U.S.N. Pocket Knife

[el caminero]

As a former sailor, I never heard, or saw such a thing. Sounds like a "sea story" to me.
Of course, my time was almost 50 years ago, so ....

Dad was in during korea, on an apa that had enough room for him to bring his harley to tour hawaii on. He got to korea, felt lucky to never need to go ashore there. Said they were told the blunting was to keep from accidentally poking unwanted holes in things like people and small boats...
several newer than ww2 vintage kabars i have picked up all had poked their points thru the sheaths

 

[bobski]

i still have my TL-29 and TL-30.
and....my error production orange spring loaded survival blade.
they made it wrong. the shroud cutter was suppose to be spring loaded, not the blade. we were instructed to snap off the blades during scheduled maint if we found one.
i didnt have the heart to do it....to one of them.

 

[eveled]

i still have my TL-29 and TL-30.
and....my error production orange spring loaded survival blade.
they made it wrong. the shroud cutter was suppose to be spring loaded, not the blade. we were instructed to snap off the blades during scheduled maint if we found one.
i didnt have the heart to do it....to one of them.

I was under the impression they jumped with the hook open. So it didn’t need to be spring loaded. I have a few of those line cutters that only have the hook. They don’t fold.

 

[jimbo1096]

Mine I used to take with me when going fishing and some how got the hook broken

 

[el caminero]

i still have my TL-29 and TL-30.
and....my error production orange spring loaded survival blade.
they made it wrong. the shroud cutter was suppose to be spring loaded, not the blade. we were instructed to snap off the blades during scheduled maint if we found one.
i didnt have the heart to do it....to one of them.

Googol has a number of things "tl-30", none of which ai admits are knives. A tl29 was always in the toolbox and now among other things in my go bag since i started driving for money. Dad was "Sparks" onboard, once they finally gave him a boat; they always had something for him to fix and dident want to see him go away. my third knife was one of his tl29s. Mine havent seen much carry or use since i got my first (early model) leatherman...i think i used it twice last year

 

[usmc69]

Here are my USN pocket knives. The bottom one was not issued to my knowledge but could have been bought on base

View attachment 86436

The bottom one was an issue item. Have several from my time in service. Some are dated on the blade.

 

[eveled]

The bottom one was an issue item. Have several from my time in service. Some are dated on the blade.

Thanks for your service.

Just for clarification, yours were issued and are marked USN?

The consensus has always been the ones marked US were issued. The ones marked for specific branches were not.

Blank ones were made for Canada.

 

[WAYNO]

Here's a Camillus, Army TL-29 . Back in the day, I truly don't remember if they were all stamped US, as this one is not. And although this is often issued and referred to as an electricians knife, it was issued to helicopter mechanics.

 

[eveled]

Nice knife.

No those weren’t stamped US. some were stamped TL-29 some weren’t.

Sometimes the TL-29 came in a pouch with pliers.

 

[bobski]

the orange snapping blade survival knife was issued for use in the SV2 pilots survival vest. it sat in front of the radio pouch. when used, the hook blade would snap open. but, the makers sold it with the main blade snapping open.
the whole thing was dropped when they decided to make a fixed hook blade knife built on a rubber flex handle, that was inserted in the pouch with a yellow tab sewn to the back of the handle and protruding from the pouch, for easy identification and access.

 

[bobski]

i know im preeching to the choir if i was to say......how many countless launches have been saved using a TL29 on deck.

 

[redfernclan]

In the mid 80's, you could have folding knives, but no sheath knives with fixed blades EXCEPT during a unrep, then you were allowed to carry one. Could and probably has saved someone's life.

 

[Watertender]

This is a KaBar Mark 1 with a Kraton handle marked USN. It's an updated version of the original KaBar Mark 1 issued during WW2.
My grandfather on my mother's side had one that grew feet many years ago. His had the stacked leather washer handle.

 

[eveled]

That’s a great knife!

USN MKI’s are my favorite knife by far. My Dad had one he loved made by PAL.

That is what started my collection of USN knives.

 

[usmc69]

Thanks for your service.

Just for clarification, yours were issued and are marked USN?

The consensus has always been the ones marked US were issued. The ones marked for specific branches were not.

Blank ones were made for Canada.

Sorry, I looked at the icture and missed seeing the "N" in the "USN". I have several marked U.S. that were issued to me. Also have three that are marked "U.S.Marine Corps" fro WW II. As an aside the TL (black handled or silver) are no longer an individual issue item in this era of positive tool control. Years ago we would get boxes of them in to hand out to our technicans. I have five of them stuck away in my tool box.

 

[eveled]

No need to apologize. You verified what I thought to be true. Thank you

The ones with U.S. MARINE CORPS spelled out. Had Monel handles and carbon steel blades. They are WWII issued and were made by KINGSTON

TL-29’s were in every handy mans kit back in the day. Such a classic design. I must have a dozen and never bought one.

 

[usmc69]

No need to apologize. You verified what I thought to be true. Thank youView attachment 87033

The ones with U.S. MARINE CORPS spelled out. Had Monel handles and carbon steel blades. They are WWII issued and were made by KINGSTON

TL-29’s were in every handy mans kit back in the day. Such a classic design. I must have a dozen and never bought one.

I had five of the U.S.Marine Corps marked TL's. Down to three, gave two to friends that are Jarheads.

 

[eveled]

I bet they appreciated the gift.

 

[Killer Bee]

I've got a few .mil issue folders somewheres around..

but I ran across this USN MK2 over the weekend

found it in the quonset hut when I was a young teenager

leather wraps were all disintegrated so I fashioned a wood handle for it

40 years later, still tight and ready to fight!

 

[John Andrews]

They started making that model just before the war. The split can opener and real bone scales were gone by the end of the war.

I don’t have an exact year, just general knowledge of military pocket knives.

I think they all have brass liners, which is an indicator they are early war. Brass became too important for ammo to use for pocket knives.

Yours looks unused just a little patina. It’s a nice knife.

If I have time later I will look in my books for more info.

Here are my USN pocket knives. The bottom one was not issued to my knowledge but could have been bought on base

View attachment 86436

I often wondered why the sailors couldn’t have an awl. But I can see were a Corpsman would find it useful.

I’ve always liked Camillus knives they are high quality solid knives. They were not high end though. They were the lowest bidders and made a lot of contract knives.

I have one like the bottom one, all metal and I got it for $1 at a yard sale.

 

[John Andrews]

A lot of knives have that blood groove and it is proven to not do a thing.

 

[el caminero]

A lot of knives have that blood groove and it is proven to not do a thing.

It is a "fuller's groove", for lightening the blade without substantially weakening it. Like flutes on a rifled barrel.

 

[John Andrews]

It is a "fuller's groove", for lightening the blade without substantially weakening it. Like flutes on a rifled barrel.

Many folks considered the "blood" groove to make it easier and quicker to remove the blade from a body, an old popular idea.

 

[el caminero]

Many folks considered the "blood" groove to make it easier and quicker to remove the blade from a body, an old popular idea.

Guys have told me it makes it easier to hold the knife for throwing, but i never saw it do any good except at the specific distances they practice at. More or less distance, and it dosent work.

 

[Joe Chartreuse]

Made by Camillus, I believe, and, not including the handle material, is a duplicate to my old Cub Scout knife, also made by them. Dark Blue, and still have it.