Vintage Survival-Bianchi Nighthawk II

J

JTC

Joined
Dec 22, 2002
Messages
1,398
I really like hollow handle survival knives. I have since I was a kid in the 80's. I guess the Rambo and Predator bug got me pretty good. Anyway I realize their limitations but am fascinated by them none the less.

The knife I'm reviewing today is a Bianchi Nighthawk II. I believe it was made in the mid 80's by Carl Schlieper/Eye Brand knives in Germany and imported by Bianchi under their name. It has 1330 engraved on one side of the tang and "Solingen Germany Stainless on the other side. I traded for it at a knife show around 2004 so I haven't had it all that long.

I'm guessing the steel is 440 probably "C" but I'm not sure. It seems to be really well made with nice grinds and the top and bottom of the blade that isn't sharpened is rounded nicely if you put your finger around the top gaurd for precision work. The blade is a spearpoint shape with very shallow serrations on the false edge. They might be ok for rope but they aren't that sharp. I do think they might be good for getting sparks off of a ferrocium rod.
It has a really nice edge on it.

As I mentioned the handle is hollow and is made of what looks to be brass as is the guard and buttcap. The guard has a hole drilled in the top and bottom for attaching a forward lanyard or tying it to a stick for a spear I suppose.Over the handle is a hard plastic handle that creates the actual shape of the handle. I read somewhere that this plastic is the same kind used in the Remington Nylon 66 .22 rifle but can't confirm it. Whatever it is made of feels tough and has a nice texture to it that isn't too slick but not rough enough as to be uncomfortable on your hands.Inside the buttcap is a small compass that works well from what I can tell.

The sheath it has is really nice. Given that Bianchi imported it and makes some really nice holsters I guess that isnt surprising. It is made of nice thick leather with three eyelets for lashing it to your leg or gear. On the back it has the Bianchi logo along with "#855 Nighthawk" on it.

This knife is very comfortable in the hand and has a reassuring heft to it witout being overly heavy. I would like the handle to be just a tad longer but it's not a deal breaker.

Now for some pictures. I'm a newbie Photographer so forgive me if the quality is lacking.
2n7qxsl.jpg

ng7j8p.jpg

2a6m2a8.jpg

2a8011s.jpg

kqlo2.jpg





I also did a you tube video on it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpsZE7a_yWQ

If anyone has any other information on this knife I'd love to hear it. Thank you very much for reading and watching.
 
Yes, these are Schlieper. And the steel is 440c. The design is based somewhat on the work of John N. Cooper. The big difference between the Schlieper and Bianchi is the sheath, the Schlieper version is of much, much lower quality.

The Gun Digest Book of Knives 3rd. Edition(yellow cover) has a little more information on it.

Schlieper also offered another survival knife with a longer sawback and clip point, with brass or blackened steel fittings with the same handle.

There was also a plainer version offered for a little bit that was a M-3 style blade mounted in the same type hollow handle.
 
"JTC"
Nice to know it hasn't been forgotten.
It's a well made knife, but it lacks a secure firm grip for a handle design.
this is a schlieper survival knife model
came in both bright mirror polish and blacken.

I m surprise that the liquid contained in the compass hasn't turned murky, as many have.

If you look through John Lofty Wiseman's classic "The SAS Survival Handbook", you would note that the artist chose to illustrate a survival knife which appears to be modeled on this pattern.
But it could be an earlier Colt model (which had a wooden handle) though.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"...There was also a plainer version offered for a little bit that was a M-3 style blade mounted in the same type hollow handle..."
-titt
file0002am1.jpg

That's the all blacken Carl Schlieper Commando.
I m so sore for letting it slip by me...
 
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I know this is an old thread but thought I'd add my 2 cents. I was a wholesaler for the importer of the original Eye Brand Survival Knife. The full story is interesting. Schlieper actually bypassed the importer in the late 1970's and sold the knife to Bianchi Leathers before the design was introduced under the Eye Brand banner. Those knives were marked "Bianchi" and naturally Bianchi made the sheaths. After the Bianchi manufacturing run was completed Schlieper introduced the knife with a different sheath that was marked "Survival Knife" and was also stamped "Ice Tempered". If I remember correctly, there were 100 knives in the first shipment to be received and I had pre-sold 12 of them based on a printed flyer alone. I kept one for myself. Many years later I gave the knife to my son who pawned it when he got short of cash. I'm trying to find one to buy so if anyone knows of one for sale please let me know. I'd settle for a Bianchi version but would actually prefer the one marked "Survival Knife".

Thanks,
John
 
Awesome blast from the past, thanks. I remember this knife from back in the '80s, definitely seemed to be one of the better regarded hollow-handled knives (I guess I just didn't see this original thread back in '08).
 
New guy here waking up an old thread... I was cleaning out my closet this past weekend and found one of these Bianchi Nighthawks that my 70-something year old father gave to 10 or 15 years ago. I did some research some quick research and much to my surprise this appears to be a somewhat valuable knife. Not much of a knife person so to learn some of the history and tech specs was pretty cool. Mine is a original run Bianchi Nighthawk serial number #0050 with both the leather and tactical sheaths. Dad was special forces in the early 60's and was/is a gun and knife enthusiast. The second knife is a Gary Little 7" filet knife that Dad gave me for my 40th birthday back in 2002. Here are some pics I wanted to share.

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KvMV47LYE1JGnMUvXxUqfk-QODEei11-MZrYNa_wlgI=w1313-h985-no


IMG_0939.JPG


IMG_0940.JPG


IMG_0941.JPG


IMG_0942.JPG
 
Say Heah Boys and Girls, Just about a hour or so ago, I bought a Hollow Handle Bianchi Knife, I got it with ought the sheath, But a Spec-Ops fits it like a glove. I didn't have a Compass either, But the inside of the handle is brass and in great shape, so is the Hilt, The knife is in excellent condition, The blade appears to never been sharpened and no marks from cutting, Theknife is pristine. I paid $150.00 Do you guys think I over paid because no sheath and compass ? But in all, it's a very solid feeling knife. It's made in Solingen, Germany. I need to go over it with a magnifying glass, just to see the writing on it. But it does look very much as the pictures in this post. I just increased my Hollow handle collection. So far I have the Randall Made Model #18, I had the Saw Spine, The handle Knurled, and the Hilt and Pommel cap made in Brass because I opted for the Compass, Then my Hog Sticker is a Tomahawk Brand, I don't remember anymore, But I think it was the LX 1161 which at the time was considered one of the largest blades made at the time, It's a Hollow Handle Survival Knife with Scary Sharp Tiny Thin Teeth on the spine, Not for sawing wood, but to cut through Hyde. But mine was made in the
U. S. A. and in 440c. then I have a Russian Survival Knife made at the Izhmash Plant were they make the Al's, the Steel is tgeir version of truck leaf spring steel the 65G, it's a 6" Re-Curve and it comes with a very unique sheath that houses other tools. I also have a Bower Amaro, It's a Martin design, The blade has the male tread and the inside is the female treads, the blade is then screwed into the handle and solidified with a tough hard epoxy that fortifies the joint and actually is as Strong as if it wasn't a two piece but a regular fix blade, I baton with this knife and it's just as solid as the day I bought it. I paid $100.00 at Knife Center a few years ago, A Martin Apartments is around $500.00 and the blade is CM 154 and my Bokor is 440c. Yeah, but it's still a very good hollow handle incase you like a Hollow Handle then that's a good one. And now my newly acquired Bianchi, Solingen, Germany made Hollow Handle that appears to be another strong, solid hollow handle knife, Ok, my #18 is silver soldered together, Any info towards my new purchase would be greatly appreciated. Thanx in advance. ,, , Paul'ie

Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk
 
My Spell Check puts it's own words I have a Bower Apartments, not a Bower what ever it put in. Grrrrrrrr

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Say Heah Boys and Girls I just got a Bianchi, But mine doesn't have Nighthawk on it but very light numbers that start I believe 5761 something something, the other side has Solengin, Germany Stainless, and mine is mirror polished, It's a beauty., It fits right I'm my Hollow Handle Stable along with my Randall Made #18 Attack, My Buckhalter #184, and my older Pig Sticker Tomahawk Brand Hollow Handle Survival Knife that's made in the U. S. A. also my professional Russian Survival Knife with the unique sheath that houses some pretty good quality gear. and finally a copy of the Martin Amaro but mine is made by Bower. Now my Bianchi, and believe me It's a very solid and also well made hollow handle. From what I read, Fighter Pilots used it as their survival knives. Any additional information would be greatly appreciated.

Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk
 
JTC said:
I really like hollow handle survival knives. I have since I was a kid in the 80's. I guess the Rambo and Predator bug got me pretty good. Anyway I realize their limitations but am fascinated by them none the less.

The knife I'm reviewing today is a Bianchi Nighthawk II. I believe it was made in the mid 80's by Carl Schlieper/Eye Brand knives in Germany and imported by Bianchi under their name. It has 1330 engraved on one side of the tang and "Solingen Germany Stainless on the other side. I traded for it at a knife show around 2004 so I haven't had it all that long.

I'm guessing the steel is 440 probably "C" but I'm not sure. It seems to be really well made with nice grinds and the top and bottom of the blade that isn't sharpened is rounded nicely if you put your finger around the top gaurd for precision work. The blade is a spearpoint shape with very shallow serrations on the false edge. They might be ok for rope but they aren't that sharp. I do think they might be good for getting sparks off of a ferrocium rod.
It has a really nice edge on it.

As I mentioned the handle is hollow and is made of what looks to be brass as is the guard and buttcap. The guard has a hole drilled in the top and bottom for attaching a forward lanyard or tying it to a stick for a spear I suppose.Over the handle is a hard plastic handle that creates the actual shape of the handle. I read somewhere that this plastic is the same kind used in the Remington Nylon 66 .22 rifle but can't confirm it. Whatever it is made of feels tough and has a nice texture to it that isn't too slick but not rough enough as to be uncomfortable on your hands.Inside the buttcap is a small compass that works well from what I can tell.

The sheath it has is really nice. Given that Bianchi imported it and makes some really nice holsters I guess that isnt surprising. It is made of nice thick leather with three eyelets for lashing it to your leg or gear. On the back it has the Bianchi logo along with "#855 Nighthawk" on it.

This knife is very comfortable in the hand and has a reassuring heft to it witout being overly heavy. I would like the handle to be just a tad longer but it's not a deal breaker.

Now for some pictures. I'm a newbie Photographer so forgive me if the quality is lacking.
2n7qxsl.jpg

ng7j8p.jpg

2a6m2a8.jpg

2a8011s.jpg

kqlo2.jpg





I also did a you tube video on it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpsZE7a_yWQ

If anyone has any other information on this knife I'd love to hear it. Thank you very much for reading and watching.
Click to expand...
Say Heah JTC, I have one just like it, But my number is 3761 and on mine it doesn't have Nighthawk on it, Mine might be a earlier madel or something, But regardless it's in excellent condition, But I didn't get a sheath with mine, I hope I can find a sheath. If you where I can find a sheath for mine, Please let me know, Please, Paul'ie

Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk
 
tltt said:
Yes, these are Schlieper. And the steel is 440c. The design is based somewhat on the work of John N. Cooper. The big difference between the Schlieper and Bianchi is the sheath, the Schlieper version is of much, much lower quality.

The Gun Digest Book of Knives 3rd. Edition(yellow cover) has a little more information on it.

Schlieper also offered another survival knife with a longer sawback and clip point, with brass or blackened steel fittings with the same handle.

There was also a plainer version offered for a little bit that was a M-3 style blade mounted in the same type hollow handle.
Click to expand...
Hello, I need a sheath for mine, If you know who has a Sheath, Please let me know. Thank in advance. Paul'ie

Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk
 
I think I found a Sheath for mine, I finally completed two knives I bought at a Pawn shop without a sheath, I bought in a very good condition a Case Pawnee, A fella had a Custom sheath made for his so I got the original sheath also in excellent condition with a Flap over Cover for it, It's the sheath originally they come with, The Sheath for my Bianchi hollow handle survival knife, The sheath looks like a fancy sheath that Paul Schrieter makes, It's not a Bianchi Sheath but beautiful never the less.

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