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

[Misfit 45]

The "Made in USA" blade only came on the Kingston-45, during WWII.  (I think)(unless you are referring to some of the bone handled knives.  The screw driver must have been reshaped.  I have not seen one that short  (except on the very rare Stevenson/Robeson model which has a different shape). The can opener looks a little short....again, maybe reshaped.    I think you're right.  Post war parts knife.  Great curiosity!

Marv

[John Sr.]

2 minutes ago, Misfit 45 said:

The "Made in USA" blade only came on the Kingston-45, during WWII.  (I think)(unless you are referring to some of the bone handled knives.  The screw driver must have been reshaped.  I have not seen one that short  (except on the very rare Stevenson/Robeson model which has a different shape). The can opener looks a little short....again, maybe reshaped.    I think you're right.  Post war parts knife.  Great curiosity!

Marv

Thank you sir. I thought the same thing about the screwdriver being short, but I don’t see any evidence of being reshaped. This thing really has me scratching my head.

[Catfishcraig]

On 9/12/2024 at 2:22 PM, John Sr. said:

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

I have one just like it.  Here is my theory,  mine is of the first configuration (main blade and screwdriver on the same side).  These were earlier and with the need for pocket knives during the war, I don’t think these would have been set aside for sale after the war.  My thoughts are that they were fitted with the same clevis that was used on the early engineers folding knives and sent to troops,  maybe before the elongated clevis was mass produced.  
 

just my thoughts 

 

Craig

[easterneagle87]

I passed up a heavily, blade corroded, rusted, steel dimple sided pocket knife this weekend. All I could read on the tang was USA and that was barely visible. No bail. Did I pass up something good?

[John Sr.]

1 hour ago, easterneagle87 said:

I passed up a heavily, blade corroded, rusted, steel dimple sided pocket knife this weekend. All I could read on the tang was USA and that was barely visible. No bail. Did I pass up something good?

I have seen WW2 Kingston’s matching your description with MADE IN USA & just USA tang stamps. But, most have no tang stamp and when marked it’s often, but not always, on the bale. I’m a sucker for these knives, so I try not to pass them up. As far as good, only if you’re into those, especially in that condition. I enjoy cleaning up a knife, I find it very relaxing.

John

[Catfishcraig]

4 hours ago, Catfishcraig said:

I have one just like it.  Here is my theory,  mine is of the first configuration (main blade and screwdriver on the same side).  These were earlier and with the need for pocket knives during the war, I don’t think these would have been set aside for sale after the war.  My thoughts are that they were fitted with the same clevis that was used on the early engineers folding knives and sent to troops,  maybe before the elongated clevis was mass produced.  
 

just my thoughts 

 

Craig

Pics for reference 

 

 

[John Sr.]

1 minute ago, Catfishcraig said:

Pics for reference 

 

 

Dang, that is a great knife. 

[Catfishcraig]

Thanks John.  I think it’s almost identical to the one you posted in this thread.  Is yours first configuration as well?

 

 

[John Sr.]

On 9/3/2025 at 12:43 PM, Catfishcraig said:

Thanks John.  I think it’s almost identical to the one you posted in this thread.  Is yours first configuration as well?

 

 

Yes sir it’s a first configuration and has the small bail (or bale not sure).

[WWIIReneactor]

bit of a late comer to this discussion, here are pics (not mine) taken of a pocket knife i recently purchased on eBay any thoughts and opinions would be welcome to authenticate it being WWII issue. ( it does have brass spacers).   

[Misfit 45]

From what little I can see of the clevis, it looks like it is marked "Kingston".  That would make it WWII.  Lot of damage to the main blade.  The knife itself is a second version where the can opener is on the same side as the main blade. Also, it is the Army issue knife. The Marine Corps marked their knives on the scales.

Marv

[WWIIReneactor]

thanks Marv. it is indeed marked Kingston. i bought it as a WWII display Piece (hence not wanting it pristine) most of my original pieces are used to some degree. here are the rest of the pics for refference.

[Misfit 45]

That's a good representative example.  The brass liners are the first clue that it's a WWII piece.  There are a couple of steel knives that have the brass liners made post war, but they will have a date on the clevis or the blade, so you can immediately rule them out as WWII.  Thanks for sharing.

Marv

[Military Brat]

This is very helpful.  I have one of what I believe to be the early Kingston with no marking except for the Can Opener and Pat Pend on the can opener.  The one thing that doesn't match any of the examples is that the Punch on my knife more like a small blade.  Any thoughts on this one?

[John Sr.]

4 hours ago, Military Brat said:

This is very helpful.  I have one of what I believe to be the early Kingston with no marking except for the Can Opener and Pat Pend on the can opener.  The one thing that doesn't match any of the examples is that the Punch on my knife more like a small blade.  Any thoughts on this one?

This was the Navy version. No punch, but does have a pen/secondary blade. Harder version to find. This has been sharpened a lot. If you decide to get rid of it please keep me in mind.

Btw, you can tell the early Kingston by the main blade & cap lifter/screwdriver being on the same end. Always glad to help if I can, feel free to message me.

[thorin6]

Here's my Navy version, the one on this post is only the second one I've seen.

 

[John Sr.]

Just now, thorin6 said:

Here's my Navy version, the one on this post is only the second one I've seen.

 

Nice example. After we are settled in and unboxed from moving, I will try to remember to get a picture of mine.