I found this nice vintage custom-made fixed blade hunting knife

[JGalt]

Rummaging through Goodwill last week I came across three old fixed blade knives for $3.99 apiece. Two of them were a 4-1/4" and a 3" bladed Western Cutlery of Boulder, Colorado with the leather sheaths. They're not particularly unusual, worth only $30 - $50 on Ebay. The third one was an 8-1/4" long custom-made fixed blade knife with a heavy carbon steel 4-1/4" blade. It has a leather and brass washer handle on the tang with a piece of genuine bone on the handle. The knife has no manufacturer's or maker's markings on it, and AI couldn't identify it.

Unfortunately a little less than a quarter inch was broken off at the tip when I found it. I took it to a guy who has a sharpening shop in town and he reground the tip for me. He only charged $5 for sharpening it, and an extra two dollars for regrinding the tip. The knife was probably made anywhere from the 1930's to the 1950's. I'm probably going to keep this one because I like the weight of it.

 

[Chuz Life]

Rummaging through Goodwill last week I came across three old fixed blade knives for $3.99 apiece. Two of them were a 4-1/4" and a 3" bladed Western Cutlery of Boulder, Colorado with the leather sheaths. They're not particularly unusual, worth only $30 - $50 on Ebay. The third one was an 8-1/4" long custom-made fixed blade knife with a heavy carbon steel 4-1/4" blade. It has a leather and brass washer handle on the tang with a piece of genuine bone on the handle. The knife has no manufacturer's or maker's markings on it, and AI couldn't identify it.

Unfortunately a little less than a quarter inch was broken off at the tip when I found it. I took it to a guy who has a sharpening shop in town and he reground the tip for me. He only charged $5 for sharpening it, and an extra two dollars for regrinding the tip. The knife was probably made anywhere from the 1930's to the 1950's. I'm probably going to keep this one because I like the weight of it.

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My father left me an old "Case" knife that looks a lot like this (same leather ring pieces handle - minus the bone section) It's rotted and falling apart. This knife gives me a great idea for a restoration.

 

[JGalt]

My father left me an old "Case" knife that looks a lot like this (same leather ring pieces handle - minus the bone section) It's rotted and falling apart. This knife gives me a great idea for a restoration.

Leather washers have always been popular for making the handles. There are some pretty good Youtube videos on how to restore them using new washers.

 

[Chuz Life]

Leather washers have always been popular for making the handles. There are some pretty good Youtube videos on how to restore them using new washers.

I'll share a picture of my dad's knife.

 

[Chuz Life]

JGalt. It's funny how the mind plays tricks. Dad's knife looks different from how I remembered it but I think I mixed several images in my mind.

Here are some of his knives. Two of them I brought back from the Marines. An airforce survival knife and a "bolo" from the Philippines.

Maybe I have just misplaced the case knife, too.

 

[1srelluc]

Looks like a unmarked Japanese (post war) made knife.....The Japs used very good steel. If it is you have a damn good blade and the blade profile is very useful.

The pommel looks very Cattaraugus lookin' but their knives were plainly and deeply marked.

The Germans made a bunch of bone and leather hunting knives but they were also usually plainly marked.

 

[JGalt]

JGalt. It's funny how the mind plays tricks. Dad's knife looks different from how I remembered it but I think I mixed several images in my mind.

Here are some of his knives. Two of them I brought back from the Marines. An airforce survival knife and a "bolo" from the Philippines.

Maybe I have just misplaced the case knife, too.

Nice-looking knives! Is the USAF one is an early Camillus? It should have a date on the pommel.

I have a newer-made one somewhere around here.

 

[1srelluc]

Nice-looking knives! Is the USAF one is an early Camillus? It should have a date on the pommel.

I have a newer-made one somewhere around here.

I used to collect the Vietnam era dated ones......I had a bunch of them at one time but I ended-up selling all but a couple off when the prices shot up to around $100.00.

One of the ones I kept had a magnesium bar in the pouch instead of a stone.....Made a lot more sense really.

The other one was in a US sage green nylon pouch with a leather insert (no stone) that attached to a piolet's survival vest....It also had a flare "pen gun" and a few flares.

Sorta like this arrangement but with a flap that covered the whole thing and it was detachable.

 

[luiza]

Nice-looking knives! Is the USAF one is an early Camillus? It should have a date on the pommel.

I have a newer-made one somewhere around here.

Exactly why you would make such a great attraction in our Zoo back at LLs Lovely Garden Retreat .

We need examples of primitive man in natural surroundings --- we have perfect US country simulations -- and we will feature you versus Bison , wild Bulls and Mountain lions .
Possibly re-stocking our Estate Lake with Crocodiles .

 

[Chuz Life]

Nice-looking knives! Is the USAF one is an early Camillus? It should have a date on the pommel.

I have a newer-made one somewhere around here.

I'll look again but I didn't see any markings when I took the pictures.

 

[JGalt]

I'll look again but I didn't see any markings when I took the pictures.

You're looks like a very early one, possibly from the 1950's.


"AI Overview

No, not all USAF (United States Air Force) survival knives were marked with a date
. While date stamping became a common feature for many years, it was not universal across all manufacturers or production periods.
Here is the breakdown of markings on the standard Pilot Survival Knife (often referred to as the "Jet Pilot Knife"):

• Early Models (1957–1962): These typically featured a 6-inch blade with manufacturer markings on the ricasso (the flat part of the blade just above the handle) but were generally not dated.
• Transition Era (1962–1966): The blade was shortened to 5 inches, and manufacturer markings remained on the blade, generally without a date.
• The Date Stamping Period (1967–1980s+): Starting roughly in January 1967, date-stamping (month-year) became standard, usually located on the hexagonal pommel (butt cap) rather than the blade.
• Exceptions and Variations:
  • No Markings: Some government-issued survival knives were produced without any markings to avoid revealing the identity of the user if captured, a practice often called "sterile".
  • Pommel Omissions: Occasionally, manufacturers (like Camillus) outsourced the production of the pommel, resulting in some knives skipping the date stamp while still being authentic government issue.
  • Commercial/Civilian Models: Some commercial versions sold by contractors like Camillus may differ from military contract specifications regarding stamps.

Therefore, while a pommel stamp like "3-1967" is very common for Vietnam-era knives, it is not a defining characteristic of all USAF survival knives. "

 

[toobfreak]

Rummaging through Goodwill last week I came across three old fixed blade knives for $3.99 apiece.

Offhand, they look like homemade knifes some blacksmith forged and made himself. Forged the steel and made the handles. That looks like very good steel. I bet they clean up very nicely.

 

[Invisibleflash]

That is very nice, bub. But in SHTFF you need something actually useful.
When it comes to SHTFF knives, generally speaking a tanto point and a part serrated blade is best. Benchmade makes a Barrage model with spring assist opening. A light flick on the thumb stud and it fires open. Kinda a half-ass switchblade, but not exactly a switchblade. They have a large full size Barrage folder and a smaller mini-Barrage. I have to use both designs. In the winter the long coat sleeves hang down over my wrist. The full-size knife fouls in my coat sleeve when I try to deploy it. I use the large size for edc with no coats or for windbreakers that won't foul the opening. In winter I used the mini-Barrage that stays clear of the coat sleeves.

The part serrated blade is very important. There are many things you will try to cut with a non-serrated blade that the knife just won't cut. Nylon zip ties are just one example that the serrated blade will cut, and the non-serrated blade won't cut. The tanto point is a great stabber if you ever need it for that purpose. Benchmade comes in all sorts of configurations. Some of these designs I mention may be discontinued. So, look on eBay. Plus, you can save 40% - 60% buying used knives. Benchmade knives are generally excellent quality but are overpriced. But...a lot of the Benchmade knives on eBay are fake. Be careful. I got taken a few times ending up with fake Benchmade knives I bought on eBay.

If you want a fair priced fixed blade SHTFF knife, check out the SOG Seal Strike Fixed Blade Knife...about $75. SOG also makes an assisted opening Flash folder for $60. It looks good, but some users have reported issues. Much better to go with a used Benchmade if you are on a tight budget. I've used Benchmade assisted opening knives since 2009 and never an issue.

I left NYC when covid hit. The knife laws in NYC made it illegal to carry a knife that can be opened in any way with one hand. Shake it, spring assist, thumb stud or any way whatsoever. Also, knives have to be concealed. Nothing showing of the knife. You check it out. The laws may have changed...or not. I haven't kept up with their crazy knife laws. I never, ever want to go back to NYC, even for a visit. Besides knives, NJ and NYC also have different pepper spray laws. Lots of legal issues there just from crossing the border between states. Point is, check out the knife laws in your state.