Your Favorite WWII Knife

[Dan In MI]

Below is my favorite WWII knife by default; it's the only one I own. It's a Camillus electrician's knife with the three line tang stamp and "U.S.N." stamped into the mark side cover.

[CarMan]

Below is my favorite WWII knife by default; it's the only one I own. It's a Camillus electrician's knife with the three line tang stamp and "U.S.N." stamped into the mark side cover.

WWII Camillus Electrician (1).jpg

WWII Camillus Electrician (2).jpg

WWII Camillus Electrician (3).jpg

WWII Camillus Electrician (4).jpg

Great knife. I like how it still has the writing on the one blade. Here’s my 2 from a good friend & great man, he did these up real nice. Both 4 line Camillus. One has TL29 stamped in the wood and the other has it on the shield.

[WelderBob]

Thanks John, its been a while...

CarMan there are some excellent books by Cole, Silvey and more. Plus a wealth of information here on AAPK on Western knives,
so I feel confident that it is from WW2.

[CarMan]

Thanks John, its been a while...

CarMan there are some excellent books by Cole, Silvey and more. Plus a wealth of information here on AAPK on Western knives,
so I feel confident that it is from WW2.

Thank you. I’m having trouble figuring out who all made knives for the military during WW2. Many are marked & many aren’t. The ones that aren’t marked specifically USN or some other military marking I assume were used at the beginning of the war due to needing so many knives so quickly. But I may be wrong.

[Dan In MI]

Great knife. I like how it still has the writing on the one blade. Here’s my 2 from a good friend & great man, he did these up real nice.

He sure did. Thanks for the kind words!

[GSPTOPDOG]

... Can anyone here confirm that this is WWII era issue knife?

[CarMan]

Not a fighting knife as most think of being military, but my favorite is this utility pattern made by Case for the U.S. Navy during WWII. Red “Fiberloid” covers. Why? I collect the pattern, and it’s a fairly rare knife.

Ken

Okay, I have to ask-what is fiberloid? Is it a fiberglass celluloid mix? Is it as evil as celluloid.

[CarMan]

... Can anyone here confirm that this is WWII era issue knife?

This probably won’t help, but I’m 99% sure this guard marked Camillus is. And, the scabbard was made in that era, though my father was issued one during the the mid 1950’s. That’s as much help as I am.

[Mumbleypeg]

Not a fighting knife as most think of being military, but my favorite is this utility pattern made by Case for the U.S. Navy during WWII. Red “Fiberloid” covers. Why? I collect the pattern, and it’s a fairly rare knife.

Ken

Okay, I have to ask-what is fiberloid? Is it a fiberglass celluloid mix? Is it as evil as celluloid.

I believe it to be something similar to fiberglass. “Fiberloid” is part of the description for that knife in Sargent’s Guide 7th edition. A little research found a Fiberloid Corporation that was once located in Springfield, MA which I assume was the manufacturer of the substance, and some old articles about its use, like this one https://archive.lib.msu.edu/tic/golfd/a ... 7mar60.pdf. Apparently it was used during 1930s - 1950s as a type of plastic used in manufacture of items like combs, vanity sets, cases for radios, even men’s shirt collars. An internet search will find mentions of it in old advertisements and articles about various “antiques”. I don’t find any indication that nitro-cellulose (celluloid) is involved in making fiberloid.

Case apparently wasn’t the only cutlery to use fiberloid. Of interest to folks on this forum might be this article on how to determine the date of Cattaraugus knives. Scrolling down toward the bottom of the article are several mentions of “Fiberloid” handles. https://cutsandcarves.com/how-to-date-a ... explained/

BTW another reason I like the knife is its stamp being “CASE TESTED XX” and its provenance being a knife made on contract for the U.S. Navy during WWII. That is further evidence that the use of that stamp did not end in 1940 as stated in most tang stamp charts.

Ken

[CarMan]

Not a fighting knife as most think of being military, but my favorite is this utility pattern made by Case for the U.S. Navy during WWII. Red “Fiberloid” covers. Why? I collect the pattern, and it’s a fairly rare knife.

Ken

Okay, I have to ask-what is fiberloid? Is it a fiberglass celluloid mix? Is it as evil as celluloid.

I believe it to be something similar to fiberglass. “Fiberloid” is part of the description for that knife in Sargent’s Guide 7th edition. A little research found a Fiberloid Corporation that was once located in Springfield, MA which I assume was the manufacturer of the substance, and some old articles about its use, like this one https://archive.lib.msu.edu/tic/golfd/a ... 7mar60.pdf. Apparently it was used during 1930s - 1950s as a type of plastic used in manufacture of items like combs, vanity sets, cases for radios, even men’s shirt collars. An internet search will find mentions of it in old advertisements and articles about various “antiques”. I don’t find any indication that nitro-cellulose (celluloid) is involved in making fiberloid.

Case apparently wasn’t the only cutlery to use fiberloid. Of interest to folks on this forum might be this article on how to determine the date of Cattaraugus knives. Scrolling down toward the bottom of the article are several mentions of “Fiberloid” handles. https://cutsandcarves.com/how-to-date-a ... explained/

BTW another reason I like the knife is its stamp being “CASE TESTED XX” and its provenance being a knife made on contract for the U.S. Navy during WWII. That is further evidence that the use of that stamp did not end in 1940 as stated in most tang stamp charts.

Ken

Thank you for the information on the fiberloid.
I never heard that about the Case Tested stamp so thanks for that info as well.

[GSPTOPDOG]

... Can anyone here confirm that this is WWII era issue knife?

This probably won’t help, but I’m 99% sure this guard marked Camillus is. And, the scabbard was made in that era, though my father was issued one during the the mid 1950’s. That’s as much help as I am.

Thanks C-Man I was also curious about the markings on the sheath... I am going to do more research and after looking through the thread I just realized I have a Case XX that might be WWII era/issue ... always more to find out after visiting AAPK... Hard to pick just ONE favorite WWII knife...

[CarMan]

... Can anyone here confirm that this is WWII era issue knife?

This probably won’t help, but I’m 99% sure this guard marked Camillus is. And, the scabbard was made in that era, though my father was issued one during the the mid 1950’s. That’s as much help as I am.

Thanks C-Man I was also curious about the markings on the sheath... I am going to do more research and after looking through the thread I just realized I have a Case XX that might be WWII era/issue ... always more to find out after visiting AAPK... Hard to pick just ONE favorite WWII knife...

If you’re Case XX is a 337Q, it’s a treasure & to the best of my knowledge is a WW2 Quartermaster knife.

[steve99f]

A 6 in G-46 Western with blued blade.

[GSPTOPDOG]

If you’re Case XX is a 337Q, it’s a treasure & to the best of my knowledge is a WW2 Quartermaster knife.

It is a WWII Case XX Pilot Survival Machete. But man, oh man I wish I could find a Case XX is a 337Q, WW2 Quartermaster knife. That would be sweet. I have a couple of Cattaraugus Quartermaster knives and they are built like tanks!

[GSPTOPDOG]

A 6 in G-46 Western with blued blade.

That is in great shape!!!

[CarMan]

If you’re Case XX is a 337Q, it’s a treasure & to the best of my knowledge is a WW2 Quartermaster knife.

It is a WWII Case XX Pilot Survival Machete. But man, oh man I wish I could find a Case XX is a 337Q, WW2 Quartermaster knife. That would be sweet. I have a couple of Cattaraugus Quartermaster knives and they are built like tanks!

Case 337Q is definitely on my bucket list of knives. I wouldn’t even be picky about condition. The case folding machetes are very cool though.

[CarMan]

A 6 in G-46 Western with blued blade.

Like a beautiful work of art.

[CarMan]

Mike, the 10th Mountain Division "Devil's Brigade" knives are my favorite too. I finally snagged an example of "type 1" quite recently (upper left).

Would you happen to know if all these knives had US stamped on the bale? I just got an Ulster with the wide bale, bone scales, and phillips blade (not the early type with phillips on bale), but it is not stamped US on the bale. I will try to post a picture when it’s actually in hand. Thank you sir

[herbva]

My understanding is that all the 10th Mountain Division knives either had the "U.S." stamped on the shield or on the bail. The first ones put into production and issued to the troops had the phillips screwdriver head attached to the bail and the "U.S." was stamped on the shield. The next 2 versions had the screwdriver head attached to a blade tang, with the U.S. stamped on the bail, and had no shield. The only difference between these 2 versions was the type of can opener that came with the knife. Silvey's book on U.S. Military Pocket Knives also shows an early prototype (which I assume was not mass produced) on page 106, that had the screwdriver head attached to the end of 2 center liners and had the "U.S." on the shield. He further explains that "this piece came out of the Ulster factory collection sold around 2012" . Somewhere along the line I either read or heard that the ones you see with a flat bail, but no "U.S." stamp were made and sold as "civilian versions." As I said, this is all just my understanding and I would love to hear any more information regarding these cool knives.

[Ripster]

If you’re Case XX is a 337Q, it’s a treasure & to the best of my knowledge is a WW2 Quartermaster knife.

It is a WWII Case XX Pilot Survival Machete. But man, oh man I wish I could find a Case XX is a 337Q, WW2 Quartermaster knife. That would be sweet. I have a couple of Cattaraugus Quartermaster knives and they are built like tanks!

Case 337Q is definitely on my bucket list of knives. I wouldn’t even be picky about condition. The case folding machetes are very cool though.

Here’s a Case 337 Q that we picked up several years ago. Not sure about the sheath it came with as it looks like a Catt or Kinfolks sheath . Showed this knife here awhile back and the feedback was it’s been repeened and is short at the handle end . Nice solid Quartermaster piece . If you’re interested in it let’s talk . Not a collector of Case so have no attachment to it.

[CarMan]

It is a WWII Case XX Pilot Survival Machete. But man, oh man I wish I could find a Case XX is a 337Q, WW2 Quartermaster knife. That would be sweet. I have a couple of Cattaraugus Quartermaster knives and they are built like tanks!

Case 337Q is definitely on my bucket list of knives. I wouldn’t even be picky about condition. The case folding machetes are very cool though.

Here’s a Case 337 Q that we picked up several years ago. Not sure about the sheath it came with as it looks like a Catt or Kinfolks sheath . Showed this knife here awhile back and the feedback was it’s been repeened and is short at the handle end . Nice solid Quartermaster piece . If you’re interested in it let’s talk . Not a collector of Case so have no attachment to it.

Sir, I’ll send you a PM on here if I can figure out how. Thank you

[CarMan]

My understanding is that all the 10th Mountain Division knives either had the "U.S." stamped on the shield or on the bail. The first ones put into production and issued to the troops had the phillips screwdriver head attached to the bail and the "U.S." was stamped on the shield. The next 2 versions had the screwdriver head attached to a blade tang, with the U.S. stamped on the bail, and had no shield. The only difference between these 2 versions was the type of can opener that came with the knife. Silvey's book on U.S. Military Pocket Knives also shows an early prototype (which I assume was not mass produced) on page 106, that had the screwdriver head attached to the end of 2 center liners and had the "U.S." on the shield. He further explains that "this piece came out of the Ulster factory collection sold around 2012" . Somewhere along the line I either read or heard that the ones you see with a flat bail, but no "U.S." stamp were made and sold as "civilian versions." As I said, this is all just my understanding and I would love to hear any more information regarding these cool knives.

Thank you for the help. I have got to find some of his books used.

[CarMan]

Just couldn’t pass it up. US stamp on bail. 10th mountain Ulster.

[Ripster]

Just couldn’t pass it up. US stamp on bail. 10th mountain Ulster.

Those are getting hard to purchase in any condition. Nice catch. Believe there are 4 different versions of this model.
The First Special Service Force was Americans and Canadians which became the Devils Brigade . Which became the Green Berets. Then the 10 th Mountain brigade came about .
Enjoy your military collecting.

[doglegg]

Just couldn’t pass it up. US stamp on bail. 10th mountain Ulster.

Terrific find! Congratulations on a hard to come by example. You did good.