Private-purchase fighting knives in both WWII theaters?

[Blacksmith]

This may be a dumb question, but is it accepted that private-purchase fighting knives could have been carried in either theater by any branch? To narrow the question a tad, could - say - a Kinfolks private-puechade knife just have likely been carried by a Marine in the Pacific as a Soldier in the ETO?

 

(Admin : I apologize if this is posted in the wrong section. You are welcome to move if so.)

 

Thank you for any opinions or insights.

[268th C.A.]

No they would or could be any where, alot of knives were even sent to the troops oversea's from family or donated knves, Donate a knife save a life! There was a shorted of knives at the on set of the war.

[tarbridge]

In WWII...we had knife drives collecting knives from all across America...I'm sure they issued them out as to where they were needed.That is why you find commercial style hunting knives in many WWII groups.

[Stony]

 

In WWII...we had knife drives collecting knives from all across America...I'm sure they issued them out as to where they were needed.That is why you find commercial style hunting knives in many WWII groups.

 

 

 

I knew these types to be "Victory" knives. I had one years ago that had a "V" stamped on the ricasso that belonged to an Army guy that served in the Pacific.

[Blacksmith]

Thank you gentlemen.

 

I don't want to be duplicative, if another topic focused on ID'd non-issue fighting knives exists. But it would be interesting to see any theater photos of commercial / private-purchase knives in wear; or, any that folks have in their collection that are named (laundry stamp, stenciled, or other) and known to have been carried in Europe or the Pacific.

[doyler]

A photo that comes immediately to mind of a private purchase knife is one of General Gavin wearing a Randall made knife.

 

I also knew a veteran who had a Randall.His parents purchased it in 1943 at Abercrombie and Fitch and sent it to him when he was stationed in the Pacific.

[SKIPH]

Private purchase of knives carried by troops still continues, probably always will. SKIP

[kfields]

Knives are a collecting niche of mine. I really like the knives that can be ID'd to an individual soldier or sailor. With regards to your question about private purchase knives, Here is a Kinfolks knife my uncle Bob Bland carried with him overseas. My aunt gave it to me after he passed away. Looks like it was broke, and he fixed it. Also rewired the sheath. The flat surfaces of the blade is stained but still smooth to the touch. Still very sharp. I keep it oiled. He was a crew chief with the 361st Fighter Group, 374th Fighter Squadron of the 8th AF. Their unit was stationed in recaptured forward positions in Europe sometime during the summer - fall of 1944.

[kfields]

And here is an old Western knife that belonged to Harold Vaupel of the 109th Seabees. Not in the best condition either but still has a cool factor due to the inscriptions!

 

[kfields]

A lot of these issued or private purchase knives were quite literally "rode hard and put away wet". And then a bunch of these knives probably were used after the war by the owner or maybe kept stuffed in a trunk for 60-70 years not having been oiled before seeing the light of day and falling in the hands of collectors like us!

[Old Marine]

Here is a photo from the ETO. If you look at the S/Sgt you can see he has a brand new private purchase knife. He probably just got it in the Christmas package.

[sactroop]

The vast majority of commercial knives that found their way into the hands of G.I.'s during WW2 were purchased directly by Uncle Sam and put into the supply system, usually under the heading of "knife, hunting". The Government also directed the knife manufactures to makes and send quantities of certain knives that they made to the services like Navy Stores and Post Exchanges for direct sales to the G.I.'s who frequented them. We should remember that by February of 1942 not even the largest retailers in the U.S. could go to the American knife manufactures and place an order for knives without approval from the Government. The first priority for knives was for military use. The next priority was for essential services involved with the direct support of the War effort. Very little trickled out below those two priorities.

[Blacksmith]

Kfields, those are two great examples - thank you!

 

Dennis, I really appreciate that photo. Looks like the knife on the SSGT might be a Western "Shark".

[byf41]

My father was Issued a Kabar/USMC MKII but carried a Baker during WWII .

[dustin]

Speaking of Randall knives, here are a few good shots of them used by servcie members.

This is Lt. D.F. Haberman, P-61 aircrew, showing of his marker for his first japanese plane shot down. Saipan, July 1944

[dustin]

This guy wearing a Randall needs no introduction.

[Horseclover]

This photo has surfaced in the EG Waterman threads

 

[Horseclover]

Cropped

 

 

There is a great photo of a Western L-77 clenched in teeth.

[Horseclover]

A few of mine

 

[Horseclover]

The Western L-77 picture

 

 

 

[Blacksmith]

What model is that? Did they have 14s?

 

This guy wearing a Randall needs no introduction.

randall knife 2 (1)c.jpg

randall knife 2 (1)cc.jpg

[doyler]

What model is that? Did they have 14s?

 

 

Basically a Model No1 Randall.

During the War There was knives produced by Randall in Florida and the ones called Sprinfield Randalls made in Massachucetts

 

Here is an article that details the Springfield Randalls

 

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/springfield-randalls.202677/

[doyler]

This guy wearing a Randall needs no introduction.

randall knife 2 (1)c.jpg

randall knife 2 (1)cc.jpg

 

Great photo Dustin

 

Will add this one

 

[doyler]

General Gavin

 

 

[doyler]

Gen.Gavin