The Finns Puukko knives were highly prized by Soviet infantrymen. General rule of thumb is that objects found on the battlefield were state property and it was a crime against the state to remove something. BTW, during the American Civil War Union Army felt the same way about weapons or objects left on a battlefield and the Provost Marshal could arrest civilians gathering arms off the battlefield (however both Armies didn't object if a soldier picked up something that he was missing from his own equipment). With regards to the Puukko, Soviet officers (and Secret Police) tended to give their nod of approval or looked the other way when Comrade Private Ivanovich took a Finnish knife for himself. Why then the Red Army man's special affinity for the Puukko? Were they like the equivalent of our GI's attraction for Samurai swords or P-08s? Did the Finns have superior steel for their knives or could it be the Soviets wouldn't use the equivalent steel for soldiers' knives? Or was it something as simple as something they could have a a souvenir?
Some guys just like knives, like Sergeant Joseph E. Lobit (1924-2012). Photo was made in August 1945, when he was assigned to the Counter Intelligence Corps and 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment. Had some trouble verifying this because Lobit apparently was a foster kid and later went by the last name of Kelly. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/bellaire-tx/joseph-kelly-5209329 https://en.517prct.org/mailcall/2141.pdf https://en.517prct.org/mailcall/2419.pdf
