A-Bomb Jet Pilot knife

textoothpk

textoothpk

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I have a special affinity for these Jet Pilot's knives, and here is my latest 'Commemorative' issue. I call it the 'A-Bomb' knife, as it features (one on each side) the two B-17s that the dropped the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. A little ironic I got the knife this week, the anniversary of those events. Blade is serial number marked 110/500, and the pommel and guard seem to be polished Aluminum (never saw that on one of these before).

It is a 'platform' knife (?) having no fullers and nice, flat sides to take the etches. As a couple of others of mine do. I know Westwind released some issues of this knife (in their own box) but I have not a clue who commissioned Camillus to make this one. It came to me in a Camillus box, with the steel-tipped sheath and the basic Camillus paperwork. A white sticker on the end states: 110/500. Another carries this number: 12350000000

CAMCO, can you help? How many made (did the production actually go to 500) and when and who ordered them (or was it a straight-out Camillus project)?

Phil
AbombHiroshimaside.jpg

AbombNagasakiside.jpg
 
Uh, textoothpk, I hate to be picky, but it was two B-29s that dropped the A-Bombs on Hiroshima and on Nagasaki. The "Enola Gay" was the plane that dropped the bomb on Hiroshima and "Bocks Car" was the one that dropped the bomb on Nagasaki. And neither were jets. They were both powered by radial piston engines.
 
Whhhooops. Confused on my old warbirds. Thanks, Hugh.

I suppose as many chopper pilots and ground pounders have carried this model as actual jet aircraft pilots. Will always be my favorite Camillus (just need one of the original Marble's to fill out my collection nicelyO.
Phil
 
Camillus made this knife in the 1990's and 500 were produced. I do not recall if these knives were made for a special customer or offered directly by Camillus. I came across the etching stencils for this knife a short time ago. I will be at the Camillus factory next week and I will try to locate the records.
The knives made for Westwind Productions were the model #5733 Pilot Survival knife with a polished blade and parkerized guard and butt. These knives were manufactured by Camillus and then sent to Adrian Harris (founder of Colonel Coon Knives) for etching and packaging. I recall 7 models of Viet Nam era aircraft were etched on the blades. These knives were made around 1984.

Tom Williams
 
Tom, most sincere thank you. You filled in some holes in the history of my Westwinds as well and helping me out with this A-Bomb knife. So glad you are sticking with us.
Phil

ps.... I don't suppost Camillus would accept an offer on the stencils? Those of us active in the Schrade forum (dedicated, hard core bunch) love that kinda stuff.
 
The folks at Camillus have informed me that the Hiroshima/Nagasaki commemorative knife was made for The Sportsman's Guide in 1995. A total of 500 knives were produced.

Tom Williams
 
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