WWII - Giant Jack Knife

[rcmodel]

Made by Colonial Cutlery Co. in Providence R.I. during WWII and issued as pilot & air crew survival knives.

This one got rode hard, put away wet, and is missing the canvas sheath.

This is a huge knife, weighing ¾+ pound, measuring 6” closed, and nearly 16” with both blades open.

Two versions were made.
One with a handle bail were Navy & Marine issue.
One without a handle bail like this one were AAF.





The cutting blade is 4 5/8”, has a liner lock, and has a nail nick on one side.
The hacksaw blade is 5”, toothed 14 TPI like a high-speed hacksaw blade, and made from 15% tungsten steel.
It has a rounded point that projects past the bolster to open it with.

Since tungsten was in short supply during the war, all steel used in weapons production was restricted to a maximum of 6.75%.
Due to its lifesaving requirement, the war production board gave Colonial special permission to use higher grade tungsten steel for the saw blade.

It was capable of cutting any component in an aircraft, short of hardened tool steel.
(and maybe 10" thick wing root spars!)

The knife continued to be used from 1944 to about the mid-1950’s, when the 6” and later 5” fixed blade “Pilots Survival Knife” came into use.

rc

 

[Gordon]

First one I've seen and way kool !

 

[rcmodel]

BTW: They packed it in a canvas sheath in a pocket of the survival vest worn under the parachute harness.

I think there might be one visable on the two guys at the far bottom right in this photo taken of the U.S.S. Franklin ready room.

It is the "blob" on thier vests just to the right of the die marker packs.

PS: I see a few S&W Victory models hanging around there too!



rc

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Cool

 

[Ian Johnson]

wow my buddy had one and lost it fishing, he had no idea what he had

 

[rcmodel]

Know any scuba divers??

Or, own a big magnet??

It would be worth fishing for.

rc

 

[kBob]

Now I have to wonder if a buddy not seen in 20 years has one. His Dad had a S&W Victory and the holster with ammo loops. He had that gun because it was with him when his WWII fighter went in the water after a tail hook came out and over the side he went into the pacific. After his recovery the old Chief in charge of supply had already done the paper work for all his gear as lost at sea and so refused to accept the revolver and gear back. Gotta wonder if he lost one of those knives as well.

A knife like that was on the wall of sent in knives Bo Randal had on display in his office building. I wonder if anyone has photographed and cataloged that collection....

-kBob

 

[ivankerley]

always loved the look of these

i'd EDC that bad boy, makes my S&M Wildcat Driller look like a regular pocket knife most ive seen have been terribly abused and usually the saw is snapped off
Western/Coleman made a similar pattern sans bolsters, just a regular plastic handle
Go big or go home
Nice post and picts, thanks
Gene