Let’s see those Survival knives

Boattale said:

What's the tape on the Kabar sheath about? Inquiring minds and all that.

Click to expand...

Field expedient repair made many years ago. There was a small rivet that came out so, I just wrapped a little bit of tape around it. You can see the hole for the rivet in the first pic.

Here’s another survival knife. It’s a WWII Hospital Corpsman's knife.
I

Wonder how many field amputations were made with those knives?! Hopefully it was quick and mostly less painful.

Another question would be, how many of those were used on enemies? Whack-a-nazi would've been a good thing in WWII.

Mk-211 said:

Wonder how many field amputations were made with those knives?! Hopefully it was quick and mostly less painful.

Another question would be, how many of those were used on enemies? Whack-a-nazi would've been a good thing in WWII.

Click to expand...

The Hospital Corpsmen Knife was issued to Corpsmen so that they could cut tree limbs and saplings to make stretchers, not for field amputations.
But Marines really liked the knives and put them to good use in hand to hand combat.
Back it 1983 there was a Marine, in my unit 1/7, that carried one. He said that his grandfather carried it in the Island Hopping Campaign. His grandfather was a Marine.

Dad wouldn't let me have a Corpsman's knife.
I think that it caused flash-backs.
He had been a Marine forward observer that went ashore at Inchon with an Army unit... .

I consider all my knives to be survival knives.

Well. The Lile (no Dot) is too valuable.

The Randal 14 would suffice. And, I’ve carried it.

The Dozier I’ve carried quite a bit.

The Livesay is actually strapped to my bail out bag.

For you Gunny. I've never used these, just bought them for the historical value. The USMC no longer issues bayonet's and these were some of the last issued. From the looks they have been used hard. I can rarely justify carrying something this big, but I'm tempted to throw one in the ATV. That is an 8.5" blade.

I paid $30 each, I see them asking $100-$150 for these now.

I always looked at knives as being more of a specific purpose tool, and multipurpose tends to have the same issues as a "Jack of all Trades".

These are a few of mine, and all are "survival" minded, but only one is a "Jack".

trackskippy

Like the gray Armorhide handle on that vintage Gerber Mk.II! My MK.II was made a little bit later than yours when they had switched over to a black electrostatic powder coated, then baked on handle process, and with a black leather sheath. Also nice seeing your Blackjack Classic Knife Model 1-7!

A Vietnam era pilot survival knife by Camillus

Bannocburn

The MKII's have always been my favorite for that type of knife. I carried that one for quite a few years, and actually have another that is its spare.

I quit carrying mine when I realized how collectible they had become and switched over to the issue Britt F/S Commando's. At least they are readily available and not too salty. They take a good edge if your patient when sharpening them, but not quite as sharp as the Gerbers. I sharpen those with emery, and use a Lansky for the F/S.


The early versions of these knives were the best. I dont know what happened with Gerber, but the current versions they offer today, are embarrassing in comparison. They arent the same knife, in quality and feel. Hold on to the one you have, its one of the keepers.

The older Blackjacks have kind of gone the same route, collector wise, but the "new" knives are still nice knives. Ive had a couple and liked them. I wouldnt hesitate to buy one of the new versions, but I wouldnt recommend one of the new MKII's (I have one).

You know after the pics of the Gerbers were posted, I remembered that I had bought a boot knife and a Mk-II when I was in the Army.

Had them all the way up until I ETS'd out, then started looking through the few boxes I had when I got home. Seems that someone in the Arms room decided that they liked my knives more than I did and helped themselves to them!

Maybe one day I'll replace them, it still burns me that they were sto... disappeared!

Like this....


Or this?

The first one looks like the Gerber boot knife that I had.

Thats an old MKI I got back in the 70's.

DDDWho said:

A Vietnam era pilot survival knife by Camillus

View attachment 1039968

Click to expand...

A Vietnam era AIRCREWMAN survival knife by Camillus. But yeah, you're right - my Pilot carried one too.

Cold Steel Bushman with fire starter built into case. Blade is approx. 7".

Handle is hollow to accept wood to convert to spear.

JShirley said:

If those Bushmen still have a round hole in the handle, you can drill your stick to accept a cotter pin. Then, you can quickly change your hiking staff to a spear in about a minute. I did this with a 4' stick & Bushman I gave to Bud Malmstrom.

~John

Click to expand...

Unless my eyes are playing tricks on me, there's already a lanyard hole in the handle near the butt. What a great idea.

Boattale said:

Unless my eyes are playing tricks on me, there's already a lanyard hole in the handle near the butt. What a great idea.

Click to expand...

Yep, looks to be in line with the edge.

My carry of a big knife ended after my first long distance backpacking trip. Some of those knives weigh more than my tent. Now I just carry my regular Spyderco lightweight folder if I’m within a day’s limp/crawl of civilization. If I’m really in the middle of nowhere I add a Mora or maybe (rarely) one of my “good” knives.

My good knives are typically reserved for deer, or for trading for other knives I also won’t use. I have a whole tub full of those.

JShirley said:

If those Bushmen still have a round hole in the handle, you can drill your stick to accept a cotter pin. Then, you can quickly change your hiking staff to a spear in about a minute. I did this with a 4' stick & Bushman I gave to Bud Malmstrom.

~John

Click to expand...

Hole is still there, nice idea.

Drilling a second hole in the handle would also be a good move to enable a tight fitting pin completely through.