Several years ago I was cleaning up around an old house on my parents property, and found this knife stuck up in the eaves over the porch. Its pretty big, probably at least 18" long including the tang. It has 'CCC' stamped on one side and 'Soligen' on the other. No other discernible markings. Understandably it was really rusty, but I cleaned it up to see if there were any other markings. The 'Soligen' makes me think its somewhat new. Part of the house was there when my great-great grandparents bought the property in 1898, and it was added on to 2 or 3 times as the family expanded, so who knows how old it really is.

I've got a piece of curly maple left over from a flintlock I had built in high school and some brass stock I could use to make a handle. If nothing else it would be neat to have a knife matching the flintlock, even if it is WAY bigger than anything any self respecting mountain man would've carried.







This post has been edited by Indian4: October 26th 2009 11:33 PM

Got any pics of it? I love to see old knives.

I posted a couple, I can see them? I guess you are getting I'll make sure I didnt screw it up somehow.

Hrm, looks OK to me. Here are the links to the pics if they still don't show up.

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e269/gsstiny/knife1.jpg

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e269/gsstiny/knife.jpg

This post has been edited by Indian4: January 14th 2008 11:22 PM

I'd say its probably an old bayonet.

I would have to agree. Take note of the blood groove.

I would go against the bayonet idea. It's too wide. I'm thinking more along the lines of a custom blade for someone who used this like a combo knife/machete.

I hadn't thought about the bayonet, but it does seem awfully wide. It's definitely thick enough though, I'd estimate 3/16" or so. Combo knife would probably be the best bet.

well I agree that it is not a bayo but it could be as years ago there were some wild an wooly bayos out there, remember a knife that attached to a trench shotgun? anyhoo, soligen is a type of steel and that is found on lots of knifes and does not denote german origin as some have told me . But it is a way cool blade and I would love to see pics after the tiger handle is applied




Indy

It looks like a variant of an M1 Garand bayonet, although it could have been a big knife. Solingen is German city and is well known for the blades it produces from kitchen knives to M7 bayonets (for AR15/M16)...


TS

do they sell steel to manufacturers in other countries? I have solingen on a camillus knife that I thought was of US origin

Indy

That's possible. Either that or the knive are/were made in Solingen for Camillus, either way it's got great steel...


TS

Well I have done some research and it seems that the ccc marking is from a company called "Cleveland Cutlery Co." and they also stamped the knifes with the solingen moniker so it seems that they bought steel or blades or blade blanks from Germany. If I find anymore info I will post it, Looks like you have a neat find there!



Indy

Cool, I was thinking the maker just bought Soligen Flat stock and went from there. I've never heard of Cleveland Cutlery, but its definitely nice to put a name on it. I got ahold of some brass that I got machined to make a pommel, so hopefully I can work a halfway respectable handle for it.

Thanks for the research, y'all.

This post has been edited by Indian4: January 27th 2008 9:43 PM

I know this a but old post, but I've seen these it's a WWII Trench Knife by yes Cleveland Cutlery, nice piece I'd get er media blasted and refinished bro

That would make a great BOL multi-purpose knife.

Back from the dead, finally got a handle on the stupid thing. I blackened the blade in vinegar, it's quite a bit darker than the pics make it look.





The handle design isn't super, but it fits up reasonably well. It's ok for a first attempt. Hopefully the experience will come in handy on the next one.

I really like how it looks. Good Job





Kadin

Great job! I like it!