Dear Smith and Wesson Forum i have a rather unusal request of my fellow forum members. im looking for information about the Swiss Army Knives that were around during World War II if any of my fellow forum members can help me find out what these knives looked like or they have pictures of one of them i would appreciate it very much if they would share it with me sincerely and respectfully mg357 a proud member of the Smith and Wesson Forum

Everything you could possible want to know about SAK's is here:

SOSAK On Line - Home

It is the Secret Order of the Swiss Army Knife site. Sorry I can't share the secret pass word and hand shake.

Dear Smith and Wesson i have a rather odd question to ask of my fellow forum members. What would be a good pocket knife for a World War II infantryman to carry? any and all help in answering this question would be greatly appreciated sincerely and respectfully mg357 a proud member of the Smith and Wesson Forum

How about a Barlow knife given to him by his grandfather? Barlow knives have been used for a long time, and would still be appropriate for that era.

History of Barlow Knives

http://patentpending.blogs.com/paten...rlow_knif.html

Hi:
I remember "Boy Scout" pocket knifes from that era. They had several different blades (4). Bottle opener, can opener, leather punch, and a regular blade.
Also there were "Navy" survival knifes.
Jimmy

A simple Case, Robeson, or Cammilus jack knife Boyscout stockman or congress. It was not until after the war that the Swiss Army Knife became popular.

__________________
Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

If your looking for American G.I. issue for WW11, These pictured are from a gentlemans collection from another Forum.

These were issued to the various forces.I do not know their make.

One more vote for a Barlow.

One more for Barlow.

History of Barlow Knives

I think it was Camillius [sp] that made a Boy Scout looking knife back in WWII.

I was a Boy Scout, and carried a Boy Scout knife long after I was too old to be a Scout. Now I carry a Swiss Army knife when ever I leave the house.

Having a bottle and can opener is a MUST.

Also I have done the ENTIRE job of gutting, skinning, and butchering, of deer and wild pigs with the standard blade of a Swiss Army pocket knife.

How bout the issue pocket knife, a lot like a boy scout knife with metal handles, or scales. Also the demo knife, a sort of electricians knife with screwdriver blade, wire stripper and regular blade were common. They were issued to engineer troops and easy enough for anyone else to get. My father was a combat engineer in WWII, and kept his demo knife. I still have it somewhere.

I would suggest one of the Swiss Army Knives made by Victorinox or Wenger. They make an incredible variety of pocket knives - all in stainless steel - and several models are issued by European military. Even better would be a multi-tool by the same company.

My father was issued this knife and carried it throughout the Philippine campaign. Pictured with the Nambu he sent back U.S. Mail.

Made by Pal Cutlery.

He also had one of the electrician type knives described by Harrison but it got pocketed by someone while he was working for the phone company after the war.

He's still alive, and gave them to me a couple of years ago.

A real WWII SAK does not look a lot like the modern SAKs. It would have looked more like the original Karl Elsner design.

The top knife in the picture is an Elsner original 1891 Soldiers knife, the one started it all by garnering the Swiss Army contract. I has a main blade for general cutting,, a can opener for rations, a screwdriver for the action bolts of a rifle and a punch. The officers knife got a corkscrew and a second small erasing blade. The knives were given red scales to aid visibility in the snow. In 1909 Elsener then dubbed the line with the trademark "Victoria" after his mother, who died that same year. The -inox suffix was attached in 1921 to designate the newly introduced stainless steel knives. In 1951 Victorinox redesigned the can opener visible on the 5th knife down. So in the attached picture a WWII SAK would look like the 3rd or 4th knife down.

Attached Images

soldier.jpg (124.5 KB, 234 views)

__________________
Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

During the war GIs picked up a few "Offiziersmessers" while in Europe. The GI's had a hard time with the name and it became known at "The Swiss Army Knife". When they brought home those Swiss Army Knives folks went nuts for them and the rest is history.

__________________
Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

The "cool guy" may have had a captured German paratroopers knife, they weren't a switchblade per se, but more of a gravity knife. It was a popular item for those that could obtain one.

Here's a good site for SAKs that should help.

Swiss Army Knives - Accessories - The Swiss Rifles Message Board - Message Board

The pocket knife I was issued by the Army had metal sides and several blades similar to a Boy Scout knife. Some GIs called them Electrican's knives, as the same knife was included in a tool kit issued to the Corps of Engineer's for their electricans. I've seen identical knives with U.S.Navy and U.S. Marine Corps stamped on the sides, however i've never seen one that said "U.S.Army" Ed #15

I am 75 years of age. The army pocket knives that I remember were stainless steel with flat scales and of the Boy Scout variety mentioned above (standard spear point blade, a combination screw driver and bottle opener, a can opener, and a reamer/awl).

Here is a site with some information, complete with pictures:

U.S. Militaria Forum > Question about WWII US MARINE CORPS Utility Pocket Knives

Dale53