Vietnam War Vintage US Pilot Survival Fighting Knife Camillus Army USN USMC USAF

Description

This is an excellent condition example of the Vietnam Era
Type No 4 Knife
, better known as the Navy Pilot’s Survival Knife or
Jet Pilot’s Survival Knife
. The knife was originally designed in 1957 as a joint issue between the Navy Weapons Bureau and the Marbles Arms Company. As originally designed it had a 6”, saw back blade. In 1962, the knife was modified by reducing the blade to 5” in length. The post-1962 knives were produced by the Camillus Cutlery Company and Milpar during the Vietnam Era. These knives were initially issued to Naval Air Crews but saw service with airmen in all branches of US military service. The knife was issued with a leather scabbard that had a pouch on the front for a sharpening stone.
This
Type No 4
Jet Pilot’s Survival Knife
is in
EXCELLENT
overall condition. The blade is in excellent condition and retains its original factory edge. The blade was only slightly sharpened on the edge of one side and has some light streaks on both sides which were not from use but from polish.
The hexagonal pommel cap of the knife is clearly marked on one flat, in three lines:
CAMILLUS / N.Y. / 8-1981
.
The base of the blade on one side has some slight rust marks from sitting inside the leather scabbard for many years.
The knife’s leather washer hilt is in
EXCELLENT
condition, with only some very minor scuffing and just needs to be cleaned with a leather polish.
The original issue, never used sharpening stone is present in the pouch on the front of the scabbard. The stone still retains its original yellow ink labeling in three lines: C280 PV / A PRODUCT BY / NORTON PIKE. The Pike Company has been producing sharpening stones and professional sharpening products in New Hampshire since 1823 and in 1932 merged with Norton Abrasives, forming Norton Pike. As previously noted, the stone has never been use, and it has some verdigris on its surface from being stored in the pouch under the brass snap.
The leather scabbard is in about
Excellent
condition. It has never been worn or carried on a belt. The leather is solid and supple throughout and the stitching and staple backed rivets are all solidly in place. The blackened brass snaps on the knife retention strap and the stone pouch are fully functional and both straps are solid and still supple. The scabbard rivets have a lovely ring of verdigris around each of them.
The bottom buckle brass snap on the stone pouch is fully functional and has some verdigris around the snap.  The top brass buckle snap is not functional as the snap has come loose from the leather and is "snapped" into the brass buckle.
Overall this is an outstanding example of a Vietnam Era
Type No 4
Jet Pilot’s Survival Knife
. The knife is truly in excellent condition and the original sharpening stone is in place and has never been used. If you have been wanting to add one of these knives to your collection, this would be a very difficult one to upgrade from and would look fantastic in any US military edged weapons or knife collection.