Assault Knife Model 50

This is one of the most problematic knives manufactured in the 1950s, probably by the Research Institute of Zbrojovka Brno (grv). Apparently like the previous type it underwent military trials and was not adopted into armament. Several versions are known, identical in size and construction but with completely different markings.

A folding drop-out knife with a sliding blade intended for engineer units. The single-edged blade with a central point is lightened by a double-sided grind. The blade is locked in both extreme positions by a side push button and on its spine has a file with cross-cut. The handle is made of brown plastic (Novodur) with diagonal grooves. The oval guard is steel and the pommel is of polished duralumin — equipped with a folding nail puller and a drill for creating a hole for a detonator in a TNT charge.

Currently known variants: knife with German designation (code gzy, number 0012, RZM mark in a circle, code grv); knife no. 0013 with Czechoslovak army acceptance marks and the year 1950; knife no. 0017 with Whitworth 11/64″ thread; knife no. 0024 with acceptance marks E95.

From available information it can be concluded that this is a prototype of a German assault knife being developed at Zbrojovka Brno during the German occupation, which was not introduced into armament. After the war it was offered as a proposal for the Czechoslovak army — where it was also not accepted. The Whitworth thread variant suggests a possible export offer to countries under British influence, probably Egypt, which in the 1950s was one of the largest recipients of military technology from Czechoslovakia. These are, however, merely speculations.

Source: Czechoslovak edged weapons 1918–1994, Karel Morávek and Petr Moudrý