Why did the US gov't choose Grooved handles on traditional pilot knives?

I didn't see mention of the special intended use of the saw on the back side of the pilot knife. My understanding was that the saw was intended for use by pilots to cut their way out through the metal airplane fuselage. You better have some deep grooves in the handle for when the saw binds and gets stuck while sawing.
 
St33L said:
Why did the US gov't decide to use the handle design seen on pilot knife handles? Namely, why use the the spacing/grooves in between the stacked leather? Is it merely to function as traction for the hands, or did it work better for stacked leather? Was it compared and decided to be best or good enough? Thanks in advance
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chiral.grolim said:
Stacked-leather was the cheapest way to construct a sufficiently durable handle en mass but grooves were deemed necessary for retention so some models had them cut nicely into the leather washers (like that ASEK) while the Catt225Q was rough-cut afterward.
Why didn't they use rubber? Because that was needed for making tires.
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Best answer. And one of the few to stay on point.
 
Well, a few years back I re-handled (and re-ground) an old rusted/rotted Kabar, and used natural micarta for the handle, but even though I put the groves in for looks, they DID aid grip retention. :)

 
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