Great Eastern Cutlery - Lone Star - American Fighting Ship knife collection

Senior14!

Senior14!

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Hello

I have been a basic member on the site since July of 2021. I purchased a USS Ranger Carrier Ship knife from the American Fighting Ship knife series. The knife was commissioned by knifemaker Percy Richardson of Lone Star Knives as an SFO with Great American Cutlery. I purchased the knife because it looked awesome. However, after further research, I learned that the USS Ranger Carrier Ship served from 1957 – 1993 and was active during the Vietnam – Gulf wars. The Damascus steel that was used for the blade includes steel from the actual ship. I am not a veteran; however, I respect their service. I have only carried the knife a few times and have not used it to cut anything. I love the look of the knife, but I am reluctant to use it. It does not seem right to use the knife as an EDC knife or to cut boxes understanding the symbolism.

Am I overthinking the symbolism of the knife? Would it mean something to a Navy veteran? Do true veterans collect these types of symbolisms? What would be a respectable thing to do with the knife?

Much appreciation.

Rod

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It hard for us to say what to do with it. You admittedly seem reluctant to use it and I understand that. Maybe make a little display of it and hang it on the wall and get another (less sentimental) knife to carry every day like a Case or Buck.

I'm not a veteran so I can't speak to that part.
 
I'm a Navy veteran. And, I was even on the Ranger for a few days, back in 1985. Some people, who have a greater sentimental connection to the Ranger, might like that knife as a collector item. But, I'm not a collector, and not likely to buy that knife. Plus, I'm not likely to EDC a knife like that, either. So it just depends.

I say use it if you want, but it seems more like a knife for someone's collection, to me.
 
That's a very attractive slipjoint.

I suppose you have to ask yourself a couple of personal questions.

Was it expensive enough to prevent you from using it? Does it have personal sentimental value?

I may be way off here, but I always thought of our service equipment such as boats, planes, etc to have been workhorses. They earned their stripes and honor from action. I would suppose using this pretty blade to be a continuation of service.

I also see nothing wrong with putting it on display behind a glass case to honor in that way too.
 
I’ve got a couple of knives in the drawer that I don’t want to use, for various reasons - mostly they’re just too nice to get used and beat up. If this knife were mine, it would be one of those. I would probably just hang onto it, keep it somewhere safe and dry, and keep my eye open for someone for whom it might have some sentimental value because if their past service. I wouldn’t go nuts looking for such a someone, but I’d keep it in the back of my mind that there might be someone out there this would be very special to. But that’s just me.
 
I'm a Navy veteran who did NOT serve on the USS Ranger CV-61. If I owned it, I would carry it on special occasions such as Memorial Day, Veterans Day, etc. Every ship was made for hard work followed by hard play (heavy drinking).Only you can make the decision whether or not to carry it. This probably doesn't help your decision, but it's my opinion. Let us know what you decide. Thanks for sharing.
 
I think you are probably overthinking this. Good on you for appreciating the history they are trying to represent, but I think it is totally up to you on how you proceed. I had an uncle years ago that started in the Merchant Marine at 16, but joined the Navy in WWII. He was torpedoed out of one ship, and made the rest of the war on one other. He had appropriated many tools and other goodies over his service as a mechanic and AA gunner (gunner in the Navy only and in emergency only). He came back from the war as a 20 year old and went to work in the shipyards and repair docks outside of Houston and Galveston TX. He had no sentimentality towards any of his military gear. It served a purpose, and continued on after the war. His weather coat, favorite coffee cups, and some monstrous oversize wrenches were in service immediately after leaving the military. His cohorts were the same way. They used their gear and tools until it wore out, then tossed them.

Fast forward. For about 15 years I did a lot of volunteer work with the Wounded Warriors and Veterans here in San Antonio, TX. One of the guys I became good friends with was a Sgt. Major in the Army. He did 3 combat tours in Vietnam, and from time to time, he just needed his space. We were doing some volunteer work in a group and I saw a USMC style Kabar covered with mud and in desperate need of some TLC. I asked him if he wanted me to rehab the knife and he just laughed. Nah... nah, it's OK. That's actually my second one. I lost the first one on my first tour in country, thankfully at the end. I got that one when I re-upped and went for tour #2 and #3. Personally, I thought it should be some sacred, well protected relic.

What did he use it for? His words, not mine: "The war is long over, Robert. That is the best gardening knife you can buy". He fights other demons, but he assigns no value to his old equipment. The stockman knife his father bought him doesn't leave the house. (Of course it is a CASE!). But the knife he used as weapon... nope. He told me, " I was doing my job, and that's what they gave me along with a bunch of other stuff".

So take it as you will.
 
1911bphil said:
I'm a Navy veteran who did NOT serve on the USS Ranger CV-61. If I owned it, I would carry it on special occasions such as Memorial Day, Veterans Day, etc. Every ship was made for hard work followed by hard play (heavy drinking).Only you can make the decision whether or not to carry it. This probably doesn't help your decision, but it's my opinion. Let us know what you decide. Thanks for sharing.
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Also a Navy veteran that didn't serve on USS Ranger. I was lucky enough to get my hands on one of these knives (USS Texas) and carry it just as you described.

To the OP: it's a beautiful knife, and as many have mentioned, yours to do with as you please. If you want to carry it, go for it. If you want to do anything else with it, that's your prerogative as well.
 
The last tour I did on the USS Ranger (CV-61) was September 1980 - September 1983. I've got quite a few items from the Ranger - most all in the dark in boxes with only a Ranger hat on display on my desktop. I surely don't think there's any thing "Holy" about the knife in question. If you want to use it, use it. Maybe display the tube and certificate on a desk, book case, shelf, whatever, and keep the knife on display with those items when you're not using the knife.
 
Hello All,

Thanks for taking the time to respond. I've learned so much from your post, especially gaining a perspective from the veterans. MolokaiRider's response made sense in that military equipment are tools deigned to be workhorses. I found an old email below that I received from Mr. Percy Richardson, the knife's creator, where he confirmed that it was designed as a very usable knife.

I've decided that I will use the knife with pride. This will remind me of the sacrifice made by so many.

God Bless!

From: Percy Richardson <richardsonknives@yahoo.com>
Sent: Monday, January 24, 2022 1:50 PM
To: Rodney
Subject: knives

The Damascus is steel from the ship forged with 15n20 and 1095 to make a quality blade. I sent the billets of steel to GEC and they made the knives.

It is a very usable knife.

Pine from the Texas on it.

Check out HNSA.net they have a lot about the ships.

Thanks



Percy Richardson

The Knife Shop

7000 South Hwy 69

Lufkin, Texas 75901



936-634-1690
 
From what I've read the USS Ranger CV61 was sold for scrap. So I would assume that steel from that ship was melted down and made into all sorts of things that are being used without any concern for where the steel came from.
 
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