Navy survival knife

[notinfringed]

I believe this is a USN survival knife. I have seen them listed as such on ebay. I found it at a yard sale for $5. It looked like it had been in the bottom a tool box for the last few years. It had extensive rust (luckily not too deep), and one of the plastic handles has a spot that is melted, like it got up against a stove or something.

 

 

I was wondering three things. Was this knife issued in a survival kit, or alone? Were there other makers besides colonial? And was this knife only issued during WWII (as an ebay listing I saw stated), or could it be later?

 

Thanks in advance

 

Levi

[doyler]

Levi,

There was a nice article done on these by Mr.Frank Trzaska.He states that two examples exist one with a bail loop on the end one with out.The one with the bail was a USN issue and was issued with a canvas pouch(hard to find in its own right).The bail being large enough to fasten to equipment.The one with out bail was an Army Air Corps issue and said to have been carried in the C-1 Survival vest.There is a pocket on these vest for various survival gear.There are examples in MH Coles books too.

 

As far as WW2 issue only I would have to say no.I had a friend who served in the Navy from the late 1950s til around 1965 and he was on Aircraft Carriers.He was one of the personel who issued out and maintained flight gear.He told me these knives were still in inventory.Would have to say they saw service in Korea as well as Viet Nam.

 

Coles book also shows one manufactured by United Machine Tool Grand Rapids Michighan.Hope this helps.

 

RON

[notinfringed]

Ron,

Thanks. That helps tons. I have been meaning to get Cole's books, but every time I have money I just enhance my collection. Is it true that book three covers all of the material in books one and two? Or are all three (or are there four now?) necessary to a collector? Thanks again.

 

Levi

[doyler]

Ron,

Thanks. That helps tons. I have been meaning to get Cole's books, but every time I have money I just enhance my collection. Is it true that book three covers all of the material in books one and two? Or are all three (or are there four now?) necessary to a collector? Thanks again.

 

Levi

 

 

Levi,

Book three encompasses most of what you need.The others are long out of print and the early one I have is a paper bound book and didnt hold up well.I have book IV and it deals more in the obscure knives.Ones like Nichols,Richtig,Baker,Andersen,Kennedy.Also items made from the patton sword by San Antonio knife works,Ek knives etc.Still a good book.Book III will get you started on the WW2 knives as he lists variations and manufacturer.Also has some VN era items too.If you havent seen Coles books they are done in black and white and the knives are done in a line drawing format.Maybe you could get one to look at through an inter library loan program.

 

RON

[notinfringed]

Ron,

I actually already checked one out about a year ago. I am guessing it was book 2, but I'm not sure. It covered mostly WWII, and some of VN if I remember correctly. I put it on my list of books that I need to buy, but never got around to it. I seem to collect in waves. I will buy uniforms for a while, then switch to guns, then to bayonets, then to patches, then back to guns, then to knives, then back to guns. I usually end up at guns. Anyway, I will look for Cole's books. Thank you.

 

Levi

[cwnorma]

If you have no other knife book, and since books I-III are long out of print, I highly recommend Mike Silvey and Frank Tzraska's compilation of the cole books: "The Best Of U.S. Military Knifes, Bayonets and Machetes"

 

This book compiles all the drawings from Books I-III and some of the most important from IV. The specialist knife collectors will still need to get book IV, but general collectors will have almost all the information they could need in this one combined volume.

 

Click the book below and it will take you to Frank Tzraska's web site, where he offers this book for sale:

 

Best of Cole

 

Chris