What Can You Tell me About This Ulster?

[aztaco]

So I am gong through my dad's old stuff and found a vietnam era USAF survival kit. He was in from 63-67 so it is post ww2 for sure.

Opened it and low and behold a nice button compass and an ulster pocket knife with almost no corrosion at all ( thank you AZ) the rubber bag aka condom, bandaids, water purification are long gone, maybe the matches and firestarter will work....

I searched on this but didn't find much on this knife. Anything special or run of the mill?

 

[Ernie1980]

Looks pretty run of the mill, except for being your dad’s and in great condition! Nice find

 

[lambertiana]

Not particularly rare or valuable in a financial sense, for me the true value is that it belonged to your father. It is a good basic knife that would work well for daily carry.

 

[eisman]

Ulster Stockman, black plastic scales. Nice knife in excellent condition.

 

[aztaco]

Anyone know the approximate date of manufacture on these? I am assuming late 50's to early60's. The water purification tablets said date of manufacture: March - April 1962. No stamp on the nomex pack.

I searched and found they used a few different models in the sru 16/p parachute kits (camilius, colonial ranger, ulster... so far) and I was just wondering of anyone had any further info on these.

Here is another page with more info on the kit: http://www.donrearic.com/sru16p.html


Looks like a great little stockman.

 

[jackknife]

In the 1940's and 50's, the military often just purchased items off the civilian market for specific uses. Small survival kits were one of those. Companies like Ulster, Camillus, Case, Boker, all were used at times. My Uncle Mike was a navy man in WW2, and he had a Camillus stockman that had been an issue item. My Uncle Sony was in the army air corp and had a civilian model scout knife that had "U.S. Government" etched on the blade, as did Uncle Mikes stockman. I can't recall clearly, but I think that Uncle Sony's scout knife may have been an Ulster, but I won't swear to it.

Later in the 1950's a plain little Boker sheath knife with stacked leather handles were issued to B52 crews as a survival knife.

I suspect your dad's kit may have been a kit assembled from civilian components and put on a shelf in some supply room for a number of years before your dad got it. Good find!

 

[kvaughn]

It was your dads. It's priceless!--KV