All About Pocket Knives

Been looking at this one for awhile and today decided to get it. Dont usually buy knives with broken blades unless they are super rare. I didnt have a USMC utility so now l do.
So this is my quandary: do l replace the can opener blade or leave it as is? It would require cannibalizing a utility which l have many of.if l do, should l put a bail on as well?
Any input is greatly appreciated.

I think it would be nice to get rid of that can opener.

I think it would be nice to get rid of the caplifter/screwdriver blade as well
and have a useful thin knife with a spear and a punch that I know you would love. Right?
I'm goin' with Shudya.

All the best with it whatever you do, Ray.

I have a couple that I have already cannibalized for parts. I can send you a can opener blade if you want. If so, send me a PM with your address, and verify if yours is Stainless or Carbon.

If that knife has brass liners it was made by either Kingston or Stevenson and the blades would be carbon steel and the side covers are monel, not stainless. Gee, Ray, I never knew you wanted one. I had five or six at one point. I have one or two left but they are mint and fairly pricey.

Gene: lt does indeed have brass liners. I wasnt really chasing one; just thought it would be a nice addition. Think l will leave it as is for now and make it my edc for awhile. Dont need a cann opener anyway.
You getting buried in snow? My son lives in Lowell MA and he has a ton!

Nice find, Ray. Just watch the backsprings, I have seen a bunch of snapped ones.

1967redrider wrote: ↑Wed Feb 11, 2026 12:48 pm Nice find, Ray. Just watch the backsprings, I have seen a bunch of snapped ones.

Are these as bad as the stainless "Demo" knives that succeeded these? I know the newer ones are almost infamous for snapped springs. These are carbon, so it may be different.

cody6268 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 11, 2026 10:45 pm

1967redrider wrote: ↑Wed Feb 11, 2026 12:48 pm Nice find, Ray. Just watch the backsprings, I have seen a bunch of snapped ones.

Are these as bad as the stainless "Demo" knives that succeeded these? I know the newer ones are almost infamous for snapped springs. These are carbon, so it may be different.

That is a good question. I was looking for a 1967 stamped one (for obvious reasons) and that's when I noticed a bunch with broken backsprings. But I don't remember if they were 1960s, 70s or newer at the moment.

The first ones, made by Kingston or Stevenson and the 1948 Ulster and 1949 Camillus all have brass liners and carbon blades and springs. The ones like Ray's, I have never seen a broken spring and the 1948 and 1949 ones are so rare I doubt anybody knows if they had a problem or not but I doubt they did.

Yah Ray, we had 17" of snow in one snowfall and there is still about a foot or so on the ground and on low slope roofs. We get a thaw next week, I hope it gets rid of a lot of it.

I did this to one of mine with a broken backspring, Ray. It became a nice useful knife. Just like Joe said..

I would repair that one, I like the idea of a harness jack or a beer scout, but do it on one that doesn’t have the brass liners.