The Knife Thread.....

[soundmotor]

A vintage Japanese made survival knife.

It's like a MK2 mated with a Jet Pilot knife, I like it.

Probably 70s, the Japanese long knives from this period though are hit or miss. They used good steel but sometimes the temper is way off. They can bend at the tang when that happens. You can easily do it with your thumbs. Also the finish is usually blued or black oxide and not robust. They tend to get rusty if they weren't kept well. That one doesn't look bad though. I'd wipe some penetrating oil on it and saddle soap the leather handle too. If the temper is OK, that's a good usable knife.

 

[Mystic]

It's like a MK2 mated with a Jet Pilot knife, I like it.

I'll second that opinion and add that there's even a hint of CASE V-44 @ the blade element.

 

[misterj]

New knife!

It has a bronzed damascus blade.

 

[Eric n Kc]

Hey,
Wow, that Damascus blade Is cool. It's probably above my pay grade but you got any info on it? Eric

 

[misterj]

There isn't much info on the blade unfortunately.
Chris reeve didn't make the blade, but is a bronzed Spirograph Damascus.
The knife cost more than my stereo...

 

[soundmotor]

Let's get this one back on track again -

My first knife, I got it with Green Stamps I begged my mom to save. I think it took 3 books. I would have been 10/11 YO when I got it, 40+ years ago. It is a West-Cut K5. West-Cut was a sub-brand of Western. Similar pattern to Western but just enough detail differences to be sold outside the regular Western dealerbase. I lost this knife once on a downhill hike down to Lake Shasta through scree and rotted stone. It took a couple hours but I finally found it. Glad I hung in as I clearly recall the day I got it and that my mom took me to get it -

 

[soundmotor]

CASE XX 316 foreground and 365 background. When I hike now I usually carry the 316. It is so light I forget I have it.

 

[soundmotor]

CASE 223-5 foreground and 323-6 background. These are great knives, the 223 especially so. The 5 & 6 suffix refer to blade length in inches -

 

[soundmotor]

Early 80s EDGE Co. tanto from Taiwan. This is the sharpest knife I've ever owned, an absolute razor. It is beautifully made too and nearly 12" OAL -

 

[soundmotor]

Other end of the spectrum, 80s Tactical Tanto Lite w/ Diecast Handle(s) from Japan w/ box. Die Commie Scum!

My tanto phase ended as quickly as it started, I just have these 2 -

 

[soundmotor]

(2) Gerber Guardian I daggers by Loveless. I bought the one in the foreground new in ~83. The background one I found at a flea market last summer. The Guardian series had 3 knives in it, the 0, 1, & 2. The 1 was only made for a couple years and then discontinued. I think it is the nicest of the 3 -

 

[soundmotor]

I just bought this in Montreal. It is a 1950s Ruko made in Solingen Germany and a classic Holbein pattern dagger. The sheath is a gas, usually they are plain black. Knife is close to mint with factory edge. I believe it spent most of its life in the sheath. Canadian $ to US $ was 1.33:1 in October so this knife was under $30 when all said & done -

 

[xero-D-hero]

(2) Gerber Guardian I daggers by Loveless. I bought the one in the foreground new in ~83. The background one I found at a flea market last summer. The Guardian series had 3 knives in it, the 0, 1, & 2. The 1 was only made for a couple years and then discontinued. I think it is the nicest of the 3 -

Have a Guardian back-up I like a lot,it usually lives right next to my monitor on my computer desk.

Those look to be much nicer though,thanks for posting them.

Bret P.

 

[soundmotor]

Applegate-Fairbairn fighter, 1980s by Al Mar. This is the first version with green handle, later ones are black. They did not make many in green. Nothing definitive but I've seen mention of less than 200 but no one really knows. Either version is rare. This one is mint with factory edge. The only issue is schmutz from long storage in sheath -

 

[soundmotor]

3 "Coke Bottle" and one standard Folding Hunter, top 2 are Ka-Bar, bottom is a Colonial. Before I got the Colonial I had no idea they even made that style. It is pre-WW2 with wild green celluloid scales and fish tool. The top Ka-Bar is mint, the middle one used but with a full blade; the only way to buy a knife. Second pic is another Ka-Bar Folding Hunter, 2-blades w/ pouch. This is a common pattern and you will find them from Schrade, Frontier, & Craftsman marked also. Quality is high on every US made one I've handled. Found this knife at one yard sale and the Ka-Bar stamped pouch at another a year later, life is odd. All of these knives have a hard snap and you can do serious cutting with them as long as you are mindful that they are slipjoints. They were meant to do the work of a fixed blade knife in the field -

 

[soundmotor]

1960/70s Western Trapper S-693 C liner lock, a real odd duck. Did not know Western made any lock-blade folders before I got it. Discovered most C versions have a raccoon etched on the blade but this one is clean like the earlier A version. It uses the same style lock as a TL29 lineman's knife for the screwdriver/stripper tool. It has composition scales and solid nickel bolsters along with a mirror polish. Knife is mint overall, ~8" OAL, $1 box purchase at a yard sale -

 

[soundmotor]

With few exceptions above, most of my knives were flea market & yard sale buys. Nothing I like more on the weekend than getting out early to hunt.

New England is fertile ground with a long hunting & outdoor tradition. As diligent as I am, I barely scratch the surface. Once in awhile I stumble across some audio gear too.

 

[Christian B]

Your West-Cut-5 reminded me of my little KA-BAR, so I dug it out and took a picture. It has seldom left the original sheath, and has a beautiful factory edge. Belonged to my Dad, and will eventually go to my grandson.

 

[MaxxVolume]

Back when Gerber was a REAL knife company (like pre-1985), they had some nice offerings, especially on the tactical side. This Guardian is from the first production run (3-digit serial #), complete with the optional hideaway sheath option.

 

[MaxxVolume]

Another Gerber tactical number, from 1980-ish....