The non-segregated design did not allow for independent cleaning of the knife. This is a very serious drawback that does not allow the use of weapons in the field. After the throwing out of the blade in the inertial knife is carried out under the influence of the force of gravity of the blade itself.
The latch is released, and the blade itself "flows out of the handle". In practice, of course, energetic hands are used. But if the blade stops the dirt, then the machine is not a machine, there will not be any sense.
The next model, the "M-1937 / II" (Type II FKm), was made demountable and released from 1941 until the end of the war. To facilitate pulling pants out of the pocket on the right thigh of the paratrooper, the rigging was equipped with a cord.
He also "helped" not to lose and not drop the knife in the bustle of a jump. In addition to the blade, the knife had a crook for unraveling the knots.
These two elements of the pile and the drop-shaped blade have reached us unchanged in the post-war models of the cutter.
This reliable knife is still in service with the Bundeswehr and NATO.
photo from here
