WWII - Folding Survival Machete

[rcmodel]

Army Air Force Folding Machete
This one made by Cattaraugus Cutlery Co. and adopted in Oct. 1942.

The blade is 10” long, 15 ½ OAL when opened, and is locked open by a liner-lock inside the handle.
Weight is about 1 1/4 pound.

It was part of the B4 bail-out kit attached to the parachute harness seat pack.
Some were issued with a steel blade guard, and some were issued in a leather flap-holster type sheath.

W.R. Case & Sons, Bradford PA and Camillus, Camillus NY made an identical version.
A similar but more ergonomic rounded plastic handle version was made by Imperial Cutlery Co., Providence R.I.

This one has seen much better days, but it still works.




rc

 

[1KPerDay]

Cool! Never heard of one.

 

[hso]

Didn't Kinfolks and Camillus make a version as well?

Here's the Imperial version.

The guard on the Imperial folded into the handle while the others didn't. The Imperial also came with a factory sheath.

 

[rcmodel]

Right, Camillus did make it too. Thanks for catching that goof!

I don't think Kinfolks did though.
They made the M2, M4, V-44, and a 6" fighting knife is all I know of.

rc

 

[hso]

Yeah, I don't find any pics of Kinfolks in my gallery of knife photos I've collected.

 

[VA27]

I keep one (Catt) in the door pocket of my truck. I picked it up in a pawn shop years ago for $5.

 

[rcmodel]

Take good care of it.

There will never be any more like it!

rc

 

[content]

Hello friends and neighbors // Nice snag/save rcmodel, I like the history surrounding such a blade.

Had it long?

 

[rcmodel]

Like many more of my military knives.
So long ago I can't remember when or where I got them.
Or how much I paid for them.

I just try to give old war vets like these a better home while I can, then they might have had in the past.

rc

 

[rcmodel]

and not a high and tight killer of men like me.

Dang guy!
I just spit beer all over my keyboard!!

Thats a great one I haven't heard for a lot of years!!!

But do you still have her?

The Camillus, not the wife.
Who cares about a tramp wife who would do that, while her man was in Vietnam!

rc

 

[Gordon]

She is an appelate court judge (won't tell what state she ahem "worked her way up the ladder") presently , go figger and the folding Machete dissappeared about 1975 when I was a bachelor DEA agent !

 

[rcmodel]

Too bad, so sad!

But look at the bright side.

You could have killed her with it, and now look where she would be, and you would be!

I'm laughing with you, I hope!

Kinda gallows humer from one old GI to another, if you know what I mean.
And I'm pretty sure you do!

rc

 

[hso]

Atlanta Cutlery has a reproduction.
http://www.atlantacutlery.com/p-1485-us-wwii-folding-survival-machete.aspx

 

[Gordon]

Thanks for that link, I just ordered one with my initials

 

[rcmodel]

Well, Al B. Jiggered!

I didn't know anyone was making them again!!

How cool is that!

rc

 

[hso]

I can NOT attest to their quality.

 

[hso]

Case also made a non-folding version.

 

[Gordon]

I apologize for the use of my implied female dog word for my errant first wife. In the future I will attempt to keep my intercourse in an upward direction as befitting the venue.

 

[308win]

I had one like HSO's that I had since the late 50's. My dad bought it for me through an ad in F&S or OL. It disappeared one summer when my son was in HS and he swears he doesn't know what happened to it - imagine that! Nasty thing and great for building temporary duck blinds etc. Came with the leather sheath and a stone.

 

[rcmodel]

he swears he doesn't know what happened to it

I raised two sons myself.

They never Do know what happened to anything of yours do they!

I'm still missing 5 Mag lights, 4 MIL-K pocket knives, 3 Army field jackets, 2 sheepwool & doeskin shooting mittens, and a Partridge in a Pear Tree!

And nobody knew nothing! :banghead:

rc

 

[rondog]

I'll be dipped! Another cool old WWII relic that I'd never heard of before! There's probably thousands of things made for that war that I've still never heard of.

 

[USAF_Vet]

I saw one if these at a militaria show at the VFW a couple years back. Always kinda regret not picking it up. Even had the scabbard. Guy only wanted $35 for it. Yeah, I'm kicking myself again.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Wow RC I have never seen one! Now I got to be on the look out.

 

[19&41]

I have a Cattaragus folder also. It is a bit worn, but as I am leery of using it, it won't get too much wear. Nice to finally hear of it's intended purpose. Thanks!