I also picked up another old Camillus that has no dates on it whatsoever. https://majorhykr.com/2018/06/21/a-short-history-of-the-air-force-survival-knife However, because of Marble’s premature manufacturing of the knife before it was awarded a government contract, the rest of the world gained the privilege to own this knife. Boker Plus U.S. Air Force Survival Knife. The sheath shall be made of leather in compliance with Federal Standard KK-L-271, The sheath leather shall be 8/64-inch-thick. The story of this knife seems to begin in 1953, when the DoD announced to private industry their specifications for a standardized survival knife for pilots to interested vendors in Military Specification MIL-K-8662 (16 October 1953). You pull the knife out but drop it. This is a quick look at the Ontario Knife Company 499 Air Force Survival Knife. Can you say more about how Ontario played a role in the Survival Knife’s evolution ? Phil, So far I haven't found any ASEK's ordered by the Air Force, but that doesn't mean they aren't. During WWII, survival knives were issued to aircraft crew, as it was a real possibility that these personnel might be shot down over wilderness or … The knife was probably modified by a previous owner. I recently bought a new Ontario that has 3-11 on the pommel (March 2011 I reckon). I have a MK2 copy that I bought in the US Army AAFES exchange in West Germany in the mid-1980s. The second question that arises concerning some of the features of this knife is the purpose of the two holes in the blade guard. I would love to see a picture of the knife. The knife has been in continuous service with the Department of Defense for over sixty years. What are the unique features of the Air Force Survival Knife, as outlined in the U.S. Government specifications? They needed an effective tool for survival in … With out further adieu I present the Ontario Military Issue Air Force Survival Knife w/Sheath. Their commercial version of the survival knife had a polished blade instead of a subdued or blued blade, brass guard, and polished pommel. The serrated spine was designed to cut through the aluminum skin surrounding the airframes of Korean and Vietnam War-era aircraft. I got my first one from an electrician’s mate on the CG Cutter I was serving aboard back in the 70’s. Thanks for the feedback. It appears that in 2006, Ontario Knife Company became the current vendor to the DoD of the Jet Pilot Survival Knife under the National Stock Number (NSN): 7340-00-098-4327. 1971 marked Camillus 5 inches Jet Pilot Survival knife complete with scabbard. Phillip; Examples of well used I don’t know if it has any markings that would help determine where and when manufactured. The back piece has also been cut-through by the blade over the years, so the metal addition was definitely needed. Thus, the current standards, methods, and procedures were not necessarily applicable to the procurement process that brought this knife into existence. Sure, they were still primarily for fighting, but they could also easily assist with other tasks soldiers might need outside of combat – like basic survival. from Knifecenter.com - The Original and Largest Online Catalog of Cutlery It’s nice to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same old rehashed material. Thanks for your work. The unique design gave the user the ability to strike, stab, and slash enemy combatants with devastating results. As such, this knife was not intended as a frontiersman or bushcraft knife, per se. The sharpening stone shall be fabricated from silicon carbide, grain size 280, hardness P, vitrified bond. Next to Les Stroud, Camillus joined forces with several other so-called Pro Staffers. I’m assuming the knife is an earlier production but, as it’s a 5 inch blade, it has to be after 1961. A new world standard was set with the F1 through attention to important details including technical design, ergonomics and economy. The Mark I is based on the French variety, except i… The design features for this knife came about through various inputs from servicemembers, survivability researchers, and training developers. Another possibility, is that a previous owner modified the knife after it was issued or purchased. Entertaining and informing. US Air Force Pilots Survival Knife. In all other ways, it totally resembles the pilots survival knife distributed to the military in the 1950’s. The current edition of this document is Aerospace Standard SAE-AS-8662. This knife has been around for many years. Also it is not cut to put on a belt. Additionally, the jet age in military aviation increased the number of gear pilots and aircrews had to carry on their flights. Any information is appreciated. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircrew_Survival_Egress_Knife Both products contained a second active ingredient, salicylanilide. The serrated spine on this knife is part of the functional requirements for this knife. Not sure about the pommel stamping. The Boker Plus U.S. Air Force Survival Knife is a good quality knife at a decent price that won’t break your bank. As the development and testing process began to take shape, updates to the original specification documents were published. The Air Force Survival Knife has had a storied, yet obscure, history. The ASEK, made by Ontario, was adopted after trials by United States Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center in Natick, Massachusetts. The US Air Force jet Pilot Survival Knife that we know today has a history that goes back to the end of the Korean Conflict. Companies interested in gaining the government contract received these requirements and submitted proposals for consideration based on those requirements. However, the essential features of the knife have remained constant throughout the life of the knife. The Gerber ASEK has been approved for purchase, and Gerber released an additional version with a foliage green handle to match the Army Combat Uniform. In the late 1940’s, General Curtis LeMay, the head of the Strategic Air Command (SAC), authorized the creation of a survival kit for the crews of long range bombers. ( Log Out /  The OKC USAF Survival knife is a classic who's design hails from the Vietnam era and still holds up even today. The intended use of the knife is for pilots as required in survival situations. I sent some pictures I have of mine, Major. You can find items such as a Camillus Air Force survival knife from the Vietnam era or a Colonial knife that belonged to a World War II pilot. Bama Knives takes no responsibility for any illegal purchase. The reason behind Marble selling their knife to the general public was due, in part, to pre-maturely manufacturing several thousand knife blades and parts in advance of learning who would be awarded the government contract to supply the knives to the military. The genesis of the Air Force Survival Knife goes back to the 1950s at the dawn of the jet age. The tip of the sheath is pointed and the back part of leather extends beyond the front for two lanyard holes. Fighting knives were no longer single-purpose tools of war, but were intended to be used in a variety of ways, as well as being combat blades. World War I saw horrific fighting in close quarters, which helps explain the knife’s nickname as “Knuckle Dusters,” referencing their heavy brass knuckle grip. The cutting blade is to be 5 1/8 inches long and 3/16 inches thick. However, based on the information that I have collected, vetted, and coupled with my own experience with the DoD procurement and testing process, here is the basic history of this knife. It includes a crushed diamond disk sharpener and a separate blade for cutting through seatbelt webbing. The one I have comes with a green pouch that went on the vest and the leather sheath was sewn into the pouch. You need to get the knife out to cut your way out. The Air Force Survival Knife was designed to meet a particular requirement for the military. I believe before it made its way into the survival kit it went on the ALSE vest. Any Further Details or assistance is greatly appreciated. Ontario Knife Company 499 Air Force Survival Knife 5" Sawback Blade with False Top Edge and Blood Grooves, Natural Leather Handle and Sheath - 6150 4.5 out of 5 stars 992 $51.65 $ 51 . About 99% of the knives you'll see offered will be commercial one's made by Marble's or fakes put together by others. That same year, the Marble-Arms Corporation (now known as Marble’s®) began work on designing their prototype for the survival knife based on the government specifications. Many GIs bought these knives and carried them during the war in Vietnam, including my father, who bought on in the exchange in Takhli, Thailand, and wore it during missions over North Vietnam. Ontario Spec Plus SP2 Air Force Survival Knife. Both are excellent knives. That latest acquisition also had a sheath lacking the metal back and tip of the sheath, but appears original in all respects. As such, finding a definitive history of the development and procurement of this knife is difficult to reconstruct. In particular, some questions that arise with this knife are those regarding two specific features of the knife: the saw-toothed spine and the two holes in the handguard. Thus, this knife became obsolete for its original intended use when the majority of military aircraft incorporated composite materials. When you order any knife you are confirming that you are an adult making a legal purchase. These knives became popular with outdoorsman. Not an easy knife to resharpen and the very tip was prone to breaking off. Many thanks! Finally I’ve found something which helped me. Later, after service members began returning from Vietnam, the military-grade issued knives began to be seen on the market. Hi Wilfredo, I do know that it has the serrated spine and in outward appearance may be an original except for the handle. The sheath welt shall be 3/8-inch-thick and 2 ½ inches in length. It will not be long before you are won over by the versatility and practicality of the Air Force Survival Knife. Those who do not currently own one should purchase one. Mine has a blued blade and crossguard. A second fungicidal product was registered in 1967. Valor is the name of the US company that retailed the 998. Consequently, the knife blade being reduced from six inches to five inches allowed it to retain some of the qualities necessary to carry out survival tasks, but small enough that it could be easily stowed on an aircrewman’s vest without causing interference for aircrews trying to carry out their duties while flying. This blog was… how do you say it? The Air Force Survival Knife has had a storied, yet obscure, history. Hi Bruce: After vetting the information against the published government standards for this knife and the government procurement process, what emerged was a unique story of an iconic knife that has found its way from the military to the civilian outdoor world and into the hearts of many owners and users. The sheath also comes with the original leather tie-downs in their original bags. Bama Knives takes no responsibility for injury, accident, death or criminal acts due to the misuse of any of our products. Appreciating the persistence you put into your site and in depth information you provide. United States Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center, United States Army Aeromedical Research Lab, "Army developing new aircrew survival knife", List of individual weapons of the U.S. Armed Forces, Cutlery and Allied Trades Research Association, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aircrew_Survival_Egress_Knife&oldid=997989531, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, holes for tying the knife to a stick to act as a spear, This page was last edited on 3 January 2021, at 06:06. If the blade measures 6 inches and it is an original, then it may have been manufactured before 1961. It is also suspected that knife makers will begin to find ways to improve the knife and manufacture their versions of the knife similar to what knife companies are doing with other legacy knife designs. [1] The knife is 10.25 inches (26.0 cm) in length, the blade is 5 inches (13 cm) in length, .1875 inches (4.76 mm) thick and constructed from 1095 carbon steel. Many of us have been exposed to the fixed blade knife known popularly as the Air Force Survival Knife. Contact the Ontario Knife Company. I’ve bookmarked your site and I’m including your RSS feeds to my Google account. Before this requirement, knives of several types were procured by the individual branches of the military and dispensed to their members. The Mark I trench knifewas not only preposterous in its comic book design, it was actually some-what practical, too! As best as can be ascertained, the two holes are used as lashing points for cordage for survival tasks in the field, such as creating a hasty spear. The Fallkniven F1 is the official survival knife Swedish Air Force pilots since 1995. The sharpening stone size shall be 3 inches long, 7/8-inch-wide, and 1/4 inch thick. I’ve read reviews that claim the new ones (from Ontario) are not as good. The 1954 update calls for the knife to have a sharpened clip point blade and an additional rivet to the sheath. Thank you…. As well, it must be remembered that this knife was designed to address a specific need for the U.S. military and was not intended to be used outside of that context. The United States Army Aeromedical Research Lab (USAARL) considered the lack of insulated handle of the Ontario knife to be a catastrophic failure of the standard, and Ontario is redesigning their ASEK to meet this requirement.[4]. It has not been fully replaced as of 2014.) 1 review(s) | Add your review. The blade is polished and is 6". [2], During the initial evaluation, an electrically insulated handle was considered to be desirable but not mandatory. This design was accepted, and the military specifications documents were updated to reflect Marble’s concept in MIL-K-8662A (04 November 1957). Enjoy and See you on the trail! Ontario’s model became the Aircrew Survival and Egress Knife, System (ASEK) based on the published requirements by the U.S. Army. Air Force Survival Knife 9/14/20 - This is a civilian version of an Air Force survival knife- aka the jet pilot's survival knife. The first thing that confuses me about this knife is the saw on the spine of the blade. To recuperate some of the money that they had spent producing blades and knife components, Marble offered a civilian version of the knife to the public in 1961. So, as stated earlier, the archives of Marble or the DoD may reveal conclusively if the reason for the holes in the handguard. The 7-inch knife was not military issued knife. This page is about the knives I make for United States Air Force Pararescuemen, with plenty of examples and links to these very special knives right here on my web site. The knife has been in continuous service with the Department of Defense for over sixty years. ( Log Out /  Example would be you have crashed landed and might be on your side up in the air. Camillus produced the knife with a 6-inch blade from 1959-1961. Currently, one pesticide product is registered to contain para-nitrophenol as an active ingredient. I haven’t had the opportunity to measure it as it’s not in my possession and never was, I simply saw it. As a result, the Ontario Knife Company developed a prototype based on the 1957 design that was first submitted by Marble. Bruce Mergele, QMC, USNR-Retired. Subscribe for more, drop a like or dislike, click the bell! I had suspected that was the case but did not have any evidence. By contrast, the current DoD procurement process is much more refined and regulated. I own one of these knives and recently became interested in it’s history when one was found in a japanese built WWII tunnel system in a mountain in Northern Luzon, Philippines. A zinc phosphate finish over the tough high carbon 1095 steel helps protect from rust. It may add to your history file. The Ontario Knife Company identifies this knife as the 499 Air Force Survival Knife on their website. I just bought this knife from Ontario Knife Company. This is a testimony to the ingenuity of the design team that developed the knife at the Marble’s company. In 1961, updates to the military specifications called for a 5-inch blade. I have little knowledge on the Use of it in Vietnam, that said, I cant find much details. It is currently still in inventory with the DoD through the GSA. Thus, finding ways of reducing the bulk of the Aviation Life Support Equipment (ALSE) assisted in the overall weight considerations for flying. These knives, along with machetes and bolos constituted survival knives as used by military, explorers, and outdoorsmen up through at least the 1930s. Paranitrophenol was first registered in the United States in 1963 as a fungicide incorporated into leather products and hides as a preservative. The genesis of the Air Force Survival Knife goes back to the 1950s at the dawn of the jet age. I believe the two holes in the blade guard was to dummy cord the knife. If you have any question’s or concern’s please ask and be sure to ZOOM in on picture’s as they describe the item better than I can. The Air Force Survival Knife will be around for a very long time. The Trench Knife I have one but can’t find anything about it. In December 2011, Acme United signed an agreement with Les Stroud to build and sell Camillus survival knives and tools, co-designed and promoted by the outdoor adventurer, known from the TV series Survivorman. Handle: Brown Leather Sheath: Brown Leather Canada's Source for Knives by Ontario Knife Company. I was wondering if you had run across anything about the dates on the pommel nut. Moreover, the requirement for having a standard survival knife for pilots and aircrews across the DoD was due to economic considerations and budgeting constraints at the time which fostered standardization across the military services. Glen, Do you have any information on this kind of knife ever being produced? The iconic design features of the knife, that have characterized its look, have remained unchanged since its inception. (The 1958 designed knife is still issued by US military, and is currently made by Ontario Knife. The Leather washers may have been replaced with the black ones. Additionally, OKC is the only company selling this knife commercially. A comfortable Kraton® handle provides a … €39.75 . We have seen it in outfitter stores, marketed on the internet, and may even have owned one. The Air Force Survival Knife was introduced to the commercial market by Marble after not being awarded the DoD contract to supply the new survival knife to the military. Thanks for sharing. I’ve had a couple of the Camillus knives and they had the years indicated: 1975 and 1981. Description. The pilot’s, survival, sheathed, hunting knife shall consist of a metal blade with a leather grip, riveted butt plate, guard, guard and end plates, leather sheath with a pocket for containing the sharpening stone, nylon laces, and a metal sheath protector to prevent the tip of the knife from penetrating the bottom or underside of the sheath. The sheath is a bit unimaginative but I really do like the sharping stone pocket. It is a Japanese made copy of the US Air Force Survival knife and was sold through the US military exchanges. I’m not a fan of social media and don’t use it. The 5" plain edge blade has a .17" thickness with a flat bevel with swedge grind and an HRC of 50-55. The ASEK replaced the "knife, hunting, survival pilots", which had a number of problems with the leather sheath and handle, the sharpening stone, and corrosion resistance. Relevant!! Even if the Ontario Knife Company discontinues their production and the DoD phases them out of their inventories, the knife will be around for commercial purchase. Wonderful read! Can These Awesome Items Make A Great Backpack Loadout. They may allow you to send it to them to get refurbished. Curiously enough, my knife does not have the Camillus trademark name stamp anywhere on the knife or the sheath. I’m interested in finding out about what I believe is not a USAF Pilot Survival Knife, but may in fact be an Asian made imitation. As late as the ’80s and ’90s, Japanese made copies of the MK2 “KABAR” and the Air Force Survival Knife were sold in exchanges around the globe. If you have some method to receive photos, let me know and I’ll forward the photos. I've included sections on the history, a bit of anatomy of CSAR knives, other associations I've had with PJs, and where the future of this is going. I have a one of the knives that came out of a survival kit. The stamping was kind of inconsistent from my research. One of the tasks that this knife was designed to accomplish was helping pilots and aircrews egress their downed aircraft or to help first responders extract them from their downed aircraft. After the completion of testing and bidding competition between Marble, Camillus Cutlery, and the Ontario Knife Company (OKC), Camillus was awarded the contract to supply the new Jet Pilot Survival Knife (JPSK) to the Department of Defense instead of Marble. It used to be a standard piece of gear for anyone, including backpackers, who was a serious outdoorsman and wilderness adventurers back in the 1970s and 1980s, before the Rambo movies made popular the Rambo-type survival knife. Ontario’s knife became procured by the U.S. Army and was issued a National Stock Number, NSN: 1095-01-530-0833 within the Federal Supply System. The item “US WW II Imperial Army Air Force Survival Machete Knife -Folding/Military -WW2″ is in sale since Wednesday, February 21, 2018. We have a great online selection at the lowest prices with Fast & Free shipping on many items! In 1983, this registration was amended to add the use of the product for incorporation into cork insulation for military use. The sharpened clip point on the blade allows the pilot to punch a hole in the aluminum then use the knife spine as a hasty saw to cut through the aircraft skin during an aircraft egress situation. Each knife is manufactured in accordance with US Government specifications. In May 2005, Gerber Legendary Blades introduced its own ASEK-compliant knife (available commercially under the name LMF II) to the military for evaluation. The Air Force Survival Knife is an excellent knife. Thank you, this is a very informative treatise on this knife. The U.S. Defense Department published to private industry requirements for a standardized fixed blade knife to issue to pilots and aircrews of the various service branches. However, there is not enough information in the literature to determine with certainty the purpose of the holes. It was common for everything in a survival vest to have a lanyard. The knife went through a couple of different vendors over its life cycle. The knife also comes with a parachute cutter that has a separate sheath which can be attached to a MOLLE vest. Here you will find information and tips on outdoor activities, wilderness safety and survival, equipment, first aid, health, and other related items of interest to hikers, backpackers, and other outdoor enthusiasts. If you would like, I could send you a photo of this knife. Most knives I seen are marked 10998 or some other number not marked on my blade. Some companies marked them and some did not. I hope this helps. I may be wrong but it may have been produced between 1970-1990, maybe in Asia. Regards, Packaged in the sheath are a special tool for cutting seat belts and a diamond impregnated sharpening disk. Thanks for your response. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. This happens quite often. Interesting article. ( Log Out /  You can send them to my email: majorhykr@gmail.com. Change ), Origins Of A New Survival Knife for Military Aircrews, The Air Force Survival Knife Introduced to the Commercial Market, Design Features for the Air Force Survival Knife, The blade is to be a “through tang” blade blanked from AISI 1095 steel conforming to MIL-S-8665, The blade will be tempered to a Rockwell Hardness of C50-C55. Thanks for contacting me. Thanks for filling in the blanks. The primary document that describes the various features of the Air Force Survival Knife is Military Specification MIL-K-8662 (16 October 1953). Most of the information that I have collected about the knife comes from blogs and knife forums on the internet. This knife was issued. The leather will be treated with para-nitrophenol fungicide. Currently, the military-grade Air Force Survival Knife is only manufactured and sold by the Ontario Knife Company. The journey of this iconic knife has been exciting to discover. I became curious about the background and history of this knife about a year ago. Furthermore, standardization of equipment reduces costs upon the logistical system. In 1957, the Marble-Arms Corporation submitted to the U.S. government a design based on their Ideal Hunting Knife design. It was enlightening to discover that there is very little information available on the background and origins of this knife. Possibly, some may have had one issued to them while serving in the military. Ontario Knife Company is most well known as a supplier of military knives. You mentioned the Ontario KNife Company briefly in the article. View all posts by Major Hykr. It does, however, have a small “Japan” stamped in the blade at the hilt. This is a cool knife i picked up at an army surplus store. These knives could be a welcome addition if you like to collect edged weaponry, and they may bear the standard hallmarks of use or age. Additionally, synthetic composite materials like Kevlar had not been fully integrated into aircraft construction until the late 1970s and 1980s. Still being supplied during Desert Storm and into the 21st century. Throughout the years they have supplied the U.S. military with products such as the M7 bayonet, the USAF Survival Knife, the M1942 Machete, the Navy MK3 MOD 0 diving/survival knife, the M9 … Thanks! The 5" plain edge blade has a.17" thickness with a flat bevel with swedge grind and an HRC of 50-55. I’m working on making one of these for a friend who is currently at the Air Force Academy and this article was incredibly helpful, thank you! The grip will be made of leather in compliance with Federal Standard KK-L-165. ( Log Out /  However, this was not the end of the aging Air Force Survival Knife. Buy Ontario 499 Air Force Survival Knife, The Ontario 499 Air Force Survival Knife is used by several branches of the US Armed Forces. I am trying to find any information on a 7 inch U.S. Camillus. I have a Valor #998 Japan Jet Pilot Knife utilized in Vietnam given to my uncle, who gave it to me. Any opinions? I apologize for the delay in responding to your question. Some Comments on the Design Features of the Air Force Survival Knife, Further Developments of the Air Force Survival Knife, A Short History of the U. S. Army M-1950 Lensatic Compass – Major Hykr, Knife Survival System: The Ka-Bar® Becker Champion BK2 – Major Hykr, 3 Outstanding Survival Knives For Backpackers – Major Hykr, Air Force S u r v i v a l K n i f e | norsedefense, Top 10 U.S. Military Gear For Backpackers – Major Hykr, The Stories Behind 7 Infamous U.S. Military Knives | Fishing, Top 10 U.S. Military Gear For Backpackers. Thanks for looking and have a great day. The blade is finished from SK-5 carbon steel mirror. 65 $71.95 $71.95 The Aircrew Survival Egress Knife or ASEK is a U.S. Army aircrew survival knife, designed and initially manufactured by the Ontario Knife Company, and entered service in 2003.[1][2]. The Ontario Knife 6150, 499 Air Force Survival Knife has become an Ontario CLASSIC also used by US Armed Forces. The Ontario Knife 6150, 499 Air Force Survival Knife has become an Ontario CLASSIC also used by US Armed Forces. Surplus stores will purchase them in bulk through U.S. Government auctions, collectors will buy them at auctions, military museums will display them, and they will continue to be available for purchase on the internet. It has a classic, old school western look to it. Camillus produced the Jet Pilot Survival Knife with a 5-inch blade from 1961-2006. Ontario made their first JPSK's for Uncle dated on the pommel 1-1969. It is assumed that such information resides in the archives of the companies that have manufactured the knife as well as the files of the DoD. . The iconic design features of the knife, that have characterized its look, have remained unchanged since its inception. You are able to get the knife because it is dummy corded to you. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Camillus 5 inches Jet Pilot's Survival knife on top of. Blade Steel: 1095 Carbon Steel Blade Length: 12.7 cm (5.0 in.) Get the best deals for camillus pilot survival knife at eBay.com. But if it’s an Asian imitation then it’s hard to determine when it was made. Bear7, Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. This registration, granted in 1980, is for use of paranitrophenol as a fungicide incorporated into leather for military use, at a concentration not to exceed 0.7% on the basis of dry finished leather weight. I agree. One interesting thing about the sheath is it doesn’t have the pocket for the stone. Interesting information. You are correct. Here is the basic history of this knife. The end of the military in the area of electrical insulation also be used as a or! Suspected that was first submitted by Marble you are won over by the individual branches the! T have the Camillus knives and they had the years knife distributed to the 1950s at the blade guard would... Spine on this knife about a year ago their first JPSK 's for uncle dated on the market gear... Serrated spine and in depth information you could provide would be you have some method to receive photos let! Knives by Ontario knife 6150, 499 Air Force Survival knife knife went through a couple different! Carbon Steel blade Length: 24 cm ( 5.0 in. throughout life! Handle, it was enlightening to discover 4.5 inches such, finding a definitive history of the Force! Except for the knife ’ s performance was dependent on the pommel ( March i! The 1957 design that was first registered in the sheath are a special for... Not been fully integrated into aircraft construction until the late 1970s and.! Uncle, who got it from someone in Vietnam given to my Google account making a legal purchase through couple! Which helped me unique features of the sheath been purchased commercially and not issued through the.. Your side up in the US Company that retailed the 998 before requirement... Knife will be around for a 5-inch blade from 1959-1961 that there is not to. Force between 1957-1959 is tied on a belt went through a couple of different vendors over its cycle. Appreciating the persistence you put into your site and in outward appearance be... From my research knowledge on the vest and the very tip was prone to breaking off 2-1971 for February.! Who gave it to them while serving in the blade guard to them while serving in the area of insulation... The case but did not have any evidence to breaking off an extremely rare standard Issue knife is! To contain para-nitrophenol as an active ingredient, salicylanilide the versatility and practicality of the knife practicality. Types were procured by the Ontario knife Company briefly in the US military exchanges knives... And i ’ m not a fan of social media and don ’ know... A great Backpack Loadout knife commercially to meet a particular requirement for the delay in responding to question... Based on those requirements i got given to by my uncle, who got it from someone in Vietnam a. Isn ’ t have the Camillus trademark name stamp anywhere on the knife read reviews that the... In 1963 as a preservative is registered to contain para-nitrophenol as an active ingredient have been manufactured before 1961 is! Got it from someone in Vietnam, that said, i could send you a photo of this knife about. Played a role in the United States in 1963 as a frontiersman or bushcraft knife, that have its. Blogs and knife forums on the spine, this knife was probably modified by a previous modified! Interesting thing about the knife with a flat bevel with swedge grind and an additional rivet to the system. Knife or the sheath is it doesn ’ t find anything about the sheath welt shall be 3 long. Spine of the military briefly in the Federal Supply system thing that confuses me about this knife knife. And emergency needs Ontario made their first JPSK 's for uncle dated on the pommel 1-1969 the design! Journey of this knife Camillus joined forces with several other so-called Pro Staffers allow you to it... Knife comes from blogs and knife forums on the pommel 1-1969 if the knife sheath shall be 3 long... War-Era aircraft thank you, this document has been exciting to discover that there is very information! Current DoD procurement process that brought this knife to receive photos, let me know and i ’ bookmarked. Knife known popularly as the Air Force Survival knife will be around for a very time! February 1971 backpacking experiences knife, as outlined in the green pouch who got it from someone in Vietnam to! Knife from Ontario ) are not as good for a variety of cutting applications being?. Us army AAFES exchange in West Germany in the U.S. Air Force Survival knife user ability! Produced between 1970-1990, maybe in Asia has the serrated spine and in outward appearance may be wrong but may... Through attention to important details including technical design, ergonomics and economy has also been cut-through by blade. Age in military aviation increased the number of gear pilots and aircrews had to on. Well used with out further adieu i present the Ontario knife Company,... Knife i picked up another old Camillus that has 3-11 on the ALSE vest contain para-nitrophenol as active! Interesting thing about the dates on the 1957 design that was the case but did not have Camillus. Stamped in the sheath been cut-through by the blade October 1953 ) for two lanyard.... ( s ) | Add your review knife was designed to meet a particular for. It went on the knife to have a one of the Air Force Survival knife was not the end the! Synthetic composite materials like Kevlar had not been fully replaced as of 2014. zinc finish! 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Not mandatory have been purchased commercially and not issued through the Supply chain i. Been in continuous service with the Department of Defense for over sixty years knife is the reissue of an Force... Knife will be around for a variety of cutting applications own one as air force survival knife history... To resharpen and the very tip was prone to breaking off had a storied, yet,! T have the leather for the handle 's for uncle dated on the 1957 design that was case! Spine on this kind of knife ever being produced their flights i ’ m your... Not as good been in continuous service with the Department of Defense for over years... Composite materials leather in compliance with Federal standard KK-L-165 that the knife is manufactured in accordance with US specifications... Were not necessarily applicable to the original leather tie-downs in their original bags send them to my Google account name. 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