Military Knife Question

[PeterDE]

I served in the Coast Guard for 20 years. They did not issue knives in general, but if you worked on deck and handled lines it was good practice to have a good sharp knife. Sheath knives weren't allowed but folders were ok. I carried a Buck 110. However if a knife was need as a tool they were available. I have several electrician's knives from my service.

I have a K-Bar from WWII that was a Navy issued knife (it's in pretty bad shape so I won't post a pic.) That I bought at an estate sale, and I recently found a Army issue utility knife made by Camillus in 1981.

Generally speaking these are good knives for the purpose intended. I am sure there are better ones on the civilian market ( like the Buck 110) but they will serve (pun intended).

 

[ISKRA]

It's quite a while back, but probably fitting here. I "discovered" ww2 parachute knives a few years ago on the net and then saw that they issued similar knives to the Airforce in Vietnam and probably still do. I watched a few videos on YouTube done by guys who either bought one commercially or held on to them when they finished their service in the paratroopers or elsewhere. Anyway, they all complained that it's a rather cheapsh... knife. By pressing the small button, which is also the lock, you release the main blade which springs open. If you hold the button too long it doesn't lock and even if it locks there's so much back and forth play the blade dances around when locked. The hook that is supposed to be used for parachute line cutting has to be opened by both hands and isn't sharp at all. You need to put in quite some effort to cut the line with it. Any of you got some esperience with this one?

(source of the picture: internet)

 

[Chief]

Have owned them and seen them issued, mainly to pilots, during my years in the service. The assessment you quote is kind, failure to lock is normal. When your life, or someone else's, depends on a knife, nothing beats a fixed blade.

 

[Jolipapa]

These belong to my friend Bernard of Thiers.
The Colonial Army (Infantry and Navy) allocated knife, made by Pradel since 1878 till the 60's.

 

[skyhorse]

(source of the picture: internet)

I served with the 82nd during VN and this knife was handed out to us. They were so dull I doubt it would cut butter. The blade deployment was very weak and it didn't always lock. When it did lock there was major blade play. The knife itself felt more like it was made out of tin rather than steel. Many of them broke within days and the rest must have been tossed out because I don't recall anybody carrying one for more than a week or so.

 

[Jolipapa]

Still not mine alas, the Airborne Commando (and sometime French Airforce pilot) knife. Made by SCOF, length 24cm (9" 1/2).

and another FAF knife by Durinox

the "Tatoo" (not allocated but sold in every soldier's shop - this is a civilian):

and since 2010 the new allocated:

 

[jackknife]

It's quite a while back, but probably fitting here. I "discovered" ww2 parachute knives a few years ago on the net and then saw that they issued similar knives to the Airforce in Vietnam and probably still do. I watched a few videos on YouTube done by guys who either bought one commercially or held on to them when they finished their service in the paratroopers or elsewhere. Anyway, they all complained that it's a rather cheapsh... knife. By pressing the small button, which is also the lock, you release the main blade which springs open. If you hold the button too long it doesn't lock and even if it locks there's so much back and forth play the blade dances around when locked. The hook that is supposed to be used for parachute line cutting has to be opened by both hands and isn't sharp at all. You need to put in quite some effort to cut the line with it. Any of you got some esperience with this one?

(source of the picture: internet)

My own experience with these "knives" was in 1968. I was in Vietnam serving in the engineers. Our supply sergeant had ordered some TL-29's and they shipped us some of these, I have no idea why. They were absolute junk. Some of the guys tried use them on the job sites and they fell apart if used for anything harder than cutting twine. Junk. They were so bad that when the TL-29's arrived and he still had half a box of the parachute knives, he couldn't give them away. If the TL-29's or the Camillus all steel scout knife wasn't on hand, the guys would buy a knife at the PX.

I think I heard later that the supply sergeant had tossed them in the river rather than keep them listed in the inventory.

 

[Jolipapa]

Again not mine, a Greek Army knife

 

[supratentorial]

Interesting knives, Jolipapa :thumbup:

 

[leghog]

It's quite a while back, but probably fitting here. I "discovered" ww2 parachute knives a few years ago on the net and then saw that they issued similar knives to the Airforce in Vietnam and probably still do. I watched a few videos on YouTube done by guys who either bought one commercially or held on to them when they finished their service in the paratroopers or elsewhere. Anyway, they all complained that it's a rather cheapsh... knife. By pressing the small button, which is also the lock, you release the main blade which springs open. If you hold the button too long it doesn't lock and even if it locks there's so much back and forth play the blade dances around when locked. The hook that is supposed to be used for parachute line cutting has to be opened by both hands and isn't sharp at all. You need to put in quite some effort to cut the line with it. Any of you got some esperience with this one?

(source of the picture: internet)

I served with the 82nd during VN and this knife was handed out to us. They were so dull I doubt it would cut butter. The blade deployment was very weak and it didn't always lock. When it did lock there was major blade play. The knife itself felt more like it was made out of tin rather than steel. Many of them broke within days and the rest must have been tossed out because I don't recall anybody carrying one for more than a week or so.

That's because they were designed as part of ALSE - Aviation Life Support Equipment - which was their intended use. They were never intended for general use and should never have been issued for that purpose. Not really meant to last more than once ---- in an emergency/bailout aviators could cut parachute suspension lines and stab an inflated life raft.

 

[AreBeeBee]

Two military knives for which i have photos. (I also have one of the Camillus "lifeboat" rope knives.)

The first is a US Army Engineer's knife (1942-44), made by Camillus. All steel (brass was needed for shell and cartridge cases), with cattle bone scales. This or one of the other three Engineer knives I have is in my pocket almost every day. (Currently I'm carrying an Imperial Boy Scout model, but the blades are the same camper-pattern as the army knife.)

The lower image is a Cattaraugus 225Q, with its now-retired original sheath above and a modern-made replica below. This was the Army-issued counterpart to the various Kabars/Pals/etc. Basically a fighting/utility knife with a stout blade — 3/16" thick in this case. Blade is 6" long, overall length 10.5"

 

[John A. Larsen]

Jolipapa, I am luck to have one of the SCOF made folders with its leather sheath. Nice model of a ACMAT Truck! Who made the Greek knife? Thanks, John

 

[Jolipapa]

Interesting knives, Jolipapa :thumbup:

Thank you. I wish I had a colonial like that. Only the Tatou and the 2010 Army are mine.

Jolipapa, I am luck to have one of the SCOF made folders with its leather sheath. Nice model of a ACMAT Truck! Who made the Greek knife? Thanks, John

The Greek is marked Afentakis, but if you check on the bay, there are other makers SAPA Hellas and Asteris.
I was gifted the ACMAT for the 50th anniversary back in 1998. The real thing is virtually indestructible.
And for the fun some SCOF unfinished (sorry for the crappy picture, it comes also from my friend Bernard)

 

[Jolipapa]

Again from Bernard's collection, a 1914 Poilu's (#hairy is the nickname of the WWI infantry soldier) knife, made by Couvreux. The headquarter realized that the tall Lebel rifle with the bayonet was impractical during hand to hand fights and ordered this , but it proved to be quite unefficient and was replaced by butchers knives.

 

[screened porch]

Again from Bernard's collection, a 1914 Poilu's (#hairy is the nickname of the WWI infantry soldier) knife, made by Couvreux. The headquarter realized that the tall Lebel rifle with the bayonet was impractical during hand to hand fights and ordered this , but it proved to be quite unefficient and was replaced by butchers knives.

I guess the dismounted bayonet was in some way unsuitable for knife fighting?
I wonder if someone at headquarters owned stock in Couvreux?

 

[neal70]

How long was the bayonet? Some of the WWI vintages were practically short swords. 18" is a lot inside a trench, at the end of your arm. That paratroopers gear picture has a knuckleduster trench knife under the .45, in addition to the 'chute knife, bayonet, and machete. When I was a kid I played with walkie-talkies just like that, from a surplus store.
Thanks, Neal

 

[screened porch]

I seem to remember Sir R F Burton complaining about bayonets made to double as swords or saws or lord knows what else, instead of being designed for use as bayonets.

 

[John A. Larsen]

Jolipapa, The SCOF is interesting as it has a stainless steel blade, but all the other tools are carbon steel. I seem to remember seeing a photo of one being carried in Indochina by a French soldier, but cannot remember in which book? I also have a civilian sale version of a French combination knife with an Olive Drab body, lock blade, can opener, a detachable fork and spoon, and there all important corkscrew! I bought it at a knife show in Finland of all places. In 1965 at the SF Camp at Trang Sup, near TayNinh the orange handle pilot's knife was issued and for about two weeks all you heard was the blade being opened. After that it was normally thrown into a footlocker and forgotten as said above it was not much of a knife, and people went back to using their Demo knife. John

 

[ISKRA]

Great stuff, everyone! Thank you for your contributions.

 

[John A. Larsen]

Jolipapa, The SCOF is interesting as it has a stainless steel blade, but all the other tools are carbon steel. I seem to remember seeing a photo of one being carried in Indochina by a French soldier, but cannot remember in which book? I also have a civilian sale version of a French combination knife with an Olive Drab body, lock blade, can opener, a detachable fork and spoon, and there all important corkscrew! I bought it at a knife show in Finland of all places. In 1965 at the SF Camp at Trang Sup, near TayNinh the orange handle pilot's knife was issued and for about two weeks all you heard was the blade being opened. After that it was normally thrown into a footlocker and forgotten as said above it was not much of a knife, and people went back to using their Demo knife. John