Camillus USAF Jumpmaster Knife

[spectr17]

http://www.jesseshuntingpage.com/images/knife-camillus-jump.jpg

This knife made by Camillus of New York was issued to us in the military in the 1980s. The left blade was a button operated switch blade. The blade had some chrome in it and it was hard as heck to sharpen but it would also hold it's edge after cutting nylon, which is extremely dulling to most blades. Jumpmasters carried these knives in case a paratrooper got tangeled in their parachutes and had to be "cut away" from the aircraft.

The lock button didn't work well on the switchblade and the knife would open at the most trying of times. The hook blade on the right was used for ripping open clothing for medical treatment. The hook was razor sharp on the inside of the hook.

[Stinky]

They still make a great knife. ###Check out the new Lev-R-Loc. ###It opens fast.

[wapatiwhacker]

When my dad retired back in 66' from the Air Force he gave me his knife just like the one posted. During the course of time the knife was "lost", I still say my mom got rid of it because I was too young (7yrs old) at the time! But the good news is I never forgot that knife and I came across one at a swap meet about two years ago. The guy had the knife turned around in the display case so the button release could not be seen and when I asked to look at that knife he kind of gulped a bit. When I told him my story he relaxed and pulled it out for me. I was told that they also made the knife with a black handle as well?

[Brad]

Welcome to Jesse's Forum, wapatiwacker

[Billy in VA]

Spectra17:
One of thoese bits and pieces of useless knowleadge I carry around in my head.

The knife was designed and built starting in the 40's. There is one problem with the knife however, they are and have always been built backwards acording to an old colloctor friend of mine. The drawing went ###to Camillus who also made some of the survial knives for the Navy, Air Force and Marine's. ###The people at Camillus figured that as with all govment drawings they were wrong and changed them to the way they are still made today. ###The hook was suppost to have been the blade that was automatic and not the stright blade. It was to be used to free the chute from the aircraft or for a jumper who was stuck in a tree to cut himself free. ###Isn't it great how a componty can get away with building things as they see fit, even under contract and it is never changed. ###I have 3 of the knives. The oldest I have is from the 80's also. ### ###Later ###Billy

[shufigo]

Mine was issued to me in 1964 when I first went on aircrew status. You stowed the knife in a narrow pocket on the inside of your left thigh. It came with a nylon cord lanyard that was tied to the knife ring and the pocket flap. It was stored with the knife blade stowed and the hook extended downward. In the event you bailed out, the parachute harness design allowed you to reach the knife. In the 60's and 70s, we were briefed that should we have a shroud line problem, we should use the hook to cut the problem line. Luckily that instruction was changed to just ride the problem chute down -- the problem would be greatly compounded if you already had a marginal chute and then cut the wrong line!!