JIANT JACK KNIFE

[dustin]

This is one of my favorite blades the Colonial Jiant Jackknife some knife experts say that it was a useless tool for it's intended purpose but nun the less an interesting development.Originaly developed for the AAC as a specialized jack knife for safety kits as colonial called them they were intended to replace the 10" folding machete and to be incorperated in the C-1 vest.3,000 test sample were made in the latter part of 1943 for the AAF and a sample presented to the bureau of aeronautics sometime around january 1944.The knife was adopted by both the AAC and buaer in 1944.50,00 were ordered by the buaer in nov. 1944 and 100,000 ordered in febuary 1945.Quantities ordered by the AAC correspond with quantities of the C-1 as this was the only application for the jiant jackknife for the AAC.The AAf refers to this knife as KNIFE,FOLDING,HUNTING.The buaer presented the knife in a different way they made it an optional piece of pilots personal equipment and incorperated a pouch that could attach to belt.At the time of adoption the buaer was attempting to eliminate the back pad kit and combine it's contents with the one man parachute raft kit which a solution was developed in late 1944 under specification M-641 which is the PK-1 pararaft kit.As components were steamlined they were more compact to carry on person and not have be stored in a seperate kit.The jiant jackknife was to suppliment the V-44 machete.There is only one difference between the two services jackknives the buaer has a bail and the AAF does not.The buaer required bails or means of lashing equipment to life rafts and life boats to prevent loss.The jackknife measures 6" closed and 15 5/8" opened.the blades covered in a black oxide.there are three versions of the knife besides the bail two are maker marked and one is not.The original manufacturer is Colonial Cutlery Company, the other is Untied Machine Tool Company.The origin of the unmarked blades is unknown.the blade marks are as follows:

COLONIAL

PROV. R.I.

 

U N I T E D

G.R. MICH.

 

the first picture is the AAC jack knife part number44D5150 this item has no stock number as it is a contractor furnished knife and the other picture shows the USN version with canvas pouch stock number R41-K-465 no spec. or drawing number has yet surfaced to my knoiwledge on the USN jack knife

[Charlie Flick]

 

 

 

Hi Dustin:

 

Good post. The Giant Jack Knives are interesting martial blades. I have examples of both the USAAF and USN versions in my collection. The weak link in these knives was always the saw blades, and when these knives are seen today they often have broken saw blades.

 

Have you ever seen any period pics of these blades in use?

 

I thought you might be interested in seeing pics of a NIB Colonial Giant Jack Knife, or what the Navy referred to as the "Knife, Emergency, Aviator's". A close up of the box end with the contract data will also appear. The pouch came with the Knife as one package. The Pouches are not often seen today due to attrition.

 

I am not at home right now so I don't have access to my materials. I may post some other info on these blades later on.

 

Charlie Flick

[Greg Robinson]

I like 'em also and have one of the version made w/o bail by COLONIAL. But if you read a recent edition of Knife World magazine, Frank Trzasaka reveals that earlier research on those was incorrect. It was not intially adopted by the USAAAF. I wish I could find that article to elaborate on this. Still, it's a neat piece

[Charlie Flick]

Dustin:

 

Here is a post-war advertisement from my archives for the Giant Jack Knife as sold on the civilian market by the manufacturer United Machine Tool Co. These were not "surplus" blades in the strict sense as they never made it to the military, but instead were probably just left overs from the Government contracts. Note the ad's reference to Air Force survival kits.

 

Charlie

 

 

[dustin]

I like 'em also and have one of the version made w/o bail by COLONIAL. But if you read a recent edition of Knife World magazine, Frank Trzasaka reveals that earlier research on those was incorrect. It was not intially adopted by the USAAAF. I wish I could find that article to elaborate on this. Still, it's a neat piece

Greg are you refering to the Nov. 2006 issue? of this issue page 22. the two documents in that spread are mine and in the second letter it states.

"The colonial Jiant Jackknife was originated for the Army Air Forces, wright field dayton Ohio, as a specialized jack-kinfe for a safety kit" and the letter is signed by

Antonio Pallantino himself

In the begining of the article Frank Trazka states" I stated that the navy introduced the knife ,but this is not the case"

[dustin]

 

Hi Dustin:

 

Good post. The Giant Jack Knives are interesting martial blades. I have examples of both the USAAF and USN versions in my collection. The weak link in these knives was always the saw blades, and when these knives are seen today they often have broken saw blades.

 

Have you ever seen any period pics of these blades in use?

 

I thought you might be interested in seeing pics of a NIB Colonial Giant Jack Knife, or what the Navy referred to as the "Knife, Emergency, Aviator's". A close up of the box end with the contract data will also appear. The pouch came with the Knife as one package. The Pouches are not often seen today due to attrition.

 

I am not at home right now so I don't have access to my materials. I may post some other info on these blades later on.

 

Charlie Flick

Charlie,love the box! the contract number NXSA-94964 as marked on your box was awarded in feburary 28 1945 for a qauntity of 100,000 knives.I belive these knives cost $2.00 a piece.Also the spelling is not Giant but Jiant all the official documents from colonial that I have seen spell it with a J.

Another type of box probably a post war box?

[dustin]

this is the only picture I found that might possibly show the jackknife in use.Look just left of his life preserver he is wearing a pouch very similar to the jiant jackknife.also he carries a sheathed knife which can just be made out on back of right hip.I really like this picture of Marion Carl a marine fighter ace which was tragically murdered in his home trying to defend his wife and shot I believe he was 83 at the time.I also like the rigger made shoulder holster.