Classic Military Knives

CVamberbonehead

Gold Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2017
Messages
2,195
I ordered myself a Kabar fighting/utility knife for Memorial Day here in the US, and it got me thinking about classic military knives. I never really thought of the Kabar F/U as a traditional knife but its a carbon steel fixed blade with a stacked leather handle, much like a traditional hunting knife (like a Marbles Ideal for instance) or a traditional fighting bowie. There are many similar knives too, like the Air Force pilots Survival knife and the Kabar Mark 1 Navy knife. Plus bayonet patterns.
Then there are the pocket knives and the related knives. The "Demo knife" was a long issued item, and it was basically a homely boy scout knife. That is the only pocketknife I can think off of the top of my head, but Im sure that someone here can think of another. Maybe the Navy had a pocketkinfe with a marlin spike or something?
How about the related knives, like the Randall Model 1? They were used by military members all over the place and are certainly traditional. I dont think they were ever issued but they have been on many a soldiers belt. And what about other countries beside the US? What about the actual (issued) Swiss Army Knives, or the German versions? There must be a lot of traditional military patterns out there that dont get publicity like the newest GEC flavor of the month, but have been in use all over the world doing good hard work.
So, I wanted to see what the Porch thinks of these humble traditional knives. Who collects/uses them? What are your favorites? Are these sort of tools still "soldiering on" or are they display pieces? Lets talk about it!Kabar.jpg
 
Then there are the pocket knives and the related knives. The "Demo knife" was a long issued item, and it was basically a homely boy scout knife. That is the only pocketknife I can think off of the top of my head, but Im sure that someone here can think of another. Maybe the Navy had a pocketkinfe with a marlin spike or something?
The TL-29 electricians knife and the smaller Signal Corp knife....
VJKpSK5h.jpg
 
I think the Army, Navy, and Air Force also issued the Camillus TL29 "Electrician's Knife", depending on the person's MOS, or possibly depending on what they had on hand.

I think the USA Navy did have a issue Marlin Spike. (made by Colonial?)
I know the British (and possibly the Canadian and Australian) Navy issued a Marlin Spike clasp knife at least through WW 2.
There have been several of the British marlin spike clasp knives shown in different threads here.

For fixed blades, I'm not sure how many infantry of any branch were issued both a Ka-Bar "Marine Fighting Knife" and a bayonet.
I suspect most only got a bayonet.
 
The TL-29 electricians knife and the smaller Signal Corp knife....
VJKpSK5h.jpg
Oh yeah I guess so. I didnt even think about the TL29. Thats a nice collection there, I especially like that jigged bone! I have never heard of the Signal Corps knife though, is that the brown wood one in your photo? It looks like it only has the screwdriver blade?
 
As a retired soldier, I have a “thing” for military-issued knives. Here are four of mine: three Swiss and one Dutch.

The knife at top is from my birth year (1963); the two at the bottom are from the year I joined the US Army (1985). (The second knife is from ‘76, because...‘merica.)

02FA7633-DFE8-4E94-94AB-7D114F603BC7.jpeg
 
Oh yeah I guess so. I didnt even think about the TL29. Thats a nice collection there, I especially like that jigged bone! I have never heard of the Signal Corps knife though, is that the brown wood one in your photo? It looks like it only has the screwdriver blade?
In that pic, the bone and the wood handle TL-29s are WW2 vintage, the black composite handle TL-29 is 1970s or so. The two smaller knives at the bottom of the picture are Signal Corp knives, sometimes known as Radio knives, both also WW2 era. The lighter color knife has a single locking screw driver/stripper blade with a cutting edge.

nviNE95l.jpg


blsTKjCl.jpg
 
Back
Top