Bundeswehr
PUMA Bundeswehr / Bund, the model number is 16 1379. This model was made in 2012. A dozen of these old Bund blades were found in a box at PUMA. At the request of collectors PUMA made six knives around 2010 and six more in 2012 as a tribute to the Fire Rescue ground crews of the Bund. This is one of the six knives made in 2012.
PUMA 6379 Made in Germany. Originally developed for the Bundeswehr (German military), this Puma knife was only made available to the public in 1984 for a very short time. It's history makes it a very rare knife to find and collect. The stainless steel blade is 5 ½ " long. The original metal sheath is included, making the total length 11 in. Model no. 6379, made in Germany. Overall blade length is approx 11", with original Stainless steel. 5 1/2" blade. 3/4 tang. Built-in finger guard. Lanyard hole. Handmade in Solingen, Germany in the early 1980's era.
German M1968 combat knife (kampfmesser) made by the famed German company, PUMA Knives. The M1968 was adopted in April 1968 as the standard German fighting knife. It was produced by various makers until 1992. It is unclear if PUMA was a German army contractor, or if they made this for the commercial German knife market. It was found in a group of surplus M1968 knives that were definitely Bundeswehr issued.
The PUMA 12 6391 was originally developed for the German Army. It was distributed by PUMA and Gutman Distributing Company from New York and was only available for a short while. It is a very rare knife. Puma Bundeswehr knife with PUMA Germany Emblem on front Model number 6379.
Although originally developed for the Bundeswehr (German military), this knife has the PUMA logo on it and as PUMA had the contract to supply these knives to the military they were allowed to sell a small quantity to the civilian public which had to have the PUMA emblem on the knife handle. (The military knives just have BW stamped in the green rectangle on the handle where the Civilian model did not)
Stamped on one side of the blade is PUMA SOLINGEN GERMAN ROSTFREI and on the other side is: EZM 1978
These knives were only made available to the public in 1984 for a very short time. This is an unusual model as generally they have a matching green scabbard and this one has a polished silver scabbard with brass stop.
It’s history makes it a very rare knife to find and collect. The stainless steel blade is 5 ½ " long. The original metal sheath is included, making the total length 11 in.
The knife had a built-in finger guard and lanyard hole. It was handmade in Solingen, Germany in the late 1970's and originally for sale in 1984 to the public.