WWII Pilot's Survival Knife Restoration

[tjmurphy]

Just got home from Bob's (Elvis) house and need to show the restoration he did on my Colonial, WWII Pilot's Survival Knife. It was pretty rough when I got it and the saw blade was missing. I had Bob remove the saw spring and attachment and pull everything together keeping the liner lock. While apart, all parts were cleaned and buffed to remove surface rust. After reassembly the knife was blued, maybe original, maybe not, but it looks good, I do believe that all metal parts were blued originally. Here are the before and after pics of the knife.

Before Restoration:

After Restoration:

Thanks a lot, Bob

[jerryd6818]

Nice knife.

[orvet]

Nice knife TJ!
Very nice work Bob, those old things are beasts!!!



There may be hope for my old Colonial after all…

I have been thinking a saw blade for a reciprocating saw just might be reworked to replicate a saw blade for the knife.

Has anyone thought of that?
There a lot of recip blades about the same thickness.

[tjmurphy]

Thanks Jerry and Dale. I just had Bob take out the extra spring and the fitment for the saw and turn it into a single blade knife. I gave it to my son to throw into his camp and/or hiking pack. Should work well.

[aubld]

Great restoration on the old pilot's survival knife.
Will watch to see the best saw bld replacement idea.
aubld

[Miller Bro's]

After reassembly the knife was blued, maybe original, maybe not, but it looks good, I do believe that all metal parts were blued originally.

The ones I have are blued, I have read where it was referred to as "blackened".

I have been thinking a saw blade for a reciprocating saw just might be reworked to replicate a saw blade for the knife.

Has anyone thought of that?
There a lot of recip blades about the same thickness.

Not a bad idea and a fairly easy fix. The saw blade on these are sandwiched between two plated with a rivet through everything to hold the saw in place. The blade would still have to be removed to replace the saw blade but it could be done

[whitesell knives]

Very nice knife. I never saw anything like that before. I want one.

[glennbad]

Another great job by Bob! It looks great.

[tjmurphy]

Yes sir, Bob did a great job on that old hag. It will make a great utility knife for my sons hiking adventures.

[Beechtree]

Great knife and fantastic job Bob! Looks real pretty and will work well as a utility knife.

[PigSticker]

Nice! Crazy grind lines on a knife that old-kinda like these modern tacticals ain't it ?

[tjmurphy]

Thanks PS. Kinda like the grind on the WWII "Fighting" knives. A real hand-full at 6" closed

[AREMINGTONSEDGE]

Outstanding Bob! TJ you have some very cool knives and I like this one alot. Unique knife and a great restoration job to breath life back into her! Rocky

TJ, did this knife have an original sheath? What did it look like? Thanks, Rocky

[tjmurphy]

Hey Rocky, here's a dandy showing the original pouch with a complete knife.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/WWII-US-Navy-Pi ... 417fd431a5

[glennbad]

I wonder if you could make a removable saw setup for that rig, kinda like those mini tool kit knives that Imperial and Utica used to make. I think Case also had a pattern with interchangeable blades.

Then you maybe could use sawzall blades like someone mentioned...

[AREMINGTONSEDGE]

Thanks TJ, very nice knife...I like yours better!

[tjmurphy]

Tanx Rocky It seems that there were two versions of this knife: The Navy version with the bail and the USAAC without the bail. Not exactly sure which one mine was since I am pretty sure that it had been taken apart before.

[bonehead]

TJ,

Now that's a knife. They were blued, Called Blackened in the Day as Philco mentioned. As in your hand you know it was a knife that many including myself would pick over many, as a knife to have as a survival knife, that includes anything made today. I have one like it and would choose it over any other knife I have if I was to be out there and could take only one. Nice work Bob....

BH

[tjmurphy]

Thanks BH. At 6" closed length it is a lotta knife. Don't think that there would be too much that would get in it's way.

[Elvis]

Judging from the thickness of what I removed, I think the sawzall blade idea will work. You'd need to drill two holes in it, so make sure you have some carbide bits handy, but that's about the only special tools you'd need. Those things really are built like a tank. Disassembly is the hardest part of working on one of these. Those steel pins were made to stay put and they do a real good job of doing it. After working on Tom's knife I couldn't help myself so I picked one up on fleabay at a fairly reasonable price. Now I just have to decide if I want to keep the saw.

[bonehead]

Keep It Bob!!! It is what it is Very hard workin knife here. Catt just picked one up too. Seems to be very popular at this time...

Anyway, Nice work on TJ's Looks good, Works Good. A nice knife to have when in trouble Bonehead

[1967redrider]

Great restoration job on one behemoth of a folder!

[orvet]

After working on Tom's knife I couldn't help myself so I picked one up on fleabay at a fairly reasonable price. Now I just have to decide if I want to keep the saw.

Bob,
If you have a full saw and decide to remove it, I KNOW we can do a trade/swap/sumpin' for that saw blade that would leave us both smilin'!

Just let me know!

[Elvis]

Bob,
If you have a full saw and decide to remove it, I KNOW we can do a trade/swap/sumpin' for that saw blade that would leave us both smilin'!

Just let me know!

I thought about leaving it until the knife arrived yesterday. The liner for the liner-lock is broken at the end that keeps the blade locked open so it looks like she will have to come apart so I can make a new one from Titanium. While it's apart I may as well slim it down.

[SteelMyHeart85420]

Has anyone developed the idea of saw blade replacement w/ Sawzall blades or the like? I have 2/3 of a saw blade, and it takes pliers to access it. I 'd rather a wood-type saw blade on it, if it's going to be there. Removal entirely could be an option, too. Help me crank the gears....