Made In Yugoslavien

[Mistwalker]

It's kind of a weird as if somebody mixed English and German, since the countries name in German is "Jugoslawien" so "Made in Jugoslawien" wouldn't be incorrect, just a weird language combination. I've seen similar knives a while back on flea markets and local fairs, although I didn't pay much attention to them at the time. I always dug the design, but after breaking one of those plastic handled ones as a kid I never had any interest in the hollow handle knives anymore, although I suspect that the machined handles are at least a bit more sturdy and useful.

Another thing that's kind of weird is the price range in auction sites. I've found five and they range from $70 to $250 with all of them saying very rare.

 

[b00n]

I wouldn't mind pricey for well made and electrical insulation. Production it shouldn't be too outrageous...maybe...

Don't stab junction boxes! People like me have to fix them! But you're right, they shouldn't be too outrageous in price, the Boker is 150$ish I think, and if you add some more milling to hollow out the handle and at a threaded cap, it still shouldn't be more than maybe 100-150$ on top for a well made (unusual) knife isn't that much of a big cost. High End Hollow Handle Survival Knives isn't a huge market though, so who knows.

 

[Mossyhorn]

According to Knife Center's overview,( aren't they still a member here? ) The handle is cast on those too, but the knurling may be machined in, I'm not sure.
https://www.knifecenter.com/item/AI...ed-combat-knife-polyamide-sheath-survival-kit

These knives have machined aluminum handles and end caps, but machined stainless guards mated to them.

You mentioned molded handles on the European counterparts, the Aitor JK 1 is not of a molded design.

 

[Mistwalker]

Don't stab junction boxes! People like me have to fix them! But you're right, they shouldn't be too outrageous in price, the Boker is 150$ish I think, and if you add some more milling to hollow out the handle and at a threaded cap, it still shouldn't be more than maybe 100-150$ on top for a well made (unusual) knife isn't that much of a big cost. High End Hollow Handle Survival Knives isn't a huge market though, so who knows.

LOL, I don't have any issue with junction boxes most of the time, I just like to study different aspects of urban disaster survival I mainly just have a romanticized folklore sort of fondness for them I suppose, in liking the grab and go bit. But I mainly like them for working close to home as far as woods go. In a wilderness I likely wouldn't put all my eggs in one basket like that. I think Randall has sold several #18s over the years but that's Randall...

 

[Zuluninja]

the handle on the Aitor Jungle King 2 is cast aluminum, while the handle on the Jungle King 1 is machined steel. As soon as you grab one, the weight gives it away.

 

[mtngunr]

Back to the OP query with simple syntax error in a foreign country,....
No, sir, never have seen such a knife in my life. It certainly would have stood out in the herd of decent such knives I bought for deployments.
I recently repurchased a well liked, now gone, knife of the period, that being the Eye Brand version using heavy brass machined tubing with zytel overlay, and was one of the few imports seen with machined metal handles.
The Eye Brand holds up to some pretty good hard use, the short threadèd end tang fully radiused and half of blade depth, the stainless not as brittle as 440C which the Germans concocted...and takes a VERY sharp edge...

I would have thought hard about the Yugoslavien knife, but likely passed on unknown "440C" origin and heat treat.

 

[rexromic]

I have been checking out all the various iterations of survival knives since the early 70s, and still have some of them, from 60s and 70s Camiilus issue pilots knives and some hand made ones. But I didn't even know these were a thing until yesterday when I found them in a box. It appears that the handles are machined like the European iterations rather than molded like their Spanish and Asian counterparts from the 80s. Anyone here familiar with them?

I had one of these long time ago.

 

[G. Scott H.]

Seeing reference to Yugoslavia gave me a strange, sudden wave of late Cold War nostalgia. Took me back to my misspent youth in the '80s for a moment.

 

[KooKooforKukripuffs]

Another thing that's kind of weird is the price range in auction sites. I've found five and they range from $70 to $250 with all of them saying very rare.

The one that is $70 is missing a tip and was reprofiled to a drop point. Might explain the cheaper asking price.

 

[Mikel_24]

I have no info about that knife. But I wouldn't count on that sawback for ANYTHING. There are plenty of saw/serrated designs out there that work decently for the intended purpose.... but I neve saw a design like that. I don't think I would buy one. Ever.

 

[Mistwalker]

Back to the OP query with simple syntax error in a foreign country,....
No, sir, never have seen such a knife in my life. It certainly would have stood out in the herd of decent such knives I bought for deployments.
I recently repurchased a well liked, now gone, knife of the period, that being the Eye Brand version using heavy brass machined tubing with zytel overlay, and was one of the few imports seen with machined metal handles.
The Eye Brand holds up to some pretty good hard use, the short threadèd end tang fully radiused and half of blade depth, the stainless not as brittle as 440C which the Germans concocted...and takes a VERY sharp edge...

I would have thought hard about the Yugoslavien knife, but likely passed on unknown "440C" origin and heat treat.

It's definitely better made and more solid than the old Explorer Rambo inspired knives with threaded handle and short tang I had in the 80s, but not quite as well made as the Marto Explora, and maybe about the same level of toughness as the Aitors. I remember the German Eye brand ones, always wanted one, Funny thing about that, I found a German Eye lock-back Sod Buster type knife with hammer forged blade in the same box. Along with a Wildcat hunting knife from Solingen and a 1971 Camillus jet pilot's knife.

I had one of these long time ago.

Did you use it? Any thoughts?

Seeing reference to Yugoslavia gave me a strange, sudden wave of late Cold War nostalgia. Took me back to my misspent youth in the '80s for a moment.

Same here. Then thinking of the cold war at all caused me to wander back down memory lane to the 70's, and hiding in the basement with the powdered milk, canned goods, salty jarred beef, and water during the political saber rattling scares.

The one that is $70 is missing a tip and was reprofiled to a drop point. Might explain the cheaper asking price.

That might be the case, I'll keep an eye on them, and may try to sell these to help pay some bills....

I have no info about that knife. But I wouldn't count on that sawback for ANYTHING. There are plenty of saw/serrated designs out there that work decently for the intended purpose.... but I neve saw a design like that. I don't think I would buy one. Ever.

It's not the best saw design I've seen, that's for certain. But it's also not the worse style I've seen.

 

[mtngunr]

Most original sawbacks such as on the JPK and Randall Model 18, were made for the thin, light, aircraft sheetmetal.of the time, and not for wood, at all. German knives back to prior to WWI on military engineers knives and bayonets, were more geared towards wood and notching thereof for erecting field phone lines.

 

[Sergeua]

Bratsvo means brotherhood and orhid is the towns name.
Looks like there is a capable steel plant there still and they still use same logo found on your specimens.
"Yug" means south "slava" means glory or in terms of yugo slavia, slavia has a meaning of something that is good that they must be known for or what puts them on the map sort of speaking.

 

[Sosa]

Surplus yugo mags, rifles and ammo are well respected. Those blades IDK. I’d sharpen one, field test it and post the results. Plenty would be grateful.

 

[Sid Post]

Back to the OP query with simple syntax error in a foreign country,....
No, sir, never have seen such a knife in my life. It certainly would have stood out in the herd of decent such knives I bought for deployments.
I recently repurchased a well liked, now gone, knife of the period, that being the Eye Brand version using heavy brass machined tubing with zytel overlay, and was one of the few imports seen with machined metal handles.
The Eye Brand holds up to some pretty good hard use, the short threadèd end tang fully radiused and half of blade depth, the stainless not as brittle as 440C which the Germans concocted...and takes a VERY sharp edge...

I would have thought hard about the Yugoslavien knife, but likely passed on unknown "440C" origin and heat treat.

First, thanks for your service!

Those older German knives in general were an interesting lot. Eye Brand is only one of several that made pretty darn good knives for the time. Most people think of the older hardness tested Puma's but, there are several more brands for consideration as well. The German (or European) steel classifications are similar to the more common US known varieties but, there are subtle differences. In the end when it was all said and done, those German knives weren't the best but they were certainly a lot better than most knives in common circulation at the stores I shopped at.

Even today, I occasionally try to seek out specimens from current production from the old 'names'. As hard as it is to believe, the SAK style, boot knives, etc. are easy enough to find online but, are near impossible to buy.

 

[Natlek]

Bratsvo means brotherhood and orhid is the towns name.
Looks like there is a capable steel plant there still and they still use same logo found on your specimens.
"Yug" means south "slava" means glory or in terms of yugo slavia, slavia has a meaning of something that is good that they must be known for or what puts them on the map sort of speaking.

That factory is about 100 km . from my house Now it is Macedonia .I live 30 years in Yugoslavia , in that time made in Yugoslavia was a sign of quality .....

 

[KooKooforKukripuffs]

Mistwalker
Did you buy it? The one for $75? Someone did

 

[Lapedog]

Not that it’s worth explaining, but I think you missed my point. My whole post was a joke. I buy knives based on the design and value, not necessarily where they are from. My joke was simply pointing out that “made in Yugoslavian” is not proper. It should say “made by a Yugoslavian” or “made in Yugoslavia”, hence my suggestion about buying “made in American” which is also incorrect. Also, lighten up Francis.

That’s how you know they are really kade in Yugoslavia, the error in English. That way you know it isn’t some American knife pretending to be from Yugoslavia.

 

[Mistwalker]

Mistwalker
Did you buy it? The one for $75? Someone did

Nope, I need to do more selling than buying lately as it is, but I already have two pristine new ones of these that I have no clue what to do with already, not really any sense in buying a messed up one to go with them...not under the current circumstances anyway lol.

That’s how you know they are really kade in Yugoslavia, the error in English. That way you know it isn’t some American knife pretending to be from Yugoslavia.

LOLOLOLOL. Here in the US there is barely the potential to make affordable domestic made knives of decent quality, much less cheap counterfeits of a foreign product.