Great find. Looking for info

[Otis1288]

I just found what i believe is a survival kit. My grandfather flew in Vietnam, part of the 15 stack squadron I believe. Any additional info on the stuff would be great. Thanks

 

[afishhunter]

The fixed blade with stacked leather handle looks like an Ontario "Jet Pilot Survival Knife".

The Woodsman's Pal looks like a recent production, and unused. I doubt it is from the Vietnam War era. Orange/Red handles would have stuck out like the proverbial "sore thumb" in the jungle, drawing fire.
Is there a tang stamp on the automatic?
It MIGHT be a Colonial.
Again though, I doubt he carried it in Vietnam. Switchblades were banned by the military brass. Any switchblades brought into the country were confiscated before the soldiers left the air base they arrived at, and were destroyed.
The Global Survival Saw also looks like an unused recent civilian product.

 

[Hickory n steel]

The fixed blade with stacked leather handle looks like an Ontario "Jet Pilot Survival Knife".

The Woodsman's Pal looks like a recent production, and unused. I doubt it is from the Vietnam War era. Orange/Red handles would have stuck out like the proverbial "sore thumb" in the jungle, drawing fire.
Is there a tang stamp on the automatic?
It MIGHT be a Colonial.
Again though, I doubt he carried it in Vietnam. Switchblades were banned by the military brass. Any switchblades brought into the country were confiscated before the soldiers left the air base they arrived at, and were destroyed.
The Global Survival Saw also looks like an unused recent civilian product.

That folder is the paratroopers knife with the line hook, and was military issue.
The JPSK could be Ontario or camillus and Vietnam era, all of it though could be as late as the 1990's though I believe.

 

[Otis1288]

It’s all definately real, and defiantly from Vietnam. Here are some more pics close up.
The paratrooper

The pilot(?) knife

The woodsman pal and saw

There’s stamping dated (19)66 on the box the kit was in

There were also maps and navigational equipment in the same box all these were found in. As well as his helmet, flight suit and others

 

[msierant]

hello Otis,
can't speak on the others but that mil-par is definitely authentic. would there be a date stamp on the pommel? Ontario and Camillus marked theirs. good luck.
mike

 

[tltt]

The Woodsman's Pal is the short 681 / Type II Frank and Warren model that was indeed manufactured from the 1960's - onward. I can see the canvas sheath at holds it and the Global Saw in the back. Frank and Warren actually called this a "Survival Axe" rather than Woodsman's Pal. They were part of Air Crew and Helicopter Crew gear, but could also be generally issued too.

The other version is the IV model that is heavier with the leather handle and D guard.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Yeah, you wouldn't think they'd use orange / red handles but they definitely did.
I've never seen the saw or red handled woodsman's pal, but I see no reason why they wouldn't be Vietnam era.

 

[Otis1288]

hello Otis,
can't speak on the others but that mil-par is definitely authentic. would there be a date stamp on the pommel? Ontario and Camillus marked theirs. good luck.
mike

No markings on the pommel

Or at least none that I can find. Just the MILPAR on the side

 

[tltt]

Interesting thread on these -

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/118328-woodmans-pallc-14-b/ .

 

[BitingSarcasm]

My Dad was in the Air National Guard from the 60s to the 90s, and he had two of the blades in his kit at home: the orange auto he called a Parachute knife, and the survival knife. I had always wondered about those 2, he never seemed to use or carry them and they weren't anything like his usual gear. I bet they were part of the usual military swag that came with working on aircraft.

 

[leghog]

That folder is the paratroopers knife with the line hook, and was military issue.

It's not a paratrooper's knife though many carried them. It was a piece of ALSE - aviation life support equipment.

 

[John A. Larsen]

The orange handled switch blade was issued to the A-Teams, at least in 1965. I was at Trang Sup A-Camp in Tay Ninh and after they were issued all you heard for about two weeks was the clicking as the blade was opened. After that they were thrown into footlockers, as they are not much of a knife. John