It's been a while since I picked up an edged weapon, found this cheap at the NC State Flea Market. Standard pre-1967 Camillus JPK (blade marked, no sheath) with the light blue/grey painted pommel. This most likely means a Navy or Marine Pilot use at some time. The interesting part is the red electric tape on the handle. I'm throwing this out to see if anyone has a good explanation as to why this was done (assuming it was done during its military use). Any and all speculation is welcome.

Bill- It looks like the leather washers under the pommel are messed up. Tape might be holding the handle together. Just a guess! SKIP

A couple of things; in hand the leather washers appear to be all there and in solid shape, no mushiness and no missing pieces. Also, the blade appears to have the factory edge and no wear. My initial guess was to make it easier to see the knife while in the sheath or on the web gear, but if so, why. I suspect that if I took off the tape the washers would be in good shape but very sticky.

It could have been put on as Skip says, to hold the disks in place, but the handle appears to be complete under the tape with the standard 5 grooves defined under the tape and the handle slimming down just in front of the pommel the way they normally do.

 

It could have been put on to provide protection to the leather disks in a hostile weather environment.

 

It could have been added to make the knife more visible in the event it was dropped in the woods, as the red tape would stand out in greenery compared to a pristine leather disk or oiled/sweat-stained leather handle.

 

It could also have been applied by someone who likes red electrical tape.

 

Without a confession on paper signed by the taper, we'll never know.

 

Oops... looks like someone posted similar reason while I was typing.

Is the grey painted pommel a Navy/USMC thing? I have seen VN era USAF pilots wearing knives w/gray painted pommels,to include Ace Robin Olds.Could it have been a feature on early to mid 60's production knives?

1. The grey pommels I believe are usually Navy or Marine Pilots, but could be any pilots as I've not done the research to confirm one way or another.

2. Protection from hostile environments was my thought as well, if being carried on ship or beach environment to protect against salt water or salty air. I still think the red tape is to make it stand out for some reason, possibly it was carried in the emergency vest so if a bail out over salt water was contemplated, the idea that the tape would protect the handle and being red would help in finding it quickly.

3. Short someone having pictures or story, any speculation is good.

Could have been used as a hunting knife. I have seen people paint their hunting knives so they don't lose them while cleaning deer etc. They are easier to find when you lay them down in the leaves, etc. I new a guy who was field artillery and painted his knife handle red, go figure..

If the blade was beat up or worn, I'd think civilian use, a hunter or such like ccyooper suggests. But the blade and edge show no use what-so-ever. This JPK sat in a sheath or whatever and was never pulled out or used as best I can tell.

The difference in the grey sealant vs. black sealant is only a time frame thing. Post Vietnam The color was changed to black. Yes some knives did receive black coloring of the parts or all of the knife as well as the sheath during the Vietnam time period. Never have seen an official explanation for that.

IMHO, I suspect it is nothing more than a hold over being pushed forward by individuals who either remembered or heard of the time during the post WW2 time frame where the newly formed USAF decided to make all their brown leather gear black. When I was in in the 70's Lincoln black leather dye seemed to be stocked in every BX I ever walked into.

I'm no help on the tape.