The Flying Whale

[Allen]

Here is an amusing knife with a double theme of sorts.
This model was produced by Richartz which used a "Whale" as one of its trademarks, as seen in the blade stamp.
It also has the words "The Flying Whale" embossed on the backside of the cast alloy handle.
This knife was probably manufactured in the 1950s or 1960s and represents the WWII German transport airplane, the Messerschmidt Me 323.
One nickname for that plane was "The Flying Whale" due to its size and front "whale-like" nose shape.
It is stated that the plane could hold one full size tank, or several vehicles, or 100 soldiers.
The knife is an entertaining figural type which falls into a whole separate category of collecting.

 

[hwjap123]

I am for sure no military aviation expert...but the Me-323 looks quite differently: propellers, no jet engines..furthermore: it had a high-wing instead of low-wing design.
I guess "whale" corresponds just to their logo.

 

[Allen]

hwjap123, thank you for your observation and comments. While I have no actual documentation to back my statements on this inexpensive novelty knife, I do believe it is a loose "interpretation" of the Me 323. Many "novelty" knives were produced over time which were merely approximate representations of the items they copied. But maybe there is just the coincident in names as you suggest???

 

[hwjap123]

Pretty loose interpretation , I have to admit.
The other reason which makes me doubt the relation to the ME-323: modelling a pocket knive from a German company after a German military plane shortly after WW2 is kind of unlikely, IMHO.
Nevertheless, thanks for showing this "flying whale".

[...] Picture deleted; Copyright!
G.W.H. 1/144 scale Messerschmitt Me-323 D-1 Gigant Review by John Miller (https://www.hyperscale.com/2021/reviews/kits/gwhli006reviewjm_1.htm)