Pilots Survival Knife

[FRJ]

As best I can gather this is a U.S. Navy Pilots Survival Knife.
I think the bail would mean a Navy knife, but I'm not real confident in that description.

This is a large knife. It is essentially 6 inches long. It is 12.65 ounces.
The liner locking blade on this one is 4 11/16" long.
The three piece, non locking saw blade is 4 11/16" long. Both have half stops.
There must have been very specific instruction for getting the saw blade out of the well to use it. There are no nail nicks and it sets deep with the spine of the saw level with the liner.
The saw blade is made up of the main part of the blade and two smaller metal plates on either side of the blade to form a tang.
This keeps the main blade thin for more efficient cutting.
I thought this extraordinary knife needed to be described with lots of photos so I need more room.

[FRJ]

More pictures ..........

Thanks for looking.

[gsmith7158]

Joe that one is in pretty good shape. Often you see them with the saw blade broken and many people have reported replacing them with a sawsall blade. Not saying that's what happened to yours but could be the reason it sits low.

[313 Mike]

Thanks for sharing Joe, I always thought that rose are very handsome, rugged looking knives!

[BWT]

Impressive looking knife, great condition, good find Joe!!!

[knife7knut]

The saw blade has been re-profiled;probably because the tip was broken off. The tip extends slightly out of the end allowing the blade to be easily opened.Here is a pic of what it is supposed to look like. Apparently they broke off fairly easily as the other two I have are broken.

[FRJ]

And the light goes on!!
Of course, Ray, that make perfect sense.
Thank you, sir.

Thank you for all your comments, guys.

[Berryb]

I got this one about a year ago. This is what I got from my research then. This one was made in Grand Rapids Mich. I can't read the name of the company on my knife, I had it once but didn't write it down. They were issued to Navy fliers. The Grand Rapids co. had the original contract. later a contract for the same knife was given to Colonial. At some point several knives were sent to Grand Rapids because they were not up to spec. They were all sent back to the Navy with a note "we didn't make any of these". That's what I remember from a year ago. I will try to find the article I read and the name of the manufacturer. Bruce

[Berryb]

OK I guess I should have looked first. I was made by United. I found it listed as United Manufacturing and as United Machine Tool don't know if one or both are correct. Have not found the original article I read but will keep looking. Also one place said they were issued to both Navy and Army Air Corps pilots, but most just say Navy.
Bruce

[FRJ]

Thank you for the information and the photos, Berryb.

I assume that is a full length saw blade.

[Berryb]

This is a quote I copied from another forum. I think it's a military collectors forum. Anyway if I'm not supposed to do this please delete it. FRJ it is a complete saw blade. you can see the nub stickin' out of the left end on the closed pic. That makes it easy to open with a thumbnail, but you could also open it pretty easily one handed by rubbin' it on your pants leg, or any thing else handy. Bruce

It is a U.S. Navy Survival Knife, usually called the "Giant Jackknife" for obvious reasons.
6" long when closed, 15 5/8" when both the blade & saw are opened.

They were made by Colonial Prov. RI, and by United, in Grand Rapids Mich.

They were issued in an O.D. Green canvas pouch that fit a pocket in the survival vest.
Issued during WWII to both Navy & Army Air Force pilots.

Many were sold as surplus by United Machine Tool after WWII ended for $2.95 ea, and the ads said 60,000 United brand were used in survival kits.

Many you find now have the saw blade broken off, as they were allowed to use scarce 16% Tungsten steel for the saws, and it is very brittle. At that time the war department had issued a ban on using any Tungsten steel with more then 6.75% for any weapons production but the Giant Jackknife had a "life-saving" role so an exemption was made for them..

The knives were first issued in 1944 and were last used in the early 60's when the fixed blade Jet Pilots Knife was adopted service wide.

rc


Last edited: Dec 7, 2009
rcmodel, Dec 7, 2009
#2

[mrwatch]

Read these links, Bob

https://books.google.com/books?id=E6NZd ... Mi&f=false

http://www.stewartsmilitaryantiques.com ... rchive.htm

[FRJ]

Thank you so much for posting this information in this thread, Berryb and mrwatch.
Very good information that every interested collector can use.

Well, I bought a decent knife with a broken saw blade. What's life with out a little resentment.