Montagnard Knife?

[edr981]

Looking for a history lesson. Found this knife in Va. Beach area in early 80's. There were two at the shop at the time. Only bought the smaller one. Kick myself in the ass every time I remember that. Had an all wooden sheath, which has long been gone. A friend I grew up with who's Dad did two tours in Nam has one also. He flew Huey's. On his return from the first tour he brought my friend a Montagnard Crossbow. On his return from the second tour he brought him a Montagnard Knife. The one he has was a little more well finished than the one in the pictures. His Dad told us that the Montagnard's would use pounded out leaf springs from wrecked or destroyed vehicles. The steel is soft but will shave the hair off your face. Handle is to be made out of Water Buffalo horn. Have no doubt about what my friend's dad told us but would like to see if anyone else has run across one of theses knives? I have only seen three of these knives since 1973. Thanks for fighting for my freedom to all the Vets out there.
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm168/edr981/DSC00908.jpg
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm168/edr981/DSC00907.jpg
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm168/edr981/DSC00905.jpg
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm168/edr981/DSC00906.jpg

 

[scotsmanspride]

My ex father in law was with the 5th special forces for several years in vietnam and had a similar knife/story that he brought back.

 

[untamed]

^ Hello there.

As you can see from my location, I'm Filipino and there are some things that we SE-Asian folks share in common such as in knives. Jeep and truck leaf spring blades handled in carabao (water buffalo) horn are traditional staples of knifemaking over here.

That being said, MAN, that looks almost like a typical blade we have around here. I don't know much about the Vietnamese Degar peoples but in all honesty, my first reaction would be to say it's a Filipino itak

This is not to say though that I doubt the truth of what your father said it was from though. Did he spend some time here in my country as well?

I've also taken the liberty of attaching your pics, hope you don't mind -

 

[Angus McGunnigl]

I have a very similar knife.
Mine looks a bit longer and still has the wooden sheath. Total length of the knife is about 16 inches.
Mine looks like the same guy could have made it, Tapered tang too.
Sheath has a alligator/lizard carved on the front biting into the J.E.S.T. crest from the Philippines. There are a list of names painted in black on the back. It looks like the knife was a gift to and instructor and the list of people it's from are listed also.

You have a knife there that may have some real history to it.

 

[untamed]

I have a very similar knife.
Mine looks a bit longer and still has the wooden sheath. Total length of the knife is about 16 inches.
Mine looks like the same guy could have made it, Tapered tang too.
Sheath has a alligator/lizard carved on the front biting into the J.E.S.T. crest from the Philippines. There are a list of names painted in black on the back. It looks like the knife was a gift to and instructor and the list of people it's from are listed also.

You have a knife there that may have some real history to it.

Yes, it does look like a shorter J.E.S.T. (Jungle Environment Survival Training) bolo -

 

[edr981]

Thanks for the replies and info. Untamed your J.E.S.T. sure does have a lot of the some design. My sheath was more only the size of the knife.

 

[untamed]

Just re-read you post. I'm definitely inclined to say that's a Filipino itak (bolo).

Honestly, I myself would be proud to have such a knife. And its full tang to boot! Not that there aren't any full-tangs mind you, but you could just as easily have gotten a mortised "rat tail" tang or riveted thru the handle's pommel.

It really is an all-around tool. Our natives and indigenous peoples are so adept with it, you could shape and process bamboo and other native resources into just about anything. Check out this Ray Mears vid. Although it's set in Indonesia using a parang blade, that itak could just as easily accomplish the same tasks -

[youtube]EVaW9glEOhQ[/youtube]