All About Pocket Knives

Hello everyone it has been a while since I've been here. Got an old Camillus knife from my dad today. May have belonged to my great grandfather's brother. I would like to know what military branch this knife is and estimated year of manufacturer. Blade length is 5 3/4 , total length is about 10 3/8. Tang stamp reads CAMILLUS N.Y. The other side on the tang it looks like a faint serial number. Can't tell if it is 12314 or 1214. Hope this information and photos helps . Thank you very much.

Dennis

I believe these are commonly known as a PSK (Pilot Survival Knife). Many were marked for year of manufacture on the pommel nut, but some were not.

I have seen them mostly associated with the Air Force. Here's the one my dad carried when he was in EOD.

Thank you for the information glennbad. I saw no date on the pommel nut. I read they started dating these in the late 60s. Your dad's pilots survival knife looks like it's in excellent condition.

Dennis

I actually have 2-3 more, but that one I'm particularly partial to

Camillus started making the JPSKs in 1959. These had 6 inch blades and screwed-on pommels.

A change was made in June 1960 to weld the pommels to the tang end. The next change was in August 1961, reducing the length of the blade to 5 inches.

So your knife would have been made during that interval.

The next change the stamp to the pommel and added dates to the pommel. The dates started being added around November 1966, but the first date used was 01-1967.

Thank you zzyzzogeton you are very helpful.

Dennis

Hey Dennis,

Nice pilots knife you have...a nice momento to keep in the family.

Here's a site that gives a bit of history and some great photos of a person's collection of PK's. Not sure why the guard on one side of your knife is bent, but that's not the way they were originally made. Maybe someone did it for a thumb rest.

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ ... val-knife/

I have noticed in other photos of the PSK the guard is straight. I guess some where bent for personal preference. I assume my knife has the 6in blade though it measures 5 3/4. But I don't know if my pommel is screwed or welded. Thank you KLJ77.

Dennis

DTM1973 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 10, 2020 5:56 pm I have noticed in other photos of the PSK the guard is straight. I guess some where bent for personal preference. I assume my knife has the 6in blade though it measures 5 3/4. But I don't know if my pommel is screwed or welded. Thank you KLJ77.

Dennis

I agree...The bend in the guard is more than likely a personal thing. I don't know anything about the PSK, other than what I've read, but I can only assume that your knife was originally a 6" blade, but was wore down over time and use to 5 3/4"...that's the only thing that makes sense. Also, and again I'm not sure, but if your pommel is a screw style, one would think it could be unscrewed. Just a complete guess on my thinking.

Maybe someone else w/more knowledge about these can shed more light.

DTM1973 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 10, 2020 5:56 pm I have noticed in other photos of the PSK the guard is straight. I guess some where bent for personal preference. I assume my knife has the 6in blade though it measures 5 3/4. But I don't know if my pommel is screwed or welded. Thank you KLJ77.

Dennis

Your picture of the pommel shows it to be welded - that big blob on the end. For the screw-on pommels knives, you can see the threaded end of the tang through the pommel.

The 5th picture in this thread shows it...

viewtopic.php?t=58681

Thank you everyone who helped me on this post. I know what I have and I got a good history lesson