Once he hits the ground, though, the paratrooper becomes one more infantryman, one who has to get free of a cumbersome parachute. The possibility of becoming entangled in the shroud lines is a very real one, as is the likelihood of injuring an arm or having it ensnared in the lines.

The German Luftwaffe, to which the Fallschirmjaeger or paratroops belonged, developed a special pocket knife which could be opened or closed with one hand to meet this contingency. The Flieger-Kappmesser, as it was designated, features a sliding blade inside a metal frame. To release the blade, a crescent shaped lever is rotated 180 degrees and pressed downward. Gravity or a flip of the wrist will drop the blade and lock it into position. To close the knife, simply hold it upright and press the lever. The blade will fall back into the handle. Rotate the lever back to its closed position and the knife is secure against accidental opening.

The WWII German Kappmesser is fitted with wooden grips, a lanyard bale and a folding marlin spike for disentangling shroud lines. Both blue and nickel versions exist, as well as take-down variants which can be disassembled for cleaning and repair. After Crete, the Germans did not mount any more major airborne invasions. The gravity knife continued to be issued to Luftwaffe air crews.

This book provides fellow collectors with a detailed reference on the famed World War II Luftwaffe gravity knife (Flieger-Kappmesser). The book dispels many common misconceptions about the gravity knifes origin, purpose, evolution and history while thoroughly familiarizing the reader with every facet of the gravity knife. To this end the book presents the reader an historical context with which to view the knife and imparts an appreciation for the gravity knifes development and use. As well, through the provision of a general historical backdrop, by briefly introducing the Luftwaffe and its formations, the reader gains an better understanding of how the knife fits into the larger scheme relative to its time and other weapons. As well this book demonstrates, from an historical perspective, that the knife bears testament to the high level of German technology that emerged during the 1930s. Innovative, ergonomic, and of the highest quality, it truly stands far above its contemporaries. The FKm is, undeniably, a state of the art knife from its time.

Mack Pattarozzi
Hardcover, 272 pages with over 220 b/w photographs,