Knives to carry with your flight jacket

[Pilot]

Some issued (to me), some fun...
But no more carrying any with me, except if a BBQ or tracking in the montains..
My Kappmesser Fall/Gravity knife was earned with my para jump wings during a NATO war game in Jan. 1983... Co-joining all NATO troops operation in Schongau/Germany.
Our (Ex)Bundeswehr and Ex NATO Para members will know..
All others, happy to answer questions.

 

[EmergencyIan]

Not an easy thing to do in the U.K. you have to be able to prove ‘just cause’ to carry a knife in public eg going to a friends garden to prune fruit trees.

Almost the same situation here in NYC. It’s a far cry, when it comes to the day of my youth spent in Indiana where most anything goes, unfortunately or fortunately.

- Ian

 

[Stony]

I would never carry any of my WWII Navy knives in public, they are just something I collect. I thought I'd just show them here.

 

[Earloffunk]

Wish I had kept my Kappmesser... I had one that was mint when it was issued to me. But it’s more of a status symbol than of actual usability.

Glück ab, Pilot!

 

[Thomas Koehle]

Kappmesser - unfortunately never got hands on one - meanwhile even the postwar versions getting more and more expensive ...

It is nothing i would buy without having earned one

 

[Thomas Koehle]

I would never carry any of my WWII Navy knives in public, they are just something I collect. I thought I'd just show them here.

Nice collection!

I especially like the small MK1 and i‘m Still looking for one in like new condition

I know they are still in production but do not like the modern versions that much

 

[Otter]

Cocker, watch out with that wave ! If you are not careful then you can accidentally press in the blade lock when you have it in your fist. Even the slightest back pressure on the blade will cause it to cold back on you. I use a Gerber Suspension now, much better mechanism.

 

[Thomas Koehle]

Usually rarely carry a fixed blade knife with me except when i‘m For re-enactment

Have always a folding knife with me especially when on motorbikes tours

My grandpa used his for eating, repairing and whatever duties (you don‘t wanna know what that „whatever“ means)

I personally do not have a problem with people carrying a knife but seems to be impropriat in a big city

like some others already pointed out a knife is simply a tool for me - as also USN crews on flight-decks, destroyers aso didn‘t use them for defense but as a tool

 

[EmergencyIan]

^ Yes, in Indiana we always carried pocket knives as tools. When I was a paramedic, beyond the few EMS tools I had on my belt, I carried a separate leather case with my Leatherman tool. Here in NYC, I think you may be able to carry a small pocket knife, but I can’t remember the maximum size of the blade allowed...it’s small. Then again, it’s possible that a rule change may have slipped by me and you can no longer carry one. I’m just not sure.

- Ian

 

[dmar836]

The ones I have and find so handy are actually quite small. Maybe a 3-4” blade. Far more than enough for me.
Don’t we all remember the “box cutter” fear phase? One girl cuts another, the media exploits it, and now these 1/2” blades are more feared(if anyone could even identify one) and illegal than a larger knife.

 

[Pilot]

Wish I had kept my Kappmesser... I had one that was mint when it was issued to me. But it’s more of a status symbol than of actual usability.

Glück ab, Pilot!

Hurra Hurra Hurra..Dankeschön!

 

[johnwayne]

Although not the biggest I'd perhaps carry my Swiss Army penknife if it were one the smaller types, think I read in mag like GQ once that every man should have one, so years ago I put one on my Xmas wish list! Took it on holiday to Turkey thinking it might come in handy with all its little tools but unfortunately forgot to move from my hand luggage to main case on flight back so got it confiscated by local security! Expensive loss even though a present, mind you it was the week after 9/11 and Turkey is a Muslim country so I just wanted to get home!!! Since replaced I should add.

 

[EmergencyIan]

The ones I have and find so handy are actually quite small. Maybe a 3-4” blade. Far more than enough for me.
Don’t we all remember the “box cutter” fear phase? One girl cuts another, the media exploits it, and now these 1/2” blades are more feared(if anyone could even identify one) and illegal than a larger knife.
View attachment 10703

I thought that the box cutter scare came after “9/11” where the hijakcers used them. I could be misremembering. So, please, correct me if I’m wrong.

Anyhow, I think small folding knives are a very useful tools to have on your person, at all times, because you never know when you might need one. I wish they hadn’t become more difficult to carry in some parts the U.S.

- Ian

 

[Skyhawk]

Kershaw knives are great. Many are made right here in Oregon but they have import versions manufactured outside the USA as well. They have a weight lever based flip open feature that allows you to deploy the blade quickly with one hand. No springs but the action is just as smooth. I use mine for a variety of uses. It is totally legal to carry in my region and very useful.

Last time I was glad I had it was on a recent off road riding adventure. My girlfriend's blinker came loose on her bike and melted onto the pipe. I whipped out my knife and cut the wires to remove it. We were riding again in minutes.

Every military pilot has a fold knife in his flight suit. They are stowed in a Knife Pocket on the CWU flight suit. The pocket has a para-cord lanyard attached to tie the knife to so you can't drop it while cutting your parachute straps when stuck in a tree. Knives and flight jackets go together so I don't see this as an "odd" post.

 

[Stony]

My two military pocket knives. One is army and one is navy. The army one is not marked, but the navy one is made by Camillus.

 

[dmar836]

I know you are right about 9/11 but I remember other stories before that and they may not have been so well spread.
I used one in the grocery store as a 16yo for opening boxes and Vess soda cases and occasionally spraying myself in the face with a ruptured can. Perhaps my use of them so much is why I tuned in to the other stories(I remember thinking, "Box cutters? Are they serious?!). At least in the heartland there appeared to be sort of a movement to single them out as a weapon favored by middle-class high school kids maybe in the late 80s-early 90s. By then a lot of people didn't even know what the were. I think it was a media thing - maybe something to stir up while the assault gun ban was on in the 90s? Anyone else remember any of this quite little scare? Then, you're right, along came 9/11 and the danger potential of the lowly box cutters was finally exposed!
I think box cutters was mentioned so much in 9/11 just as an AR-15 is now mentioned so much when used in a crime. Few can actually identify either but sure know that they are scared of them. It also has a ring of the underground with a sound like nunchucks or butterfly knife - you know "thinks you can't take to school". In reality a box cutter is about as innocuous as a knife could be - only about 1/2" of exposed blade and only if held at a perfect angle, no thrust capability, and a blade very easily broken. It evolved into the utility knife. Now those I've hurt myself with!

Dave

 

[dmar836]

Stony, I love those!

 

[Pilot]

My two military pocket knives. One is army and one is navy. The army one is not marked, but the navy one is made by Camillus.

Very nice!

 

[EmergencyIan]

I know you are right about 9/11 but I remember other stories before that and they may not have been so well spread.
I used one in the grocery store as a 16yo for opening boxes and Vess soda cases and occasionally spraying myself in the face with a ruptured can. Perhaps my use of them so much is why I tuned in to the other stories(I remember thinking, "Box cutters? Are they serious?!). At least in the heartland there appeared to be sort of a movement to single them out as a weapon favored by middle-class high school kids maybe in the late 80s-early 90s. By then a lot of people didn't even know what the were. I think it was a media thing - maybe something to stir up while the assault gun ban was on in the 90s? Anyone else remember any of this quite little scare? Then, you're right, along came 9/11 and the danger potential of the lowly box cutters was finally exposed!
I think box cutters was mentioned so much in 9/11 just as an AR-15 is now mentioned so much when used in a crime. Few can actually identify either but sure know that they are scared of them. It also has a ring of the underground with a sound like nunchucks or butterfly knife - you know "thinks you can't take to school". In reality a box cutter is about as innocuous as a knife could be - only about 1/2" of exposed blade and only if held at a perfect angle, no thrust capability, and a blade very easily broken. It evolved into the utility knife. Now those I've hurt myself with!

Dave

Yeah, utility knives can really get you, if you aren’t extra careful.

- Ian

 

[EmergencyIan]

My two military pocket knives. One is army and one is navy. The army one is not marked, but the navy one is made by Camillus.

Those are awesome, Stony!

There are quite a few U.S. WWII knives that I’d love to own. The above pictured are included on that list.

- Ian