Traditional Folding Military Knives

Some great looking knives and photos! In 1965 the orange handled switch blade was issued to the A-Camp at Trang Sup, in Tay Ninh Province. For about two weeks all you heard was the blade being opened, as folks played with them. After that most of them were thrown into a footlocker as they were not much of a knife. John

 

Thanks my friend I know what you mean, I could look at them all day myself

I'll try and find time this week to photograph more of my clasp knives

 

Great information and pics Those knives are in superb condition. You have an outstanding collection my friend

That's great information too John

 

Surprised I'm just now finding this excellent thread.

Here are some made by Camillus...

Camillus World War I Marlin Spike, c.1914

With World War II version which has jigged rosewood handles, a sheepsfoot blade, no can opener, and extended spring to form a screwdriver...



Camillus Maritime Commission and Merchant Marine Sailor's Knife, c.1941-1946



Camillus Navy and Coast Guard General Utility Knife, c.1941-1946

 

Camillus Army Air Corps Emergency Fishing Knife, c.1943-1945



Camillus Army Air Corps Utility Knife, c.1941-1942



Camillus Army and Navy Electrician's Knife TL-29, c.1941-1946

 

Camillus Army Engineers and Marine Corps Utility Knife, c.1940-1942



Camillus U.S. Navy Bureau of Medicine & Surgery Utility Knife, c.1942-1944

 

Fantastic collection AL! Glad you didn't miss this thread.

 

Thanks, James!

 

USMC stamped Camillus, look closely at the second pic,its pretty lightly stamped.

WW2 era post exchange knife

Kutmaster pilot's parachute harness survival kit knife. I want to say that everyone talks about the fixed blade pilot's survival knife. I've seen it stated it sucked at finer cutting tasks,well in the whole system it wasn't the ONLY knife. For many years a stockman style was also included.

 

While not in a military roll, I carried one for a bit as a member of BSA.
I can and will confirm it wasn't/isn't the greatest for finer cutting tasks.
Feather sticks, for example, were not its forte.
The "Demo" knife I had was much more useful, if y'all want to know the truth.

 

I also have the Camillus Army Engineers and Marine Corp Utility Knife from the 1940’s. They were still listed in the 1946 catalogue.

 

Question:
While never an official military or government issue knife, would the Buck 110 qualify?
During the 1960's and 1970's "everyone" had one, regardless of if in a combat zone, a cook, engineer, paper shuffler, mechanic, or whatever?

 

I don't know much about this knife. I've seen others online claiming to be WWII era. I'd love to hear more about it if anyone knows anything. Visconti Canzo

 

While an aerial delivery specialist, rigger, in the 101st abn, I was issued a tl29 with wood panels. We kept them with us for daily use. If broken or lost there was a box of new one's in the packing shed. All you had to do was go get a new one. Early 60's. I now have three tl29's but they all have the plastic handless. They are decent knives, maybe a little heavy to carry around in a pocket.

 

That's an Italian Navy Clasp Knife (like the one below), and while, like the Belgian Navy Clasp Knife, it's based on the British Army Clasp Knife of the WW2 era, it is of relatively recent provenance, and not from WW2. I'm afraid it's a bit of a mess now, with a lot of the original photos missing, but there's a Military Clasp Knife thread here

 

My dad’s Camillus from 1973. I saw a couple other versions of this in the thread, but with different blade shapes. I don’t know what was going on here, but the ‘tanto’ part of the blade literally isn’t sharpened. I’m just going to say it was made for prying.

 

Canadian issue, mid 80s.