Rare WWII OSS SOE Escape Knife Found

[Mak10theknife]

Hello all, just in time for the weekend I have to show off my newest, oldest find. It is a WWII OSS SOE Escape knife. It has a wire cutter, 3 hacksaw blades, a lock breaker (thick unsharpened blade) flat head screwdriver and a knife blade. It maintains most of its original blueing. Really a rare piece that is rarely seen outside of museums. Still research this one so any additional information you have would be appreciated!

 

[Bob W]

We can't see a picture that's still on your computer.

 

[Thomas Linton]

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[Mak10theknife]

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Posting Pictures - Photobucket

Open a free account at www.photobucket.com (or some other free web-hosting site)

"Upload" pictures from your computer/device to your Photobucket account using Photobucket "Upload" button in top tool bar and then the "Choose" button.

This last will take you to your Windows Picture page where you "open" a picture to upload it to PhotoBucket.

When the bar has filled, the picture is uploaded.

Left click on the small image of the picture that appears to the left.

A larger image will now appear to the right. Left click on the bottom "IMG" link. This is the "copy" step in Windows "copy and paste."

Go to your post here at BladeForums and "paste" the link in your post.

Save your post.

Better pictures help get better info.

 

[Mak10theknife]

Thanks for your help!

 

[kagato82]

Great find! I love seeing items from that era.

 

[Thomas Linton]

Here's an article; http://www.multi-tool.org/ossescapeknife one error, the "lock breaker" is the ordinary UK military "tin opener" (can opener).

The tool, and the WWI counterpart, are discussed in Ron Flook's British and Commonwealth Military Knives, Howell Press (1999) at p. 48.

 

[Mak10theknife]

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[Mak10theknife]

Thanks for the info and link! I think I own the best example, condition wise, that I have seen thus far.

 

[silverds]

Escape Knife. Hmm. Interesting. How does one retain one of these during captivity?

Were these actually issued with a sheath or.... Uhhh.... nevermind...

 

[mete]

Why are there two shackles ??..Three saw blades ? Must be before bi-metallic blades !

 

[Danke42]

Why are there two shackles ??..Three saw blades ? Must be before bi-metallic blades !

One is a shackle and the small one is a catch for the cutter handle.

 

[DocT]

That is interesting. That is the first one of those I have ever seen. Thanks for posting.

 

[Danke42]

Check this out.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/391182-Chapter-10)-Before-there-was-Leatherman……

 

[Mike-The-Knife]

Nice piece . It's always great to see these rare old knives .

 

[Thomas Linton]

...Three saw blades ? Must be before bi-metallic blades !

Shortage of hardware stores to get new blades?

 

[Danke42]

Hardware store in France used to have odd hours.

 

[Mak10theknife]

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[Mak10theknife]

Yep, it's for holding the snip handle. Mere if they had had bi metal hacksaw blades back the we might have won the war sooner!

 

[Armadew]

Really cool! Thanks for sharing.