Bundesanstalt Technisches Hilfswerk Marlinspike Knife, THW Bordmesser Marlspieker, Marinemesser

To finish up my three day run of THW, or Bundesanstalt Technisches Hilfswerk, postings, here is an interesting bit of THW personal equipment that came directly from a THW member in Germany.

This is a standard THW issue, marlinspike knife, known in German as Bordmesser Marlspieker,  or Marinemesser.  This knife is issued to the THW members for use when they are working with ropes and rigging lines.  This THW knife is a bit different from the military version, due to the lack of the word  "BUND", or a "Federal Eagle", stamped into the handle side, and due to the fact that the blade edge is partially serrated.

THW Youth working with ropes and rigging.

The THW and the THW Jugend, or THW Youth, work a lot with setting up rescue rigging and ropes and this knife is just as indispensable in that service as it is in the hands of a salty sailor.  Speaking of salty sailor knives, here is a link to the blog posting I did awhile back on my USCG marlinspike knife:

sharky-fourbees: camillus-marlinspike-knife-uscg-1984.


Here is a complete photo album of this interesting bit of Bundesanstalt Technisches Hilfswerk equipment: