Blade thickness of our fathers and grandfathers?

[lotus1972]

Recently on two other Forums I have prayed at the altar of the Ontario/RAT gods for a sharpened prybar ( 6in + blade at least 5/16 thick, double handle ect,ect ). I know that I have many other companies from which I could get such a knife but I really like the Ontario/RAT line.
Now tonight I was sitting around watching Band of Brothers ( yea Tivo! ) and I started thinking what did our Grandfathers and Fathers carry in WW 2, Korean conflict and the Vietnam war. I figure it was mostly K-Bars, Marbles and Randles ( maybe the occasional Buck ) but I wondered if they ever had a sharpened pry bar or if they had the option would they have taken one with them other than the knife they had available to them at the time. So if you know any history or are of the age to have been there please respond. I think the big thick blade has a place but what better a group to hear from than those who have been there done that and got the T-shirt and the mug. Gulf war veterans and our current guys ( and ladies ) involved in the war on terror let's her from all you too.

 

[Halfneck]

Not from that era (born in 68) but was introduced to knives by my Grandfather who was. My Grandfather was not in the Military but served in the Civilian Conservation Corps. His biggest interest & hobby was Fishing - all our vacations spots had places to fish. His EDC? Case pocketknives with CV blades. His favorite pattern was the Whittler, with the Barlow a close second. His fixed blades were mostly Filet Knives. The only non-filet knife I remember was a small 4" or so clip point knife that was either a Camillius, Ontario, Ka-Bar type knife. From my vague memory, it looked like a Marble's Ideal type blade, but without a fuller. I would say it was probably no more than 5/32" thick and more likely 1/8" thick. I can remember at 8 years old when he was instructing me, that he stressed a knife was not a good screwdriver or prybar.

If he was still alive today, I doubt his choices in knives would be any different. Granted with his love of fishing, I might of been able to talk him into trying the Spyderco Salt series. Of course with Case being mostly stainless now, he might switch to Queen with their D2.

 

[Jeff Clark]

I think that the best knives in WWII were the Cattaraugus 225Q Commando Knives (often erroneously called "Quartermaster Knives"). These are around 3/16-inch thick and very rugged. A knife doesn't have to be so thick if it's made from carbon steel rather than stainless. This is what they looked like when they were new:

 

[Coldwood]

What about their bayonets?

 

[Coldwood]

They also had the handy folding trenching tool, which was good for prying and chopping, as well as digging.

 

[dante]

Same thing happened to me when I ordered a Busse Hell Razor. I was so used to 1/4" thick blades (the HR is 3/16") that when I placed the order I was not sure if I would like it. Now it happens to be my favorite knife, the thinner stock cuts better and is more neutral in the hand. I do not see a 3/16" blade fail if made of a reasonably good steel and you do not intentionally abuse it. For many years like lotus said the Ka-Bars and similar have served admirably well as was the Buck 110 long before the tactical folders. My father in law was in the Navy Sea Bees (CB) back in the 60's and tells me that he used the KaBar for a million things on a daily basis, if you compare the KaBar with today's tacticals it looks filmsy and inadecuate but it is not.

 

[not2sharp]

Victor Tool LC-14 (signals troops)

The military is a bad choice to emulate. They spend time in the field; but, they also rely on a solid logistics train, and a well organized task structure. The K-bar may be just the thing to deal with packing crates and military rations; but they were not shy about using heavy equipment, and explosives either. None of which prevented the troops from doing what they usually do, which is to adopt their kit as best they can to the prevailing conditions. The standard issued knives (which included a few large bolo knives like the 1917, the Victor Tools ), were often complimented by theather knives, privately purchased knives, and locally obtained/captured items.

1917 bolo (machine gun and artillery troops)

The bottom line is that the size and weight of the knife depends on the task on hand. There is no general one size fits all. In a modern park where trails are routinely cleared and marked, where wood craft is discouraged, and where food is usually prepackaged and cooked over a camp stove, large knives are no longer needed and we can afford to go with a small fixed bladed hunter or folder.

Theater knife made from 1904 medical bolo

But, under different conditions, larger knives would be an equally appropriate choice. You would not want to clear trail with a folder any more then you would want to chop through dense hardwood with a thin machete. The native population usually knows what works best and the wise would adopt their customs rather then rely on some preconcieved notions an generalities.

n2s