WWII Steel pocket knife*** Knife, Pocket, General Purpose

[sactroop]

Thanks again Frank.  I made my earlier post based on how similar a knife I have is to the one John Sr. posted in #45.  I still believe my knife is likely a mash up of different parts.

It has the common spear point blade and the awl found on a standard Kingston/USA version knife from the Imperial  Knife Co.  My knife is also without a bail and is missing one of the brass liners in the knife construction.

[John Sr.]

9 hours ago, sactroop said:

Thanks again Frank.  I made my earlier post based on how similar a knife I have is to the one John Sr. posted in #45.  I still believe my knife is likely a mash up of different parts.

It has the common spear point blade and the awl found on a standard Kingston/USA version knife from the Imperial  Knife Co.  My knife is also without a bail and is missing one of the brass liners in the knife construction.

Thanks for pointing that out about the brass liner. I am going to have to look at that.

[easterneagle87]

I have a handful of the knives that basically are in need of repair. Bottom spacers / retainers are missing and the blades flop out and don't lock in, a couple of busted main blades, etc.  This there anyone who repairs these? 

[John Sr.]

9 minutes ago, easterneagle87 said:

I have a handful of the knives that basically are in need of repair. Bottom spacers / retainers are missing and the blades flop out and don't lock in, a couple of busted main blades, etc.  This there anyone who repairs these? 

Sorry friend, I don’t. I’m trying to learn the repair side of knives. I don’t sell, but I think it would be cool to be able to repair my own knives. Kind of the buy 2 junk to make one nice. I’m trying to find a bail for one right now.

John

[John Sr.]

    Does anyone happen to know if there are any good books on these MIL-K knives, telling what manufacturers made them & what years they made them? I am  really enjoying collecting these knives & would like to know what manufacturers & years are most desirable & what to look for.

     As always, thank you for any help.

John

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭37‬ ‭

[Charlie Flick]

49 minutes ago, John Sr. said:

    Does anyone happen to know if there are any good books on these MIL-K knives, telling what manufacturers made them & what years they made them?

 

John:

 

I do not know of any published books that exclusively focus on the MIL-K blades.  Howard Cole's books have some information on them but their treatment is not exhaustive and is rather dated.  Frank Trzaska, a valued member here, has also published some info on the MIL-K blades on his website.

 

Dennis Ellingsen authored a 7 page article that appeared in Knife World more than 20 years ago.  It had some great information on these blades.  There has been some new information learned about these knives since then, but most of that newer info can be found by easy searching right here on our Forum.   The Ellingsen article was re-published in "Military Knives:  A Reference Book" back in 2001.  I think it is still available from Knife World.

 

Mike Weideman published a MIL-K Knife Checklist back in May of 2002.  It was rather handy being only one page.  I don't know if Mike has updated it since then to incorporate the newer information learned by collectors.

 

I hope that info is helpful to you.

 

Regards,

Charlie

 

 

[John Sr.]

9 minutes ago, Charlie Flick said:

 

John:

 

I do not know of any published books that exclusively focus on the MIL-K blades.  Howard Cole's books have some information on them but their treatment is not exhaustive and is rather dated.  Frank Trzaska, a valued member here, has also published some info on the MIL-K blades on his website.

 

Dennis Ellingsen authored a 7 page article that appeared in Knife World more than 20 years ago.  It had some great information on these blades.  There has been some new information learned about these knives since then, but most of that newer info can be found by easy searching right here on our Forum.   The Ellingsen article was re-published in "Military Knives:  A Reference Book" back in 2001.  I think it is still available from Knife World.

 

Mike Weideman published a MIL-K Knife Checklist back in May of 2002.  It was rather handy being only one page.  I don't know if Mike has updated it since then to incorporate the newer information learned by collectors.

 

I hope that info is helpful to you.

 

Regards,

Charlie

 

 

This is very helpful, thank you. Now I need to find Mr. Weideman’s article. Thanks again, John

[John Sr.]

I just got the smooth handle Kingston in the mail. I compared it to my other Kingston (also pictured) and the bail doesn’t look the same. I am aware that the tang stamps aren’t exactly the same either. The pins for the bail look good to me, but I am not smart enough to know if someone has changed it. My question is-does this bail look replaced? I hope I didn’t screw up buying this. I have never seen a smooth handle one other than a picture on here. 
thanks for any help,

John

[sactroop]

It's also possible that the knife was produced after the War for the consumer market.  The Imperial Knife Associated Companies used much if not all of it's left over parts from WW2 to produce knives.  I believe that practice was very common after the War with most knife makers.  I've also heard of stock being liquidated as surplus and assembled into working knives by others.

[John Sr.]

2 minutes ago, sactroop said:

It's also possible that the knife was produced after the War for the consumer market.  The Imperial Knife Associated Companies used much if not all of it's left over parts from WW2 to produce knives.  I believe that practice was very common after the War with most knife makers.  I've also heard of stock being liquidated as surplus and assembled into working knives by others.

Thank you. I am hoping it’s factory.

[Misfit 45]

John Sr.

The smooth handle you show would seem to be a post war knife, since the bail is a post war type bail. It looks like a Utica style. The WWII smooth sided Mil-k knife was a Kingston.  The two knives I show are "Kingston-45"  versions.  I have not seen another WWII smooth handled style that is not a Kingston-45. As you can see, the two knives have two different blade markings.  The Kingston-45 is the only WWII Mil-k knife that has a blade marking at all. Other than the blade marking, these two knives are virtually identical.

Marv

[Bluehawk]

On 1/2/2017 at 8:07 PM, Bluehawk said:

Whew... pretty amazing. Thank you

 

Now I'm on the lookout for one of my own some day.

> Shortly afterward, USMF helped me pick up a 1966 Camillus of similar design configuration - it needed some work, an expert repairman for which I also found here on USMF. One of my great treasures, carry it every day since.

[John Sr.]

3 minutes ago, Misfit 45 said:

John Sr.

The smooth handle you show would seem to be a post war knife, since the bail is a post war type bail. It looks like a Utica style. The WWII smooth sided Mil-k knife was a Kingston.  The two knives I show are "Kingston-45"  versions.  I have not seen another WWII smooth handled style that is not a Kingston-45. As you can see, the two knives have two different blade markings.  The Kingston-45 is the only WWII Mil-k knife that has a blade marking at all. Other than the blade marking, these two knives are virtually identical.

Marv

Marv, thank you for the help and the pictures. But, now I have to look for a smooth side Kingston-45. I think I am getting deep into a rabbit hole on these knives.

Thank you again,

John

[John Sr.]

8 minutes ago, Misfit 45 said:

John Sr.

The smooth handle you show would seem to be a post war knife, since the bail is a post war type bail. It looks like a Utica style. The WWII smooth sided Mil-k knife was a Kingston.  The two knives I show are "Kingston-45"  versions.  I have not seen another WWII smooth handled style that is not a Kingston-45. As you can see, the two knives have two different blade markings.  The Kingston-45 is the only WWII Mil-k knife that has a blade marking at all. Other than the blade marking, these two knives are virtually identical.

Marv

I forgot to mention- absolutely beautiful knives Marv.

[John Sr.]

Does anyone know if a list exists of those manufacturers that made the MIL-K knives (aka Demo knife)? I am looking for a list of ALL manufacturers, both military & civilian market manufacturers.

As always- Thanks for the help,

John

 

If you chase Jesus as hard as you chase the things you think you want, you'll wind up with more than you'll ever need.

[Misfit 45]

Here's the list I use.  It's can be a little hard to decipher, but it is helpful.

Marv

[John Sr.]

2 minutes ago, Misfit 45 said:

Here's the list I use.  It's can be a little hard to decipher, but it is helpful.

Marv

Thank you. I actually have this printed out, but have come across a couple not listed. I have seen Western & one other that I can’t remember the name of. Thanks for the help.

John

 

[thorin6]

Marv,

I have a Camillus dated 2006, so you may want to update your list.

I think that was the last year they made any of these.

[John Sr.]

Anyone have any insight on this MIL-K? It is the earlier design with the cap lifter/screwdriver on same end as the main blade, but instead of an awl/punch it has a pen blade (or I think that’s what this blade is called).

     I vaguely remember reading somewhere, but can’t remember where, that the Navy may have used this design. This may be 100% wrong though.

As always, thanks for any & all help,

John

 

[thorin6]

I have one of those, the general discussion was that they may have been a Navy design that never entered production.

[John Sr.]

1 minute ago, thorin6 said:

I have one of those, the general discussion was that they may have been a Navy design that never entered production.

Very much appreciated, thank you. I have only seen a few of them. 

[sactroop]

We should keep in mind that WW2 ended before the Army had finished with its study on the feasibility of what would eventually become the MIL-K-818.  There were more than a few things being worked out when things came to an end.

[John Sr.]

On 9/26/2024 at 4:34 PM, sactroop said:

We should keep in mind that WW2 ended before the Army had finished with its study on the feasibility of what would eventually become the MIL-K-818.  There were more than a few things being worked out when things came to an end.

Good to know. I thought the Kingston’s & Stevenson’s were issued during WW2.

[Misfit 45]

John Sr.

Kingstons and Stevensons were indeed issued during WWII.  1944-45.  By the thousands.  They were just

not sure if those would be the final design.

Marv

[John Sr.]

1 minute ago, Misfit 45 said:

John Sr.

Kingstons and Stevensons were indeed issued during WWII.  1944-45.  By the thousands.  They were just

not sure if those would be the final design.

Marv

Marv, thank you for clarifying that. Clearly I still have a lot to learn. 
Thanks for the help sir,

John