To give another "For Instance". Back in the early 1980s, my wife decided to move her mother from Buffalo to live with us in Texas. My mother-in-law (who is still alive at 106) had a lot of stuff in storage there, and my wife went to Buffalo for a couple of weeks to help sort through it all and get rid of what was no longer needed. My wife's father had been a pilot during WWI, but never made it to France before the war ended. He had all sorts of stuff from that period including uniforms, flight suits, and a bunch of aircraft-related materials, such as books, manuals, etc. Anyway, my wife not knowing any better, gave almost everything to the Salvation Army. I didn't find out about any of this until she returned home with her mother. No telling what other treasures might have been there that were lost forever.

Wow , what a touching story !
Thank you Jack Zimmatore , your memory has not been forgotten.

You might think about submitting the story of your knife purchase and search for its owner to a magazine or publication specializing in knives. Its a terrific story which might have a broad audience beyond the Smith & Wesson Forum.

I bought a Colt Army Special .32-20 some years ago that had had a hard life. I thought that if I could trace its travels from the Colt factory in 1923 to the gun shop where I bought it there might be a story to tell. Alas, after I had the gun lettered I found it was sent to a store in New Orleans that no longer exists. And, the gun shop had changed hands and would not help me contact the consignor for whom they had sold the gun to me. So, It was a dead end.

Wouldn't that be great if we could trace inanimate objects. I seldom collect new in box antique anything. When I see a well worn knife, holster or gun it makes my mind wonder where it has been. I have an old Case stag handled trapper that has traveled so long in a pocket that there are no ridges left on the stag. It is as if had been sanded smooth. I hope to post a picture of it along with and old Lawrence flap holster and a well worn Smith and Wesson 1950 target that belongs to a friend of mine. I just imagine how much pocket change rubbed against that knife to make it that smooth. I have numerous guns that lack much bluing or varnish. A few have names under the butt plate. I have one old silver worn Winchester that has a name and Fairbanks Alaska under the butt. That one makes me wonder. My old pre war Woodsman I bought well used and have since removed what bluing was left in the process of toting it around most of the western states is another head scratcher. I will occasionally take one of these old tools and go hunt a day with it and sit beside a campfire are just wonder how many campfires and hunts it has been on. If only these objects could talk.

30-30.....

I want to thank you for this amazing story....there is so much history that goes away every day with the deaths of these veterans.......and I also want to say a very grateful thanks to those of the greatest generation that served in this war, and pass on their amazing stories of their experiences.........God bless the USA, and these veterans......

Semper Fi!

Over the last three years, as I search eBay for vintage smith and Wesson and colt 1911 parts etc, there have been hundreds of WWl, WWII, Korea and Vietnam veterans gear, dog tags, military documents etc on eBay. The stories they could tell. Very sad no relatives left to care fore their history. And a total shame their personal information is being sold by estate pickers

Great read. Thank you for sharing the story.

Thanks for the great story. Brought back memories of my father who was stationed on Amchitka Island from early 1943 till mid 1944. He was in a combat engineering group that build the first runways there. Still have lots of photos showing the living conditions and the planes. Imagine living in tents with all the wind and cold. He often spoke of the constant fog and the mud when the weather warmed. Favorite picture is of the bugler playing with icicles hanging from the bugle.

Your historical knife sure has a familiar look to it. I've had this knife since new (I know not too good job of caring for it.) from the early 1960's
It is "branded "Western Boulder Colo. made in USA". It's my understanding that "Western" was a trademark of Imperial and was made by them.
To my eye, the resemblance (other than the blade.) is remarkable.
If not somehow related, this pattern must be very traditional for some reason.

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That is a nice blade you have. As you said, a little more maintenance was needed years ago. However you are incorrect about the knife lineage. Western was a famous knife company that produced its own line of knives, which was quite extensive, in Boulder, Colorado. Western produced many different models for WW II use. Their pattern L76 is quite rare and valuable. Their prettiest WWII knife pattern was the blued Shark's in my opinion. Western was not affiliated with any other knife company till their folding @2000.

Great post. I remember your original post very well. Thanks for giving us the rest of the story.

"Taj" M.A.Hall

I guess we can expect little more from the generations of offspring whose upbringing and moral compass was set by the least expensive "kiddie kennel" in the neighborhood. Or, if the parents feel guilty, it's a "pre-school" that will do God knows what with a six-month-old baby.

The generation that's more interested in themselves when taking photographs, AKA: "selfies", and are even unable or unwilling to find a mate without some on-line marriage broker should not be expected to assume a previous generation's feelings and ethical standards ...

In the book "Put 'em Across, the History of the 2nd Engineer Special Brigade, 1942-1945" it is mentioned that before they deployed to the Pacific over 1500 sheath knives were donated to the unit. Many of which were manufactured in the local High School shop classes to help fill the shortage of issue knives at the time.

Shop built knives for WW II, aka theatre knives, were quite common during the war. The rub is, it is almost impossible to verify a shop built knife as a war knife. Very few have and identification marks. Jack's knife is so different that it drew me to research it. I have a number of beautiful home made knives I would like to believe were soldier worn but there is no evidence. Thousands were built but few can be documented. A few makers built enough to get to be known later in life. Cole and Huff were 2 famous makers. Ships had machine shops and voyages were long. During WW II there was a continuing shortage of issue knives. As late as 1944 the shortage was still a fact. When my neighbor joined the navy in 1944 the navy could not find him a knife and gave him an allowance to find his own. He wrote to mom and had here send his Boy Scout knife. Life magazine started a campaign called "Save a life with a knife" in which they asked civilians to send a knife to a soldier overseas. A friend got a knife and a note from a family in Ohio. In and old picture on an island is a picture of a military base's work shop. A sign was posted that prohibited knife building. An interesting note about Jack's knife, according to his relative, that Jack had a best friend that was a Native American. She had met this man a few times and she feels he might have built the knife for Jack. Just no evidence.

Incredible story ~ thanks for posting!

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John
S&WCA Life Member

What a great story. Thank you for your dedication and hard work

That's dedication by you and I'm glad the story is finally told.