AN ITALIAN WW2 PARATROOP ISSUE MODELLO 1935 DAGGER (FIGHTING KNIFE) AND SCABBARD KNOWN AS THE ‘PUGNALE DA COMBATTIMENTO MODELLO 1935 DA TRUPPA’ IN ITALIAN. THIS TYPE OF DAGGER WAS ISSUED TO OTHER RANKS OF THE THE 184TH PARATROOPERS DIVISION "NEMBO" (184ª DIVISIONE PARACADUTISTI "NEMBO").

This Pugnale da Combattimento Modello 1935 fighting knife, which is in good original condition, was originally produced for elite Italian troops during WW2.  Colloquially called the “pugnale da marcia” (marching dagger) by Italian troops, they are classified in Rex Trye’s book ‘Mussolini’s Soldiers’ as Model 1935 Dagger’s. He describes on page 87 how these daggers were “widely issued to Blackshirts, Royal Army assault soldiers and army paratroops”. Although the daggers issued to these troops was the same the scabbards differed.  The one issued to the MVSN (Milizia Volontaria Sicurezza Nazionale) or Blackshirts had the initials MSVN stamped into the scabbard.  This example has the plain Royal Italian Army (Regio Esercito) scabbard usually associated with use by Italian Paratroops of the 184th Paratroopers Division "Nembo" (184ª Divisione paracadutisti "Nembo").

The Dagger has no markings or manufacturers trademarks on it which is usual.  The robust knife blade with its false edge has no fullers and is patinated along its entire length. The wooden molded grips, secured with three steel pins are very good and securely fit the integral hilt. The short crossguard with its straight quillon is patinated and like the rest of the bayonet shows considerable evidence of use. The original painted steel scabbard is in very good original condition with evidence of use consistent with age and use. 

For reference, I’ve attached four photographs of the fighting knife in use during WW2.  The first, an excellent coloured photograph, shows a pair of Italian paratroopers the further of which appears to be carrying a ‘Pugnale da Combattimento Modello 1935’ on his belt.  The second photograph shows an Italian paratrooper serving alongside the German 1. Fallschirmjäger-Division in Scicily in 1943 with a ‘Pugnale da Combattimento Modello 1935’ stuck into his belt, while the third, shows an Italian officer with the knife stuck in his belt.  The last photo shows a paratrooper of the Nembo division (Italian Republic) on the Italian Front in June 1944 with a similar weapon hanging from his belt.

Type: Pugnale da Combattimento Modello 1935

Overall Length: 322.0 mm

Blade Length:  201.0 mm, stamped I 50185

Blade Width (at guard):  27.7 mm

Scabbard: Painted steel with strap fixing.

Overall length of scabbard:  215.0 mm

From Australia, this is a ‘Pugnale da Combattimento Modello 1935’, probably a wartime souvenir from the Western Desert or the Italian Campaign.  It’s in original ‘as found’ condition and has obviously seen field use. It has not been repaired or restored and in my view is all the better for it.  If like me, you prefer the weapons in your collection to exhibit evidence of age and use, this one is for you.  A genuine example of a less common Second World War Italian Paratroopers Dagger.