Camillus Pilot Survival Knife, Pommel color question

B

Bridgeman

Joined
Oct 1, 2005
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Hello all. I'm sure this question has been asked and answered a couple of dozen times, but I cannot search for it, so...

Does the color of the paint on the top of the pommel mean anything?
My PSK is 5-1967.

Thanks
 
The 6 inch has a dark bluish-grey color. Most of the paint is still on mine. I think the light grey and black are the only 2 on the 5 inch. I have at least one from every decade and those are the only two colors I've seen.
 
heres mine, ithas the light gray. did they all have the black finish on the blade? this was my grandads 40+years ago------brady
 

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A friend of a friend who is quite the expert on military knives provided the following.

"It was a specification change. The spec change took place in the MIL-K-8662E dated 7 June 1974. Prior to that date they were gray. Why did it change... Don't know. Speculation was the black was a better camo when a downed pilot was hiding in the shadows compared to a bright gray. "

So, the colors and dates listed above fit that pattern. I had always heard that grey was Navy but that never made sense.

Thank you Frank,
Greg
 
edbeau, i have taken a close look even with a mgnifying glass and i can see no marks anywhere other than the tang stamping????????????? did some not have a date mark?
 
I have waited for someone who knows more than I do to weigh in, but being that no one elase has...
I am almost certain that they did not date stamp them prior to May 1967. I also know that mine is not tang stamped. I am guessing that change was made in 1967 with the name being moved to the pommel and the date added. I am fairly certain that yours is pre-May 1967.

Greg
 
thanks greg, i dont doubt it at all. mine has been used and sharpened, but are you aware of the "black" surface coating on the blade? what is it? almost has a metalic look to it. its pretty clear in my pics what im talking about.----brady
 
Specifications:
Blade Length: 5 in.
Blade Shape: Black phosphate coated blade, butt, guard and blood groove, sawtooth back
Blade Steel: 1095 carbon steel
Carry System: Natural leather sheath with sharpening stone
Handle Material: Brown stacked leather washer handle
Knife Type: Fixed Blade
Length Overall: 9.5 in.


Found this on line. Hope it helps.
 
I would have said parkerizing, which is a phosphating process usually using either zinc or manganese. Same process used to cover the WWII M1 Garands and .45 ACP (except for Singers). When new it has a rough, almost sparkling look which smooths as it wears.
 
very interesting guys, thanks for the data. really well built knife from a great company that had great products.
 
And something I've noticed, the steel spacers up against the leather on the later ones rusts terribly. The early ones do not seem to rust. Is it just me?
 
I have one dated 1-1967 and one dated 3-1967. I believe the 1-1967 was the first date stamp on the pommel, before that there was no date. I'm not sure when they stopped dating them.
 
I have a 5" model dated 3-67 on the pommel. It was my father's while serving in Vietnam. It has the light gray paint.

I have been looking for an original sheath for a while. Anyone have an extra?

Greg
 
Do a search in everybodys favorite auction site. Every once in a while one comes up without a knife.
 
Camillus also made the model #1010 which was a civilian version of the 5" Pilot Survival knife. No paint on the pommel-all parts were polished.

Camillus stopped stamping the dates on the pommel after the military contracts for this knife were awarded to Ontario.

Tom Williams
 
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