The knife was designed by the Navy Weapons Bureau & Marbles in 1957. The original (Type 1) had a 6" blade.
Later, Cammillus ended up with the contract, and new specs (Type 2 = 1962) shortened the blade to 5" for less interference with flight gear in the cockpit.
Camillus, Utica, and Ontario, and Milpar have made them through the years.
Milpar made the Type 3 with a cast aluminum handle.
All versions after the first one have 5" blades.
The more recent one I have in my collection by Ontario has a full metal (black) liner on the back of the natural color sheath that wraps around the bottom and comes up to the stone pocket on the front to prevent accidental cut-through.
The Vietnam era ones didn't.
Official name now is:
Knife, Hunting, Sheathed, Survival, Pilot.
#7340-00-098-4327
MIL -K-8662E
GS-07F-40050
Ontario Knife Company
9/90
Near as I know, the Camillus "Air Force Survival Knife" is not/was not GI issue.
I think it is the commercial version of the old "Navy Jet Pilots Knife" knife, which is now the "Knife, Hunting, Sheathed, Survival, Pilot".
These things, and the U.S.N. Mark II (Ka-bar) have been called a lot of things through the years though, no matter who made them.
Still pretty good knives to have around when you need them!
rcmodel