Is this a real knife? Strange color!

[wolf0180]

Is this a real knife?
I'm concerned because the grip is brown not black.

It's a Cattaraugus 225Q

[RobesonsRme.com]

If you can touch it, hold it, place it on a flat surface and photograph it, I suspect it is real.

Welcome to AAPK, the friendliest, if not also at times a bit sarcastic, knife website on The Internet.

I've actually never seen a 225Q with a "black" handle, dark, but not black.

Nothing wrong with your knife, it's just been treated a bit roughly since 1945 or so.

Charlie Noyes

[Paladin]

to the forum and yes, that handle is correct. As Charlie says, a little roughed up but correct.

Ray

[wolf0180]

I was considering buying one with a dark handle, maybe I don't need to, I kind of like the lighter handle

[wolf0180]

I was considering buying one with a dark handle, maybe I don't need to, I kind of like the lighter handle

This is one of many gifts for my girlfriends son who is joining the army soon, I wonder one with a better handle might be a smart idea if he will only display it and does not know a lot about them. I looked for one from WW1 but those get kind of expensive. At least this was like tier two of the army knifes i saw for ww2

[wolf0180]

I was considering buying one with a dark handle, maybe I don't need to, I kind of like the lighter handle

This is one of many gifts for my girlfriends son who is joining the army soon, I wonder one with a better handle might be a smart idea if he will only display it and does not know a lot about them. I looked for one from WW1 but those get kind of expensive. At least this was like tier two of the army knifes i saw for ww2

What is a popular ww2 or before ARMY knife ? I dont want to spend a lot with all the other stuff im getting though... Any ideas or did i get a good one

[jerryd6818]

The handles are dark because of all the handling over the years. Body oils, dirt and grime soak into the leather over time and turn the leather dark. When those handles were brand new out of the factory, unless they were dyed or treated in some way, they were a very light sort of tan color.

This is a good example of what color they most likely started out as.

[wolf0180]

The handles are dark because of all the handling over the years. Body oils, dirt and grime soak into the leather over time and turn the leather dark. When those handles were brand new out of the factory, unless they were dyed or treated in some way, they were a very light sort of tan color.

This is a good example of what color they most likely started out as.

Ah very nice..

[jerryd6818]

It is very nice. Unfortunately it's not my knife but an image I pulled off the net for instructional purposes.

I had one in 1963. I bought a brand new "Ka-Bar" for five bucks (actually Camillus brand) off a guy that worked in supply. Had it for about a week and it disappeared out of my wall locker. The leather handle was rough and almost white which surprised me because all I had seen had handles that were dark from use.

[RobesonsRme.com]

I think a WWII era leather washer handled knife might not be appropriate for a new soldier.

Firstly, is he going into combat arms or some other occupational specialty? Most military personnel would have no need for a combat knife.

Secondly, he would almost surely be the only guy in his unit carrying a sixty year old knife. Whether that would be seen as admirable or silly, I suppose, would be up to the attitudes of his mates.

If I were looking to give a nice "fighting Knife" to a Soldier or Marine or Sailor in the combat arms, I'd go with a more modern rendition, which one can get for reasonable money or go way high, dollar-wise.

I'd be thinking SOG, Benchmade, Gerber Mark II, or even a Camillus or Ka-Bar copy of a WWII era knife.

And I suspect the military still has issue knives or bayonets. Maybe not. Been out for forty-six years.

Sixty year old knives with stacked and compressed leather washer handles are, I think, likely to experience sudden deterioration and disintegration if used in a hostile, weather-wise, environment.

Bear in mind that hand-to-hand combat and the need for a lethal knife are an extremely remote possibility, except in motion pictures.

A utilitarian knife would be more appropriate. Even then, soldiers rarely need to construct a shelter from scratch or obtain firewood, etc.

I did a tour in a remote area of Viet Nam, went on week-long operations in the jungle and my Swiss Army knife was much more useful than the bayonet I had strapped to my web gear.

Charlie Noyes

[wolf0180]

If im trying to stick to a WW2 theme here, maybe WW1, Is there any other knives you recommend? It has to be issued for someone that was in the Army though. I only say one other one and they were only selling for around 20-40 dollars.

[wolf0180]

I think a WWII era leather washer handled knife might not be appropriate for a new soldier.

Firstly, is he going into combat arms or some other occupational specialty? Most military personnel would have no need for a combat knife.

Secondly, he would almost surely be the only guy in his unit carrying a sixty year old knife. Whether that would be seen as admirable or silly, I suppose, would be up to the attitudes of his mates.

If I were looking to give a nice "fighting Knife" to a Soldier or Marine or Sailor in the combat arms, I'd go with a more modern rendition, which one can get for reasonable money or go way high, dollar-wise.

I'd be thinking SOG, Benchmade, Gerber Mark II, or even a Camillus or Ka-Bar copy of a WWII era knife.

And I suspect the military still has issue knives or bayonets. Maybe not. Been out for forty-six years.

Sixty year old knives with stacked and compressed leather washer handles are, I think, likely to experience sudden deterioration and disintegration if used in a hostile, weather-wise, environment.

Bear in mind that hand-to-hand combat and the need for a lethal knife are an extremely remote possibility, except in motion pictures.

A utilitarian knife would be more appropriate. Even then, soldiers rarely need to construct a shelter from scratch or obtain firewood, etc.

I did a tour in a remote area of Viet Nam, went on week-long operations in the jungle and my Swiss Army knife was much more useful than the bayonet I had strapped to my web gear.

Charlie Noyes

Oh no, hehe This is part of a bundle of things to collect not use in the military, he is going into a specialty anyway, I was just wondering if there is a nicer one to get him since this is there first one he will have

[RobesonsRme.com]

Okay.

So, in response to that, I'll tell you that the Cattaraugus 225Q was never an issued knife. They were made and marketed on the open market in magazine ads, etc. They were targeted toward the military, but the knife was never contracted for by the DOD or whatever the entity was called at that time.

You need to be searching for a Mark II, a Mark I, a so-called "Shark Knife" or an M-3 commando knife. You also might consider any of the three or four blade scout/utility knives, a two blade EZ Open utility knife, a TL-29 Telephone Lineman's knife, a machete, Bolo, Pilot's Survival Knife, etc, etc.

Brand names on those are going to include Aerial or A. C. CO., Boker, Camillus, Case, Cattaraugus, Collins, Colonial, Geneva Forge, Imperial, Ka-Bar, Kinfolks, L. F. & C. CO., Pal, Robeson or R. C. CO., Schrade-Walden, Stephenson, Ulster, Utica, Western and I'm sure there are more.

Ebay has a military section that is, I believe, broken down into the wartime periods.

And, combat arms is a "Specialty", BTW.

Charlie Noyes

[kootenay joe]

As a knife to use, WW II or earlier knives are NOT the best. The manufacture of steels for knife blades has had many improvements since then. A more recent knife with a 'good' steel will stay sharp a lot longer. I would want stainless steel so that rust would not become a problem. Despite what some people might say, stainless steel can take every bit as sharp an edge as non stainless steel.
kj

[wolf0180]

What I am doing for him is getting a package of WW2 things as a gift for graduation and Heading off into the Army. I have bought a WW2 duffel bag and a Journal from a serviceman that he can read through. I also got a blank journal from that era to use if he wants. I got a Watch and a compass from that era also. The knife is the last piece I need to get him. I have a couple stands to display it on already. So the knife will only be a display piece. I don't want to spend hundreds on one yet until i know he likes a cheaper one enough to collect more. So Im just looking for advise on what is a good first one to start a collection that is not super expensive
Ohh And keeping it a Army knife would be great

[terryl308]

getting back to the color of a Kabar made by Camillus, these two I sold a few years back and got $80 for the pair, which I think was cheap but the one had some of the leather washers replaced. But the color would be like these two in the majority of the Mk11's, like Jerry said they start out light natural leather color but turn dark with use and almost get to be black. These have the USMC stamp on the guard and I believe were made in the late 40's? Kabar makes repo's of the same knife for around 50-70 bucks, if you would want a new one. Terry