Has anyone seen a knife like this?

CaribbeanDiver

CaribbeanDiver

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Oct 28, 2004
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Re: Has anyone seen a knife like this? Early 1700's

Another photo
 

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Re: Has anyone seen a knife like this? Early 1700's

One more
 

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Re: Has anyone seen a knife like this? Early 1700's

Looks like a K Bar from the 1940's or 1950's? Standard leather handle combat knife.
Maybe dropped by a treasure diver?
 

Re: Has anyone seen a knife like this? Early 1700's

dano91 said:
Looks like a K Bar from the 1940's or 1950's? Standard leather handle combat knife.
Maybe dropped by a treasure diver?
Click to expand...

Almost my thoughts exactly. however, I was thinking a little newer than 40's or 50's. Looks like the same issue from the Viet Nam era to me... ???
 

Re: Has anyone seen a knife like this? Early 1700's

We have all gone through that thought process too, but the encrustation is pretty thick and matches the wreck. Also, it would be very unlikely that anyone would have dove this spot, but certainly possible.

We just don't know on this one...

Thanks for the input, keep it comin' !

:)
 

Re: Has anyone seen a knife like this? Early 1700's

A little more research says this almost has to be a K Bar, circa WWII. Does anyone find the encrustation strange for such a new item? The biggest difference between it and the other artifacts is that the encrustation is very fine.

You should have seen how excited we were when we thought it was 1700's LOL

:)
 

Re: Has anyone seen a knife like this? Early 1700's

You have come to the right place on this one. I have been a military collector and dealer for 35 years. The knife is either a WW2 issue camulis which is only the most common makers of these knives. There are however many other makers all of which are rarer. The name is always found on what is known as the ricasso which is the upper portion of the knife which is not sharp where it attaches to the grib crossguard. Unfortunately, the blade is pitted to the point where there does not appear to be any name on the ricasso cause there is not much of the ricasso left. Anyway, it was either a WW2 issue or a reproduction made after WW2 of the same knife type. Looksrealtome and not a repro but the differences are so minimal ( that being blade width, crossguard width, etc) that it cannot be known by looking at the picture cause the blade and crossguard may have already withered to the point where its impossible to tell. Both real and repro had the exact same stacked washer handle. Most likely its real. A standard issue WW2 Camulis goes for about $ 75 in exc or better. condition. Any other questions on this one feel free to ask as I know the topic of combat knives well.
 

Re: Has anyone seen a knife like this? Early 1700's

There should be no storage compartment in handle. Reason is cause the top has the metal under the handle going thru it which is called a tang. This is peened over at the top of the handle to hold the handle which is made up up a large group of rubber washers pushed together. If it has any comparment at all, then it definitely would be a repro. Ive never seen either a real one or reproduction with a compartment as the compartment type of knife is more for survival. The K-Bar or Camilus is more for combat and utility.
 

Re: Has anyone seen a knife like this? Early 1700's

One other thing. This particular type of knife was used all the way up from WW2 thru Vietnam. The differences not being much more than size of handle, hilt, and blade. It is hard to tell from the picture because there are no measurements but the hilt on this knife appears to look more like Vietnam era than WW2. Not easy to tell though cause of pitting and general wear. If you found it near a wreck then of course the age of the wreck would give you the rundown if it was 39 to 45 issue or later. These knives were used for general purpose as well as combat and are a general classified knife , meaning, they and not specific for any special organization like paratroopers or special forces although they could carry them if they wished.
 

Re: Has anyone seen a knife like this? Early 1700's

HOLA: I was issued one of thiose knives in early WW2 in the Pacific theater.. The handle is made up of shaped leather washers. That would have deteriorated over the years. the handle was solid, the blade about 7" and parkerized.

Jose de La Mancha ( tilt windmills )
 

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