All About Pocket Knives

Would Like to know if anyone can provide any info on this . What it may be used for or ETC . Thanks Gary

It looks to me like a type of combat entrenching tool Gary. I assume the bottom edge in your photo is at least somewhat sharp so it can be used like a machete, correct? The cut-out area on the top side would be a place to put your foot to help you dig.

Not sure about that swing-out piece that nests with the handle. The end of that piece (the part that looks blue in the 2nd photo) look like a knife; is it? If you swing it up from the handle does it lock perpendicular to the main axis? No markings or numbers?

I have seen photos of entrenching tools used for combat and the Army does teach how to use them as defensive and offensive weapons.

Dennis

Thanks this is a new one on me

I know that at one point, there was what was called a "trowel bayonet", but this looks a whole lot newer than Spanish-American War era. Homemade, prototype for something? Whatever it is, it looks cool.

cody6268 wrote:I know that at one point, there was what was called a "trowel bayonet", but this looks a whole lot newer than Spanish-American War era. Homemade, prototype for something? Whatever it is, it looks cool.

It is cool was donated to our Military Museum Patriots Hall in Walhalla South Carolina and they ask me to see if I could Find any Info on this as to age ,purpose . Looks like it has some modification on it . The Blade is sharp on both side's and is 15 1/4", OVL length is 20 " . Well made leather Sheath . Dennis gave some good info . Would Like More . The Board of the Museum would like to display if I can come up with a little more Info
Thanks Gary Kennedy

Is there anything stamped on this? Never seen anything like it. Looks like something you would want to avoid being hit with.
SSK

In 40+ years of collecting military knives/bayonets/tools, I have never seen anything remotely like this one.

Some observations

- the really rough welding tells me this is not a factory item. Either a prototype or a homemade/theater weapon/tool.
- the sheath incorporates the metal bail of the US Army web belt carry system which came out initially in 1910.
- the sheath is nicely designed for such an odd tool/weapon. The snaps were still in use, at east for canteen covers up through the post-VN era.
- the handle material/shape/fittings looks WW2 or earlier to my eyeballs.

Speculation - could the funky lever on top of the knife be some kind of explosive ordnance crimping device and the blade a digging too for explosives emplacement?

This would be a great one to send to Bernard Levine in his Knife Magazine column Whut Izzit?

Frank Trzaska or Mike Silvey would also be good ones to contact for info. You might even send it to Mark Zalesky at Knife Magazine, he has a pretty broad base of knowledge himself.

it kind of reminds me of a Cant Hook or Cant Dog. Maybe they used the cutout and spike to roll small branches or logs forward and the sharp edges are for chopping. Could be completely wrong. It's the weirdest looking tool I have ever seen. Hope someone knows for sure because now it's going to eat at me.

Wow Great Info Thanks I will try sending it to Mark at Knife world . Keep it coming