Cattaraugus 225Q

[AJ]

Sure, a whole tool truck would be great to have. While you're at it, throw in a couple of trailers full of spare parts, nuts and bolts, and don't forget coffee and donuts!

But that ignores the haphazard and chaotic conditions encountered during warfare. Guys found themselves having to do all sorts of jobs with only the tools they had on them. In such situations, the 225 Q was a godsend.

Lots of hunting knives and utility knives went to war. Knives were highly prized item. So the Marines, soldiers and sailors brought whatever they could find or buy. They were not contract weapons, but they had they. Goes along with all of the handguns that guys carried that came from home. I know the local Sheriff gave some of the confiscated handguns to local guys going off to war. Different times back then...........

 

[BE Mike]

I have a Cattauraugus 225Q that my father brought back from WWII. He was in the signal corps in the Pacific. It sits in my safe. Unfortunately a few of the leather washers are missing, but it does have the sheath. It had belonged to a buddy of his. I was going to get it restored and put it in a shadow box with my Viet Nam era pilot's survival knife, but the cost to restore the 225Q would exceed it's value.

 

[Jack Flash]

I've read that there was a severe shortage of knives early in the war. High school boys made knives for the military as a project in shop class.

 

[Drm50]

Several years ago I bought 3 knives at a yard sale. One happened to be a bayonet for a 1897 Win, which I didn't know at the time. What caught my eye was a US issue Trench knife. Now I'm not into knives like some guys but I knew guy who would want the Trench Knife real bad. I parlayed it into a Savage 99TD in 300sav. Then found out I had shotgun bayonet which I got $150 out of from same guy. My mistake was the 3rd knife was the Cattaurangus GI issue. The leather handle was in terrible shape as was the sheath. I took butt off to remove leather and ended up putting walnut handle on it and selling for $10. I still have the butt pieces, I didn't use them with wood handle. I have seen Marbel, Pal, Case and other makes of same pattern that govt bought during WW2. They all had good steel in them.

 

[A10]

Several years ago I boujght 3 knives at a yard sale. One happened to be a bayonet for a 1897 Win, which I didn't know at the time. What caught my eye was a US issue Trench knife. Now I'm not into knives like some guys but I knew guy who would want the Trench Knife real bad. I parlayed it into a Savage 99TD in 300sav. Then found out I had shotgun bayonet which I got $150 out of from same guy. My mistake was the 3rd knife was the Cattaurangus GI issue. The leather handle was in terrible shape as was the sheath. I took butt off to remove leather and ended up putting walnut handle on it and selling for $10. I still have the butt pieces, I didn't use them with wood handle. I have seen Marbel, Pal, Case and other makes of same pattern that govt bought during WW2. They all had good steel in them.

Those butt plates on the originals are kinda complex...

 

[Drm50]

Those butt plates on the originals are kinda complex...

If anybody needs the butt pieces to repair their knife they can have them for postage. I'm done fooling with that stuff.

 

[Jack Flash]

Does anybody know where I can get a sheath for mine?

I would like to carry on my belt when camping. A correct sheath would be nice, but anything that works would be ok.

 

[otis24]

Since this is a 225Q thread I will not post another picture.

I too, have a Kabar, two in fact. One I carried in the Corps and a WW II Kabar that WW II/Korea USMC Vet carried back then.

AJ bring on the pics. We love all vintage hardware!

 

[Texas Star]

Does anybody know where I can get a sheath for mine?

I would like to carry on my belt when camping. A correct sheath would be nice, but anything that works would be ok.

Sheathmakers ' ads in, Blade and the big annual, Knives. From the, Gun Digest people. See photos and the lists in the back.

 

[AJ]

AJ bring on the pics. We love all vintage hardware!

Since you asked, here you go.........

The top one I carried on active duty, it is a Kabar. The bottom one was carried by a WW II/Korean War USMC Vet, it is a Camillus.

 

[jpage]

The naval aviator on the right has a 225Q on his life-preserver strap. His name is Loyce Edward Deen, KIA in 1945. A very sad, but moving story.

 

[RoyM52]

Interesting to note that the knife sheath is opposite for the 225Q than it is for hunting knives and for the K bars. Mine is the same

If worn on the right hip or on the left hip, a right handed person using their right hand to unsheathe the knife. The sharpened side of the blade would always be up rather than down on the others.

Doesn't seem like a quartermaster draw.

 

[Bro. Dave]

USN knife by Pal

I hope it isn't bad form to piggyback on to this thread, but it made me remember an old knife I have. It has a metal sheath.


It has the "U.S.N." "Mark I" on one side and "RH -35" with an oval in between that says " PAL Made in USA




This knife was in my father-in-law's toolbox when he died and no other family member had any interest in it at all. I feigned disinterest, but grabbed it quickly.
Any information will be more than I have (although I haven't googled yet).

 

[otis24]

I hope it isn't bad form to piggyback on to this thread, but it made me remember an old knife I have. It has a metal sheath.
View attachment 465279

It has the "U.S.N." "Mark I" on one side and "RH -35" with an oval in between that says " PAL Made in USA

View attachment 465280
View attachment 465281

This knife was in my father-in-law's toolbox when he died and no other family member had any interest in it at all. I feigned disinterest, but grabbed it quickly.
Any information will be more than I have (although I haven't googled yet).

There are several Facebook pages dedicated to various knife enthusiasts. Try Vintage Knife Trader on FB

 

[Retired W4]

[QUOTE=Jack Flash;140864169]Sure, a whole tool truck would be great to have. While you're at it, throw in a couple of trailers full of spare parts, nuts and bolts, and don't forget coffee and donuts!

But that ignores the haphazard and chaotic conditions encountered during warfare. Guys found themselves having to do all sorts of jobs with only the tools they had on them. In such situations, the 225 Q was a godsend.[/QUOTE]

One, not all, reason the duck bill was replaced by the bird cage on the M-16 was too many guys were popping metal bands on c-rat cases and other things. The main reason given was the "wait a minute vines". Too bad. The duck bill was a much better flash suppressor.

My second 225Q came to me in an old Randall sheath. Now that's the money shot. It is amazing the edge the 225 Q takes. Both are really sharp, and tough. I guess I'll have to take a picture.

 

[bamacisa]

bamacisa

Shortly after WW2, I lived in Meridian, Mississippi. There was a
Western Auto store there and it had the boxes full of new knives that were war surplus. My dad bought two brand new 225Q knives for $2.00 each. I still have both knives. At the time, I did not know anything about them. They are still in good used condition.

 

[ejr10mm]

Really cool. I have a Ka-bar, one of the newer ones. Got it like 20 years ago when I was a teen. Goes with me on every camping trip and just last week used it to open a can of beans. Scratched some of the black paint off the blade, but thats ok I got the beans open and now it has more character.

 

[Retired W4]

$2.00!! I have a book that has lots of old Cattaraugus ads. They were heavy into marketing, as were other manufacturers in those days.

 

[otis24]

Just won another very nice Cattaraugus on eBay for $76 shipped. Looks to be in great shape but the leather sheath is tattered and dry rotted.

 

[Onomea]

Does anybody know where I can get a sheath for mine?

I would like to carry on my belt when camping. A correct sheath would be nice, but anything that works would be ok.

This craftsman, Kaleb, restored my father's Cattaraugus 225Q sheath very nicely. He makes various sheathes, does good work, and is reasonable: Muskrat Man Knives Home

I see Kaleb has a separate site for leather work now: Possum Hollow Trading - Member Gallery - Leatherworker.net