Help finding info on old German knife

C

Capibat

Joined
Jul 1, 2019
Messages
11
Hi all,
I'm new to the forum and knives in general.
I recently got a knife that belonged to my grandfather who was an air force pilot in Peru during the late 40s and early 50s.
It is a Solingen knife that is in mint condition.
After a reasonably long internet research, all I know is that this is a German hunting knife, but the "Geco" trademark might imply this was a military issue knife from WWII era, or perhaps post WWII.
I'd gladly appreciate if anybody can shed some light on the history of a knife like this, perhaps approximate year of manufacture and its value, besides the sentimantal value of course.

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Geco is short for genschow and co and who made weapons and armaments for the germans, the wehrmact in particular, well you know what that means ( doo dooo doooooo nazis). At an rate, as to the value, it is against the rules to ask for a value without being a paid member.

As to the history of this particular knife, I do not know, hopefully what little info I gave helps some
 
My father was stationed Germany for a couple of years starting in 1950. I remember him saying that everything was being manufactured like mad order to get the economy going, and to simply help feed the population.

He was a knife guy and he felt like he had gone to heaven. There were many, many manufacturers of knives moderate the better quality while he was there. He said they were making knives in tiny little factories and shops (remember what happened to their cities and manufacturing centers) that were full of people doing hand finishing because the machinery just wasn't there. At that time he said he remembered no junk knives, and no super high-end knives. Just lots of knives, ceramics figurines of all sorts, all kinds of souvenir giftware and anything that could be manufactured cheaply and readily for sale, especially to American military occupiers.

He loaded up on hunting knives of all sorts as well as a sackful Boker traditional style pocket knives. He told me he was paying about 30 cents on the dollar for what he felt like they were worth. All of my family, uncles, aunts, older cousins, and all of his good friends got cutlery at some point over the next 10 years after he got back to the States.

I have a few examples of what he had left when he passed, some very similar what you have. They are moderate performers compared to today's construction and steels. If you have ever handled Case or Kabar hunting knives from that era then you will have a near exact copy of that type of knife. It is a good, sturdy working knife.

Don't worry about the value as far as dollars go. You would think they might be worth a pretty good lick, but they aren't. There were just way too many of these knives being made under all brands and medallions to make some quick money. Hopefully the knife at that age has some great story to go with it, and that would be its true value.

Robert
 
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I don't know much about that particular knife or the company, the guys who posted above me seem to have answered that part of your question, but as for price I may be able to help a bit.

Bark River Knives seems to be putting out a replica of the model of knife you have pictured here and are calling it their Manitou model. They're pricing it anywhere from $225 to $325 depending on handle materials. The materials they're using are CruWear and modern steels so that almost certainly factors into the price but if you can determine the steel type you may be able to help who ever appraises that for you give a more accurate price point.

Bark River Manitou:

https://images.app.goo.gl/2XiFabWG9Did35nD8
 
KalkiKrosah said:
I don't know much about that particular knife or the company, the guys who posted above me seem to have answered that part of your question, but as for price I may be able to help a bit.

Bark River Knives seems to be putting out a replica of the model of knife you have pictured here and are calling it their Manitou model. They're pricing it anywhere from $225 to $325 depending on handle materials. The materials they're using are CruWear and modern steels so that almost certainly factors into the price but if you can determine the steel type you may be able to help who ever appraises that for you give a more accurate price point.

Bark River Manitou:

https://images.app.goo.gl/2XiFabWG9Did35nD8
Click to expand...

The bark river is 225 to 325 because its bark river, not because of the type of knife it is.

One cannot compare these old ww2 knifes to the modern makers of today, value wise. Unless the older knives are rare, they will be generally not worth as much as one thinks they should or want them to be worth.
 
Thank you very much for the replies, it certainly was of help and it was informative as well.
I was only curious about the monetary value as it for sure has more value to me and my family than to anybody else.

I know my grandfather's squad was being sent to Europe to fight with the allies and the war ended just before they left.
I also know that there is a lot of German military gear that went to Peru (and proabbly all South America) after the war and the post from midnight flyer corroborates this.

Peru wasn't in any war during the following years when my grandfather was an active pilot so the knife's story is really the story of whom it belonged to, and as a 98 year old retired Air Force Colonel at the moment of his passing, my grandfather definitely had great stories, most of them I know thankfully, some others I'm sure I'll learn later on through the family.

Thank you once again for the replies!
 
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