Bootcamp pocketknife

[fergusontd]

Does anyone remember the type and brand of pocketknife the Navy issued to us in 1968? I remember it was a boy scout style knife but can't remember much else. ftd

[cody6268]

The MIL-K-818 or "Demo" knife. Brand, a whole heck of a lot of people made 'em. The three in my collection are Kingston (it's one of the early US Marine Corps marked versions), Imperial (1961), and Camillus (1973).

[fergusontd]

The one we were given had black plastic handles and kind of resembeled a boy scout knife. It was not the all metal ones I think your refering too. I wish I could give a better description of it but it was 49 years ago. ftd

[kootenay joe]

Mike Silvey's book "Pocket Knives of the United States Military", shows two 3 5/8" 4 blade Utility knives with a bail and jigged plastic ? or bone ? handles, from Camillus & Kutmaster (Utica), beginning in 1950's. Spearpoint master has etch "Property Of The U.S. Govt." He says there is also one made by Ulster. (pg 124).
This could be the knife the o.p. is asking about.
kj

[jerryd6818]

Ferg, check with Ray (knife7knut). He went through boot camp in '64. Owd Wullie went through boot camp in '71, steve99f in '70, dweb1897 in '73, Dinadan in '72. There are a couple or three more but they're not real active on the forum.

[fergusontd]

Thanks Jerry I'll try that. ftd

[kootenay joe]

Here is a picture of the 2 knives as shown in Mike Silvey's book. Not as useful as it could be as the other 3 blades/tools are closed & connot be seen.
kj

[fergusontd]

Bottom one looks about right, but I dont remember any etching on the blade.Thanks guys for your responses to try to jog an old memory. ftd

[terryl308]

I was in bootcamp in Sept 64 (Army) and didn't get anything resembling a pocket knife issued to me, just a M14 and a bayonet. I guess us Army types couldn't be trusted with a pocket knife LOL. Also went to medic training in Ft. Sam Houston and later to airborne school in Germany, still no pocket knives, screwed again! Oh well. A lot of the paratroopers carried their own knives though. Terry

[carrmillus]

.....dec. '58, all metal Camillus 4 blade.......still got it and it still works!!!........ .....................

[bighomer]

Terry I was in bootcamp exactly a year later and they still wasn't issued, matter of fact I believe they made me send my knife home. When I got to Nam I got to be buddies with a guy in commo and he gave me a TL- 29. I don't recall ever seeing one ot the all metal or any scout type knife that was issued.

[carrmillus]

.........I think the reason I got one was that I had enlisted for corps of engineers??............ ...................

[fergusontd]

I went to Great Lakes in March of '68, I wonder if where you went to bootcamp at made a difference in the issue of a pocketknife. ftd

[terryl308]

BH, had a good friend that was in the "brown shoe" Army (late 50's) and was a radio man and it seems to me that he had a TL-29 issued to him , but he passed away last year so I can't confirm that fact.

[RalphAlsip]

In case it might be helfpul, this is a 1960's USMC knife that I believe was made by Imperial.

[bighomer]

Terry I think all the communication guys got them. The only knife they issued me went on the end off a M-14 and it warn't sharp fer shur. Ralph that's a fine looking knife, I believe the TL-29 my bud gave me was a Imperial, but that was 50 years ago and my memory ain't that great.

[jerryd6818]

In spite of showing up at 29 Palms with an 1141 Electricians MOS, I too was never issued anything sharp other than a bayonet for my M-14. The Corporal I worked for had one of those nifty knife & pliers sets but he had just come back from Okinawa so maybe he picked it up there. I have no idea what unit he was with while on The Rock.

[steve99f]

ferg

I was at GL from September '70 through about March '71 for boot and A school. I do not remember getting a pocket knife issued to me. However, that doesn't mean it didn't happen.

For most of my service I carried a series of Buck 110's. Like Zippos, I couldn't seem to keep ahold of them for very long.

[fergusontd]

That bootcamp knife rusted really quick, I also bought a Buck 110 and used it working in the engineroom and in "A" gang after I got transfered to my next ship. ftd