Not only do I like firearms, I am a wannabe knife guy too.

[65-2x2]

Guns and knives would put me in a lot of people's "psycho" category, but so be it.

Especially knives from the WWII era. I don't fight for the high-end collectables, but prefer knives with some honest use. If they happened to be personalized by a serviceman, all the better. Of course on the knife sales sites these are all listied as "fighting knives" when the truth be known, the most fighting most of them ever did was fighting their way into a C-rat, or carving a toenail or whittling a tent peg. If a trooper was down to having to use a blade in combat, he was in really deep trouble.

The new knives, made of the super-steels don't appeal to me; 1095 carbon steel was good enough then and it is good enough today. If there has ever been a better, tougher, fixed blade than one of the "Quartermaster" knives, or a more convenient and useful blade than a Mk. 1, it hasn't been proven to me.

These are all WWII period knives. Some government issue, some private purchase. I have been able to track down the original owners of a couple of them, and it makes for interesting reading. There is a Western fixed blade, a private purchase knife, in the mix owned by a sailor who survived two ship sinkings early in the war.

 

[FatDogEarl]

I'm a knife guy and that's a really nice collection. Keep at it

 

[Rustyt1953]

I have never ventured into knife collecting. Anything that needs cutting or opening falls to my Chinese S&W switchblade or my trusty P38.

My oldest grandson is a serious collector. Albeit he only has a little over 30.

After I posted a thread about his first knife he bought with his own money at Kentucky Knife Works the forum flood gates opened.

Beautiful, collectable, some vintage and some with great worth were sent his way.

The first members to pitch in were pawngal and Kevin (wood714).

There are many kind hearted and giving members here.

This a great place.

 

[silicosys4]

That's pretty neat, I have a Case M3 straight guard with a name and personel number on the sheath but I've never been able to track down the owner

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Nice collection!
Back in War Two, the Gov cut the Wild Goose and instructed the Knife Makers to make and deliver knives.
Mucho Pronto! That resulted in the largest number and different variations of Military Knives we have ever had, before or since.
Then we had a null - dead zone of Military Blades for a long time.
In my Puppy Dog days, we had the Orange Switchers but the Survival Kit Knives were standard commercial blades.
I’ve told the tale about sharpening the Marbles at Survival School.
And by all means get some books if possible.
Any and all by Cole.
And ‘Military Knives A Reference Book.’
And when we got going with some new Aircrew Blades- the Navy Knife on top, made by Marble lead the way.
Then the blade was shortened, knives for all my Friends!
Knife on bottom is my personal issued knife that I carried in SEA.

 

[Tazman11]

They go together perfectly.

 

[Retired W4]

I was helping with a friend's table at The Blade Show Friday and that show (the largest in the world) can blow a collectors mind. Overwhelming would be a good discription. I did not buy anything but I did sell 4 knives. That did not put much of a dent in my accumulation. Saw some Chris Reeve hollow handle knives but they were all 2Gs-4Gs.

 

[holo]

I like knives

 

[John_M52]

View attachment 765805They go together perfectly.

View attachment 765804

I only own one Randall. Never used it....

 

[lihpster]

When I was a kid, my father had 2 Mk 1s with the plastic scabbards that were marked U.S. Navy. Sometime in the 10 lustrums since, they disappeared. Might have to pick one up sometime.

 

[nra jim]

I enjoy knives in all their varieties, I have a half dozen Kershaw, CRKT, Buck folders for my daily carry and several fixed blades- Benchmade, Cold steel bit my favorites have to be the unique ones I receive from family and friends like my Kukri from Nepal or the Dirk my granddaughter got for me last Christmas made by an old friend with 178 layer Damascus .

 

[Onomea]

There's something about a knife..

Something so elemental, or basic. When I see one I immediately evaluate its potential. If I can, I like to pick it up and see how it feels. Maybe check the edge on my thumb. A good knife immediately stands out, but even a very low end, mass produced, inexpensive knife, kitchen or otherwise, commands my interest immediately.

There's just something about a knife that appeals to me whenever I encounter one.

Our most basic tool. We use it to prepare our dinner, cut our meat, clean up our gardens or campsites, eviscerate and skin game, or, as a weapon. Myriad uses.

The difference between being barehanded, and having a knife in hand, is profound, whatever our environment, our purpose, or our walk in life.

 

[Rustyt1953]

When I was a kid, my father had 2 Mk 1s with the plastic scabbards that were marked U.S. Navy. Sometime in the 10 lustrums since, they disappeared. Might have to pick one up sometime.

Phil, you should tell about the native ritual knife you gave to Logan and the history and connection you had with it.

 

[Rudi]

I like knives too, and they never runout of ammo.

 

[lihpster]

Phil, you should tell about the native ritual knife you gave to Logan and the history and connection you had with it.

Well, I wouldn't say it was a ritual knife, per se, but it was definitely made to make the items used in rituals.
The knife in question is known as a crooked knife. It is what it sounds, a knife with a bend in the blade. It is used for carving. Specifically, for carving concave shapes, like a bowl or a mask out of wood. These were popular trade items for the natives in this area as they did a lot of carving and crafts in general seemed to be a mainstay, both for trade and for something to do when the damn salmon aren't running.
My father was friends with Chief Don Lelooska, an honorary Chief of the Kwakiutl tribe. According to my father and mother, the whole family were amazing artists. They set up a center, where they would do the ceremonies for the public, using the ceremonial masks they had created. These masks were usually to represent one of the animals or one of the great spirits. Sadly, Don has passed, but the family still carries on his legacy and art.
My father came into possession of the knife. I don't know if he bought it or it was a gift, but I do know it was made by Don's brother. The blade itself is a standard example of a simple trade crooked knife, which came without a handle. This one has either a deer or elk handle with a crown end. On that end a carving was made of a face and if I remember right, a shiny thing was placed as the eye. Beautiful work, and definitely museum quality.
Now my father never used it as a knife, he just put it on a shelf and admired it. Shelf queen? Anyway, when he passed it came to me. I was never gonna use it and my sentimental attachment to it wasn't like his was. I have more attachment to the things he made, rather than just owned. So, it would just sit on that shelf and very occasionally be admired for 5 seconds. Nope, it deserves better. Then I join this forum. One of the members I meet here seems to be a cool, stand-up guy that seems to keep things on the positive. I don't know about non-gingers named Rusty, but I'll let it slide.
Anyway, I hear his grandson is starting a knife collection and other members were sending knives to help him get started, I thought, "Perfect! I'll bet he don't have one of these yet!" So, I wrote a letter, basically saying the same things I just typed, and took that, the knife and a book on the Lelooskas and shipped it off to Logan.
It makes me smile to know that it's with someone who will treasure it as part of HIS collection. It deserves to be loved. And knowing I put a smile on Logans face is a warm, fuzzy feeling.

 

[65-2x2]

My father is responsible for my knife fettish. He gave me my first knife when I was about six years old. My mother about had a heart attack over it. The knife came with a long list of rules, that I knew, if violated, would end in permanent confiscation. I remember the knife and it must have been either an Imperial or Colonial, fixed blade, probably purchased for under a dollar at the time. I wonder if Dad dulled the blade before giving it to me?

If I have my pants on, I will have a decent, sharp knife in my pocket. When I went to school, all of the boys carried their pocket knives, but, in our school, I never saw damage to school property, and certainly never heard of a act of violence committed with a knife among us. I recall, on many occcasions when a teacher would need a cutting instrument and would request to borrow a knife, a dozen hands would go up.

Different days.