USAF Pilots Survival Knife question

J

jpr9954

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Oct 1, 2007
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I just received a 1984 vintage USAF Pilot's Survival Knife made by Camillus. It has an odd feature that I'm hoping someone can explain to me.

On the top hilt there are two side-by-side holes maybe 3/16" in diameter. I would think everything has its purpose on a knife like this. Do these holes have any use? If so, what?

Thanks

John
 
I believe They're for lashing the knife to a pole to make a spear... Seems like a bad idea when you could just use the knife to sharpen a wooden spear, and avoid the risk of damaging or using your survival blade..but They are dandy knives once you get the right edge on them.
 
yes, they do. they are intended to help lash the knife to a staff/pole to make a make-shift spear.

on mine, i sawed that part off so i could get my thumb on the spine for more controll, but since yours is old, you may not want to do that.
 
RescueRiley said:
I believe They're for lashing the knife to a pole to make a spear... Seems like a bad idea when you could just use the knife to sharpen a wooden spear, and avoid the risk of damaging or using your survival blade..but They are dandy knives once you get the right edge on them.
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you beat me to it.
 
Thanks for the explanation of the two holes on the top of the hilt.

Just looking at the knife, I would think you could lash it to a pole or long stick without having to use the holes. But then again, I'm not a designer of military equipment so what do I know.:)
 
I cut most of the top guard of of mine, reduced the bottom guard to 1/3 of what it was, and hand dround the edge to a scandi edge (lotsa elbow grease). That knife rteally performs now.
 
I love my USAF pilots survival knife. It was with me all the way through desert shield and desert storm back in 90 and 91. I still have it and still love it more than any other knife I own.
 
Well, I guess you could lash it to a spear if you wanted, but I am leaning more to the holes being used to dummy cord the knife to the vest. That sheath is not the best and in the event the pilot has to dump his $30M plane, he doesn't dump his $20 knife as well on his way down to the ground. I also have to believe it could be used as a place for a lanyard.
 
one story I've heard was that the pilot survival knife was origionly made as a short version of the Ka-Bar for Navy and Marine Pilots. who may spend alot of time opperating over water. the holes were for a lanyard which helped prevent loss during a bail out. maybe more importantly with the lanyard and the butt heavy nature of the knife it caused the knife to drop buttfirst a good feature if your in a rubber raft.
 
shangchi108 said:
I've heard that those holes were used for a small wrist lanyard, which makes sense.
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I think this makes more sense than as a way to lash it to a stick for a spear. You could always lash it by the handle to the stick with or without the holes.

Thanks to all who explained what the holes were for.

john
 
Interesting thread
I had the same question about the guard holes a few weeks ago!! :thumbup:
 
MIKE MACINTOSH said:
one story I've heard was that the pilot survival knife was origionly made as a short version of the Ka-Bar for Navy and Marine Pilots.
Click to expand...
I have a real early pilot's knife with a six inch blade, and it is a very nicely proportioned knife. Alas, form follows function, and the five inch version was adopted since it is less obtrusive in the cockpit.
 
I bought mine in 88 and carried it for 8 years while in the military. It has been a great knife and has held up really well. Never used the holes on the guard or given them much thought. Haven't really used it much since then, it pretty much stays in the sock drawer.

2025343590083947062S600x600Q85.jpg
 
shalegreenjeep said:
I bought mine in 88 and carried it for 8 years while in the military. It has been a great knife and has held up really well. Never used the holes on the guard or given them much thought. Haven't really used it much since then, it pretty much stays in the sock drawer. [/IMG]
Click to expand...

I used mine in the field when I worked for the U.S. Geological Survey. The saw was useless. The hammer was too small and light to do any real hammering, but the blade was razor sharp and it worked well as a makeshift pry bar, which is what I really needed.

The leather washers are always a mistake in tropical climates. They just rot.
 
The saw isn't a wood saw, but made for the exiting the aluminum "skin" on helicopters and planes. You're right they do suck at wood work. Some kind of oil can be used on the washers, but for the life of me I can't remember what kind. I was in Panama for our little adventure there in the 80's and I remember and old Sgt telling us to use it so it wouldn't rot. But, the ones I usually get from friends and folks to fix en uo with micarta handles on them. I think they are decent knives, but a bit thick for real delicate cutting, I like to convex them , seems to work well on them. IMHO
 
bladefrienzy said:
The saw isn't a wood saw, but made for the exiting the aluminum "skin" on helicopters and planes. You're right they do suck at wood work. Some kind of oil can be used on the washers, but for the life of me I can't remember what kind. I was in Panama for our little adventure there in the 80's and I remember and old Sgt telling us to use it so it wouldn't rot. But, the ones I usually get from friends and folks to fix en uo with micarta handles on them. I think they are decent knives, but a bit thick for real delicate cutting, I like to convex them , seems to work well on them. IMHO
Click to expand...

Micarta handles, eh? Interesting. Yea, I only found myself on helicopters a few times, and they were the kind you wouldn't need to cut yourself out of. Mine saw duty in the Florida Everglades. I'm sure there's some kind of oil I could have used, like you said, but as you point out, it's not the best knife for fine cutting, and there's way better designs out there now.
 
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