1950's Camillus pilot knife MIL-K-8662 (AER)

[Bob Hudson]

There are a lot of threads on the forum about various pilot knives of the 60's and 70's, most notably the Jet Pilot Knives that have the sharpening stone pouch attached to the scabbard. These later Jet Pilot survival knives are easily identifiable (although there have been some commercial copies).

 

But, not so easily ID'ed is the pre-1957 5" bladed knives made under military specs MIL-K-8662 (AER). As noted in many forum threads, these 1953-57 pilot knives were often confused for Navy MK 1 knives.

 

The one I show here is the 1954 pattern with added rivet. This has the black spacers used in the Camillus version, Parkerized blade and the pommel is a litle bit oval in shape and is peened on. Notice too the shape of the guard.

 

Because many of the older threads are missing photos, I thought it might be a good idea to post these photos because the knife not only has the details we expect in a MIL-K-8662 (AER) knife, it came from the estate of a 1950's Marine Corps helicopter pilot so it has nice provenance.

 

 

 

 

[Bob Hudson]

.

 

 

 

 

 

[lambo35]

That is a nice example, not used much if at all.

[Bob Hudson]

it looks better in person

[SKIPH]

Bob- Thanks for showing! Have 3-4 of these, really like them. SKIP

[sactroop]

Non of mine look as good as that one Bob.

[Misfit 45]

Just beautiful!

Marv

[Bob Hudson]

Just beautiful!

Marv

 

And it came with great period provenance:

 

[SA1911A1]

Did Schrade-Walden also make this knife or is theirs a commercial copy?

[sactroop]

Imperial, Schrade-Walden, (two parts of the same company), and Camillus all made versions of this knife under government contract.  After the pilots knife became the Jet Pilots Survival knife,  commercial versions of the Imperial and Schrade-Walden knives continued for sometime.