All About Pocket Knives

Is this a floating WW2 Navy knife? Not sure what I found here, it says Imperial Prov. RI on the tang. What is it & what was it used for?

1936-1952 it looks like a paring knife BUT the handle is awfully long. Most of the knives I've seen that were intended to float, either had cork handles or much fatter wood handles. I'm going to go out on a limb and opine that it isn't military. I guess it could have been mess hall issue. Someone with military books will have to weigh in.

I have a few of those "floating" around my stuff. I'm pretty sure it's a lower end wood carving knife and they come in several different blade shapes for different cuts. ____Dave

Hmm, wood carving knife, never thought about that. Thanks

Good eye, Dave.

Also some leather working knives are short bladed and with long handles for blade control. But the blades tend to be more triangular, sort of like a modern X-Acto knife.

Dennis