AIr Force knife-theater made??

[bamascvreb]

Thoughts on this knife?  I presume it falls in the theater-made category.  The blade resembles the pilot knives from vietnam but slightly different.  This belonged to an Air Force pilot that flew during the vietnam era.  Any thoughts appreciated

[sundance]

Looks very well made. Did you get a sheath with it?

[bamascvreb]

No sheath unfortunately.  

[Tltt]

It's Japanese, factory made. They also made a knuckle knife version with a thin spiked brass D guard. They're not too valuable, but hard to find knives. I don't know the factory, but the time range would be 50's - 70's.

 

When you see bone jigged like that, it's almost always Japanese. 

 

Common Japanese scout knife with the same type of jigging -  https://i.pinimg.com/736x/a9/2e/8d/a92e8d50e23f25e9aed78d4e15a0df9e--vintage-jewelry-circa.jpg .

 

The sheaths usually this style, but in tan -

 

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/60s-vintage-original-bowie-knife-173036035 .

 

Edit, the knuckle knife version - https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/107307-my-new-knuckle-knife/ .

[bamascvreb]

Excellent info—thanks tltt—i wouodnt have found that out on my own.

[sactroop]

I've seen the Globemaster sheaths with a few examples of the "Marine Recon Knife".   I wonder if this could be some insight towards one possible supplier?

[SKIPH]

Tltt- I agree 100% as to the Japanese origin of this knife. As a kid growing up in the 50s & 60s, I had many a cheap Japanese hunting knife w/ that kind of jigged bone handle. It was pretty much unique to knives produced there.  SKIP