A German WW1 Kampfmesser Fighting Knife that is in good to very good condition with minor pitting on the blade and scabbard. This German WWI Kampfmesser fighting knife is a classic example of the close-combat knives carried by German soldiers during the First World War. As trench warfare developed, compact fighting knives became highly valued for raids, patrols, and close-quarters combat. The term Kampfmesser, meaning “combat knife” or “fighting knife,” refers to the privately purchased and military-issued knives used by German troops during the war.