7 ½” length with 3 ¼” wedge section blade for thrusting and slashing. Classic for the type with bone grip, nickel ferule and iron blade with thumb rest for the throat slashing maneuver. Plated iron leather scabbard. Trench warfare evolved when the highly mechanized enemy forces fought to a stalemate on various fronts, a situation neither side anticipated. The price of conflict under the circumstances was huge, but soldiers were not trained to wait, but to fight and raid the enemy with hand-to-hand combat in narrow trenches. Germans were not issued knives but relied on family to send hunting knives as available on the commercial market. This example typifies those knives. It is well used with the ferrule worn through at the middle and isolated black oxidation to the blade.
