WWII Commando Knife

[WaMike]

This is an interesting thread and has photos of some gorgeous knives (the ivory-handled Randall is the purtiest, of course).

Fortunately, I've never been faced with the dilemma of whether or not to carry a knife designed better for stabbing or cutting.

However, for many years, I carried several knives for daily use in two different armed services and for pure utilitarian use, my knife must have a handle that isn't slippery when wet. The reasons are obvious.

Also....having dulled many well-honed fixed blade knives to the point they were unusable until re-sharpened....I came to the conclusion that my main knife must have at least half the blade (on either side) serrated. Cutting thick poly ropes/lines quickly and/or in an emergency with one's fine hunting/fighting knife can be an exercise in futility.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

This one is my favorite WWII knife the V-44 "just edges out the M-3!". Originally used by the Army Air Corps as a survival knife it was adopted for use by the Marine Raiders. This one was made by Clollins & Co. with its original scabbard. As was said, now this, is a knife!

 

[old bear]

Here is a Randall i owned for a little while.
Museum grade Ivory handle.
It would do in a pinch.

"It would do in a pinch."

Chuck, you've always had a way with words, ya smooth talking devil

 

[BubbaBlades]

http://smith-wessonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=215965&stc=1&d=1447887018

Sometimes a do-it-your-self design works best. The brass handle from a 1918 trench knife (repro) attached to a USA made Cold Steel blade is my design for a combat knife.

Mark aka BubbaBlades

 

[BigBill]

I just gave my son my brothers K-bar, since he passed away his misses gave me all his guns/knives/hunting stuff for my two sons. The K-bar is a nice knife.

 

[Texas Star]

I think this is the one you were talking about. Majors Bong and McGuire.
And thats a Mdl 14 in my avatar.

Thanks, Jim. That's the right photo! I THINK that's a seven-inch blade.


There's a pic of Errol Flynn aboard his yacht, wearing one that is either a six or seven inch one, probably also a Model 1 in the old Heiser sheath that curves some, as in the pic of Bong.

You can see the strap to Bong's shoulder holster there, but there are other pics that show it better.

Used to be, many wartime photos showed officers, even generals, wearing pistols. I guess the current PC nonsense makes it improper to wear them openly. Disgusting. BTW, I saw the newest Medal of Honor recepient on Colbert's show last week and he mentioned drawing his pistol in Afghanistan after a bomber blew himself up and the blast threw this captain some distance. He woke, couldn't see his rifle, and drew his pistol and crawled to cover. This in spite of seeing damage to a leg that he thought would cause it to be amputated. I suspect that he was half in shock. That blast killed several other Americans. They showed three majors and a command sgt major. A good score for the suicide bomber!

 

[Texas Star]

I have a question.

I own a Cold Steel R1 Military Classic.

Looks to me to be a copy of a Randall #1. Probably why the model number is R1.

It has a micarta handle, and it's as slick as greased owl snot.

Any suggestions as to how to make it easier to hold on to? I've been considering skateboard tape.

I agree about the Cold Steel R-1. I had one, but I hate that deep dip in the spine ahead of the guard. I even ordered a knife from Randall made on a Model 5 blade blank to avoid it. The R-1 is otherwise an outstanding over the counter knife.

Did you read my post where I showed links to see the M-30A-1 Gryphon or check the Fallkniven site? Their handles won't slip. Just look at the effort that Robert Terzuola made to ensure a non-slip handle on the Gryphon. Very well thought out and accomplished. The Fallknivens with black Kraton and Thermorun handles also won't slip. Some have Micarta or leather handles.

I've never found the Randall Micarta handles too slick, but if bloody, I guess they might be. Maybe you could tape it if preparing for a wet hunt? If this is a real problem for you, Buck handles are even more slick when wet or bloody or with fish slime on them. I'm always extra careful with them or the Canadian Grohmann-Russell knives.

Most Swiss Army knives have slick plastic handles. Some of the larger ones use checkered plastic. I have one of the former German Army ones that's checkered. The Alox handles are also checkered. No matter which sheath knife I wear, I always have a SAK, too. My son prefers a multi-tool. He does wear a lockblade belt knife in town, and used it on a big coydog that attacked him one night.

 

[Texas Star]

This one is my favorite WWII knife the V-44 "just edges out the M-3!". Originally used by the Army Air Corps as a survival knife it was adopted for use by the Marine Raiders. This one was made by Clollins & Co. with its original scabbard. As was said, now this, is a knife!

That is one of the better preserved sheaths I've seen for this well known Collins No. 18. Collins made a very wide range of machetes, and some copies are still made.

The real Collins company went out of business about 1965-66. The late knifemaker D.E. Henry wrote a pretty good book about the company.

I understand that nature TV man Stan Brock wore a Collins No. 18 in some of his shows. I don't know if he ever needed to use it on those animals he wrestled.

These TV nature guys take some awful chances. One got tagged by a cobra and was lucky that he was near a hospital with antivenin.

 

[jlrhiner]

The micarta handle on my 14 gets tackier as you get it wet. My only thought would be to hit it with some 0000 steel wool for a slight buffing to scuff it up some. I fit the finger grooves to my hand by chucking the blade in a vise and rubbing the handle with my hand with steel wool in it. Started out with 00, finished with 0000. Picking it up is like putting on a glove.

 

[Kitgun]

Randall No. 2 fighting knife is based on Fairbairn Sykes design just more robust.

 

[chud333]

Looks like Gen. Westmoreland's Randall. I think it'd look better with the optional nickel silver guard/hilt and I ordered the aluminum butt cap on mine and had that drilled for a wrist thong. Handle was white Micarta, more durable than real ivory. But you had a nice knife there. Westmoreland's looked just like yours: no butt cap on the white handle. I've seen a couple of pics of him wearing it in Vietnam.

I wouldn't wear it in battle, as the white handle and reflective guard may attract enemy attention. But if the knife is legal for carry where you live, it's a great outdoorsman's item.

BTW, I saw a photo of Maj. Gen. Gavin in a battle zone in WWII and his Randall had the standard leather handle with aluminum pommel. I couldn't be sure whether he had the seven or eight-inch blade. Fighter ace Maj. Richard Bong, MH (40 credited kills from P-38's) had an eight inch blade on
his Model 1, I think. Can someone post that photo of him wearing the knife prominently, talking to another officer? Been awhile since I saw the pic, but I think the other guy is Maj. Tom McGuire, the runner-up ace, with 38 confirmed kills, also from P-38's, against Japan. Yes, he's the one for whom McGuire AFB, NJ is named. That's where I processed out of the USAF. Probably the best thing about NJ, heh!

Both Bong and Gavin wore the knives on their belts, as did Gavin his .45. Bong wore a shoulder holster. BTW, Gen. Gavin also carried an M-1 Garand rifle. He meant to be able to participate in the battle if needed, and didn't want the puny .30 carbine. Also, a full size rifle might make an enemy sniper mistake him for an enlisted man and hold fire, hoping for a higher value target, I suspect.

Texas Star;
Here ya' go plus one.



The second photo looks like he might be fixin' to gut McArthur.... Harhar


Chuck

 

[Muss Muggins]

When you grip the knife, Your fingers are supposed to roll into the grooves.
When I grip my knife, the palm of my left hand are over the grooves.
I custom ordered this knife from Orlando, I expect that if I had asked for Lefthand grooves I would have gotten them.

I'd like to see a picture of that. Sounds like your finger grooves are on the side of the handle, instead of aligned with the cutting edge.

If I put the palm of my left hand (or right hand for that matter) on the finger grooves of my Model 15 Airman and hold my arm straight out with the blade pointing up, I'm staring at the slab side of the blade.

 

[clang444]

The thing about a combat knife is they are supposed to be cheap enough for the average grunt to purchase and actually carry and use in the field. I picked up the Gerber Command II for about $15 at a pawn shop outside Ft Leonard Wood in the early 80s. The Mark II came later:

The Command series came out because all the grief Gerber was getting about selling an evil looking combat knife (the Mark II). The Command was actually a more practical design for field use. I picked up the Mark II many years later just because I wanted one.

I must say that I am now a fan of the tanto design. It wasn't too long ago you could pick up a made in the USA Cold Steel Recon Tanto like the one below for about $40:

They are rock solid but still fairly light and the Tanto blade is a great all purpose design. The Carbon V holds a good edge, but will get rusty around salt water.