Kingston Folding Utility Knife?

[John Sr.]

I have read whatI can find on here about these general utility knives, but I’m still unsure if this is an early WW2 model or a model sold to the general public. It says can opener on it, main blade says Made in USA & there is no pin on opener. Also there is no marking of U.S. or Marine Corps on the handles. I have the opportunity to get this for about $60 & would like to know if it is a WW2 military knife. Any help is greatly appreciated. 
Thank you

colossi 3:17

[kfields]

I would be a sucker for it! Nice WW2 dated & U.S. marked pocket knife!

[John Sr.]

kfields, I’m thinking the same thing. Does the U.S. mean it’s military issue?

Thank you sir 

[ksearl]

It’s 100% military issue and came with a leather pouch and a pair of wire cutters, prior to TL29 for electricians I believe. I have a full set that was my dad’s and will post a picture soon when I’m able. But definitely US Army.

[John Sr.]

kfields, I’m thinking the same thing. Does the U.S. mean it’s military issue?

Thank you sir 

 

Thank you for the help. I actually have a small WW2 TL29 collection. I bought it. Happy New Year to me.

[kfields]

13 hours ago, John Sr. said:

kfields, I’m thinking the same thing. Does the U.S. mean it’s military issue?

Thank you sir 

 

Thank you for the help. I actually have a small WW2 TL29 collection. I bought it. Happy New Year to me.

Good purchase! I've seen these knives 'Kingston' marked on one side of the bail but haven't seen it  U.S. marked and dated on the other side. Very nice find!

[John Sr.]

4 hours ago, kfields said:

Good purchase! I've seen these knives 'Kingston' marked on one side of the bail but haven't seen it  U.S. marked and dated on the other side. Very nice find!

Thank you. I appreciate it 

[ksearl]

Similar but obviously, much newer than the knife you purchased!

[lmrobil]

This is the first I've seen associating the stainless steel pocket knife with the wire cutter/pliers and leather pouch.  All I've seen in the past had the TL29 signal man's knife in the pouch.  Am I misinformed or this a marriage of stainless pocket knife and pouch?

 

Thanks,   Lance 

[ksearl]

1 minute ago, lmrobil said:

This is the first I've seen associating the stainless steel pocket knife with the wire cutter/pliers and leather pouch.  All I've seen in the past had the TL29 signal man's knife in the pouch.  Am I misinformed or this a marriage of stainless pocket knife and pouch?

 

Thanks,   Lance 

Hi Lance,

 

No idea. I do know my Dad served in the 126th Signal Battalion, 26th Infantry Division...and received this then. He always told me how this one, with the Stainless knife and not the TL29 was original and rare. He said most were replaced with TL29s and later came with them...this was a hard one to get. That said, I have a ton of TL29s at the house too, but not in pouches like this. Based on what he told me, this specific set was issued this way to my Dad. I'm sure others here can give dates, if it was mismatched before in his hands, etc. 

 

Thanks,

Karl

[John Sr.]

6 hours ago, ksearl said:

Similar but obviously, much newer than the knife you purchased!

I very much appreciate all your help. I had no idea that these ever went together. Thanks again 

[thorin6]

I believe the original knife (Kingston) posted is a WW2 issued knife, although it may also have been sold commercially after the war when contracts ran out and the excess was put out for sale.  As for it being issued with the leather pouch, the TL29 is the correct knife to go with the wire cutters, not the steel knife.  However, once issued, the leather pouch could be used to carry anything the soldier wanted.

I was in the US Engineers in the 70's and we used the pouch to carry the steel knife as shown in Post #8, along with a pair of crimpers to use in preparing demolitions, as the leather pouches were issued without knife or wire cutters, which were picked up separately at the Self-Service Supply store.  I don't know if the was the practice in WW2 however.

[Misfit 45]

John Sr.

The stainless pocketknife you posted is WWII issue.The goal of the Army and Marines was to issue one to every soldier and Marine.   Many if not most of these Kingstons were unmarked.  Yours is sometimes called a "Kingston 45".  It's less common.  It is also called a first version or first arrangement knife, because the first stainless pocket knives had the screw driver on the same end as the main blade. Shortly thereafter, the can opener was placed on the main blade end of the knife.  ALL of the WWII stainless pocket knives have brass liners. The first ones were produced late in 1944 through 1945. Both Kingston and Stevenson made them.  After the war, there is a brass lined knife made by Ulster dated 1948. The last brass lined stainless pocket knife was made by Camillus in 1949 as a prototype. (see sticky on Edged Weapons)  All the later stainless pocket knives have stainless liners.  Camillus made them from 1957-2006. They were also made by Ulster, Imperial.  Non_military stainless knives were made by other companies, but were only sold commercially. 

As for it being issued with the electrician"s leather pouch,  when it comes to the use of  military items, if it could have been done, then it probably was done.  However, the stainless pocket knife was never issued with any sort of pouch.  The official name of the Army stainless pocket knife was: Knife, Pocket, General Purpose.  The same knife made for the U.S. Marine Corps. was called: Marine, Pocket Utility. (I think that's how they phrased it)

Marv

[The Rooster]

WW2 See the Brass spacers on all these WW2 MIL-K knives.

Yours is WW2 and first iteration like Misfit45 says about the screwdriver placement. Those were the first batch.

It was moved to the other side in following models. The USMC ones went to the corps the rest to the army. I dont know if the Navy ever got these?

 

Search on the forum for ......

 

mil-k knives.

 

Theres a ton of info.

 

[John Sr.]

28 minutes ago, Misfit 45 said:

John Sr.

The stainless pocketknife you posted is WWII issue.The goal of the Army and Marines was to issue one to every soldier and Marine.   Many if not most of these Kingstons were unmarked.  Yours is sometimes called a "Kingston 45".  It's less common.  It is also called a first version or first arrangement knife, because the first stainless pocket knives had the screw driver on the same end as the main blade. Shortly thereafter, the can opener was placed on the main blade end of the knife.  ALL of the WWII stainless pocket knives have brass liners. The first ones were produced late in 1944 through 1945. Both Kingston and Stevenson made them.  After the war, there is a brass lined knife made by Ulster dated 1948. The last brass lined stainless pocket knife was made by Camillus in 1949 as a prototype. (see sticky on Edged Weapons)  All the later stainless pocket knives have stainless liners.  Camillus made them from 1957-2006. They were also made by Ulster, Imperial.  Non_military stainless knives were made by other companies, but were only sold commercially. 

As for it being issued with the electrician"s leather pouch,  when it comes to the use of  military items, if it could have been done, then it probably was done.  However, the stainless pocket knife was never issued with any sort of pouch.  The official name of the Army stainless pocket knife was: Knife, Pocket, General Purpose.  The same knife made for the U.S. Marine Corps. was called: Marine, Pocket Utility. (I think that's how they phrased it)

Marv

Thank you for the detailed answer. I didn’t realize there was a first version. Very much appreciate the help.

[John Sr.]

13 minutes ago, The Rooster said:

WW2 See the Brass spacers on all these WW2 MIL-K knives.

Yours is WW2 and first iteration like Misfit45 says about the screwdriver placement. Those were the first batch.

It was moved to the other side in following models. The USMC ones went to the corps the rest to the army. I dont know if the Navy ever got these?

 

Search on the forum for ......

 

mil-k knives.

 

Theres a ton of info.

 

The photos are a big help & I didn’t know they called mil-k. Now I know how to look them up. Thank you much.

[bbrown]

Does anyone have any information on this Kingston pocket knife?  My Dad said he got it in WW2 (USMC)

[John Sr.]

10 hours ago, bbrown said:

Does anyone have any information on this Kingston pocket knife?  My Dad said he got it in WW2 (USMC)

    I’m sorry I don’t know about Kingston making this type of pocket knife for the military. I do know that (according to Goin’s) Kingston USA was used by Dwight Devine & Ulster from 1915-1958.
     In the couple books I have, I can only find 2 & 3 blade pocket knives that were issued. That being said, there were many knives (from what others have told me) sold on base for private purchase in the PX that were allowed to be carried.

      Now, take what I say with a grain of salt, there are much more knowledgeable gentlemen on here than myself. And, I’m sure they will chime in. The guys here are top notch when it comes to helping out.

[sactroop]

At the time of WW2 Kingston, Ulster, and Imperial are all  names owned and used by the "Imperial knife Associated Companies.  Shortly after WW2 They expanded again by acquiring Schrade knives.

 

[John Sr.]

3 minutes ago, sactroop said:

At the time of WW2 Kingston, Ulster, and Imperial are all  names owned and used by the "Imperial knife Associated Companies.  Shortly after WW2 They expanded again by acquiring Schrade knives.

 

I didn’t know this, thank you 

[John Sr.]

Once again I am needing help with a Kingston MIL-K/General Utility knife. I am trying very hard to compile some information & here’s my problem: I have a Kingston with the 2nd/later/1945 configuration (blade & can opener on the same end). It has USA tang stamp, but the bail is missing. If anyone has one in this configuration, with the USA tang stamp could you please let me know if Kingston is stamped on the bail, & if so which side, front or back? I would greatly appreciate the help.

As always thank you,

John

[Misfit 45]

Interesting.  The USA stamp or Made in USA, are found on the Kingston 45 (U.S. 45 ) , but that one is a first version configuration.  I have not seen the USA blade stamp on a second version.  Does the knife look like the bail is missing, as in broken off?  Or, does the knife look like it never had a bail....pins tight against the scales?

There are two possibilities that I can see.   You have a Kingston 45 with a second variation, or you have a knife that was made, post WWII, from available parts.

That's all I got.

Marv

[John Sr.]

5 hours ago, Misfit 45 said:

Interesting.  The USA stamp or Made in USA, are found on the Kingston 45 (U.S. 45 ) , but that one is a first version configuration.  I have not seen the USA blade stamp on a second version.  Does the knife look like the bail is missing, as in broken off?  Or, does the knife look like it never had a bail....pins tight against the scales?

There are two possibilities that I can see.   You have a Kingston 45 with a second variation, or you have a knife that was made, post WWII, from available parts.

That's all I got.

Marv

Marv, thank you for the help. It definitely looks like it had a bail to me, the pin on that end looks to have been flattened by a hammer. Here are some pictures

[John Sr.]

I need someone to straighten me out on these 3 manufacturers of MIL-K knives. Were Case, Schrade or Western ever military issue knives or just civilian. I can’t think of what to search on the internet to answer this.

As always thank you,

John

Colossians 3:17

[sactroop]

This might help.

 

 

I don't believe the Western marked knives were ever part of a Government contract.  But they might have been sold on Bases Thru the PX/BX system and/or Navy Stores.

The blades are only marked WESTERN with no date.  That doesn't conform with the MiL-K-818 specification.  The knives are considered to have been produced in 1995-96 time frame.  This is after Camillus bought Western at auction.  Around this time period Camillus also produced MIL-K-818 type knives with the different branches of the US military marked on the scales.  These too may have been available for purchase on Bases, but I haven't confirmed that.  Certainly the above knives were available to the public.

I've talked to many collectors and the opinions on both Schrade and Case are both strong and varied.  I'll leave it to say that they both fit in the "maybe" box.