it sold for about $40.

Mine seems pretty sturdy. I just tried it stabbing a thick catalog and the lock held. You can extend the blade partially and it will hold for cutting but not for stabbing. Not the greatest for holding an edge: "420 Solingen stainless steel".
 
Tnx for the links, dewds. I might just get one. ;)
It's Not a switch blade, correct??
 
The top one that is the opening of this thread is the real German issue that is over 10" long and has not been issued in a few years. They are well made, take down for cleaning, and most are solid lock up. This size can be used for stabbing. They are well worth the money. They are also illegal mostly every.
 
Lycosa said:
Tnx for the links, dewds. I might just get one. ;)
It's Not a switch blade, correct??
Click to expand...

It's not a switch blade but it is a classic gravity knife: release the lock and the blade drops out, no swinging it around necessary.

As Tom says, they are illegal mostly everywhere.
 
You would need to check your states laws. Some states specifically outlaw "gravity knives".
 
I had one.

Very cool and quite reliable and fun to play around with.

Though, it was very heavy and the blade steel didn't take a very good edge.

I was able to take mine apart for cleaning, just push a release button and the one-piece bolster can slide off, kinda neat design.

Would be nice to have a modern recreation of this...lighter and sharper.
 
Not an Ice pick.....it is for undoing knots in the parachute cords!!! Remember what the knife was designed for ! It is illegal to ship accross state lines as merchandise. They are both German ( the two links) and both come apart easily for cleaning. The smaller ones where designed to give and close if you try HARD to stab something as this was a added safety feature on the smaller models ( again think what they were designed for--- a open knife that could stab you resulted in injuries in landing which is why this feature was added). Esav, if you have the smaller model it will collapse when you push hard ( the Colt one does also). The larger 10" older ones were made before this feature was added....
 
Indiana specifically prohibits gravity knives. The also prohibit switchblades, throwing stars, and that Russian POS that "shot" the spring loaded blade.
 
Tom, I have the Colt. I stabbed repeatedly into that thick catalog this morning, hard, and the lock held. Not really a problem, I won't be parachuting anywhere with it. :D
 
Esav, I believe you but the 6 smaller ones I have all give when you apply enough force. I tried this after reading about the added safety feature in the Colt specs. As you said not really an issue anyways.....
 
Autos, switchblades, assisteds, gravity knives, balisongs: as far as owning one, in a lot of places, you can own them (keep them in your home), you just can't carry them anywhere. You'd have to check. With most of these knives, the law governs ownership to some degree, but it also strictly governs shipping as well; so while you can "own" one for your "collection", getting it shipped to you is difficult at best. (ie: Spyderco is very strict on how their autos are handled for warranty work.)

A sheriff friend in San Francisco once told me that if I had mine (butterfly knife) outside of my residence, any LEO that saw it would be obligated to confiscate it. Whether they would or not, and whether I got fined, would depend on the situation. Ballistic knives, like what Absintheur mentions, are outright banned in CA, and jail time is pretty much guaranteed if you're found with one, unless you're a LEO.

Also, anything double edged is banned as well, but four of my (double edged) bayonets came from local shops & gun shows. Go figure.

thx - cpr
 
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