Knives of GIs’ lives: Blades were made in crucible of war

Sierra Vista Herald, Sierra Vista Arizona ^ | Bill Hess

[SandRat]

SIERRA VISTA — Certain knives tell stories.

But, unfortunately, many of these stories remain mysteries. “Trapper Jon” Carpenter has a number of special knives made by World War II GIs, each with some kind of story behind its making.

He once had a knife that was tailored for or by some soldier.

It was different, Carpenter said.

The handle was personal.

On the butt of the handle, underneath Plexiglas, was the photo of a GI’s family, he said.

“I wanted to know about that family and the person who carried it (the knife),” Carpenter said.

Today, there is an increase in collecting the special personal knives GIs carried into battle or made to while away periods of boredom.

As the owner of Trapper Jon’s Knives, Carpenter said he has a variety of instruments that are collectibles.

The New England transplant and former professional chef and restaurant partner, said he always has been interested in knives.

As a chef, knives are part of the profession, but his interest increased to include becoming a collector and opening a store where all types of blades are sold.

At 62, he continues with what once was a hobby and now a business, after moving from New Hampshire to Arizona a few years ago.

From pen knives to large broad swords his store on Fry Boulevard is full of a variety of blades, and yes that includes kitchen ones as well.

During America’s Civil War soldiers on both sides took large kitchen knives and reshaped them into personal knives, which they carried into combat, he said.

There is something about having a knife, beyond a bayonet, that makes a soldier feel safer when in battle, Carpenter said.

Today, knives made by GIs or made for soldiers by others fall into the category of Theater Made knives, he said.

Historically, military people have always wanted something personal when it came to a blade, the store owner said.

And, those who served during World War II, where men who could work with their hands and understood knives, Carpenter said.

According to historians there was a game boys played called mumblety-peg, in which a jackknife was used in a contest to show off the knife-throwing skills of a person.

During the war, many GIs played the game, according to a number of Googled sites about mumblety-peg, which is thought to go back centuries during the times of sailing ships.

Carpenter said that during WWII, soldiers from all nations made personal knives.

His main interest is in the American-made ones.

GIs then had access to material, like Plexiglas, insulation materials and aluminum, as well as scrap steel, such as large files, he said.

“They had access to good types of tool steel, too,” Carpenter said, adding any piece of strong metal would be used.

One knife he has is made from a large file, the serrated portion visible on the top of the device.

Soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines also had easy access to machine shops, whether on ships, at airfields or in camps, making it easier for them to make their personal blades, Carpenter said.

He looked at one knife that had a brass handle shaped into a line of skulls, probably created through a “lost wax” casting process. This was a special blade.

It was not a commercial blade that had been modified, Carpenter said.

Like many of the “Theater Made Military Knives” he has, he has no idea of the story behind the skull knife.

“Maybe it was made by a paratrooper,” he said, because to him the handle symbolizes somehow death from above.

Then there is a knife he has that has a special engraving on the blade.

It states: “Made by R. Arthur for Pete Belton, Dec. 45.”

By December 1945 the war was over, but Carpenter said what he will never know is if Arthur and Belton were friends and the knife was made as part of the friendship.

Or did Belton ask for the knife to be made.

Was it made in a ship’s machine shop as the two sailed home after the war?

Or, was it made at an airfield or Army camp?

The story of the Arthur and Belton blade, like many of the other collectible Theater Made Knives, will remain a mystery.

Perhaps Churchill’s oft-used quote about Stalin’s Russia is appropriate.

For the stories surrounding the knives also can be seen as “a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.”

And, as the surviving GIs who served in World War II fall to the Grim Reaper, the stories of the special blades go with them into a deep shroud of fog.

Herald/Review senior reporter Bill Hess can be reached at 515-4615 or by e-mail at bill.hess@svherald.com.

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

My Favorite Blade Is Fixed On My Battle Rifle ;0)
My Ol'Jar-Head Buddy Bought Me A Kabar At The Gunshow ;0)
My Mom Brought Me Home A Swiss Officers Mod. ;0)
My P-38 Will Still Open My Supper ;0)
(it's got a blade) ;0)

[RadioAstronomer]

If you guys haven't figured it out yet, I really like fine blades. :-)

[Blue Jays]

Hi Dumpster Baby-

That old knife crafted on Guadalcanal sounds awesome! If there is a way for you to post the picture on this thread, it would be greatly appreciated.

~ Blue Jays ~

[300winmag]

Gerber knives are the absolute best in my opinion.

Every assembly line must have its share of Monday-morning-back-to-work blues. Here's one of the Gerber EOD tools we gave to some combat engineers. I hope he has a sense of humor, and doesn't mind having a second can opener in place of the knife blade:

One aspect of the Hobbit Hole's mission is to supply the same knives and tools that we taxpayers have already bought, but just can't be obtained in the field. We have our logo laser-engraved on them so the troops can prove they didn't "steal" the item from some more-deserving REMF.

[Blue Jays]

Hi RA-

"...It is a German long sword made about 400 years ago..."

That would be fantastic mounted in a case behind glass and displayed over a fireplace or something! Has it been in your family for a long period of time?

~ Blue Jays ~

[Blue Jays]

Maybe the knife with the "dual can openers" will find its way to a cook!

[300winmag]

some more-deserving REMF...

Oh, I'm sorry. I should have used the more politically-correct term, "FOBbit".

[300winmag]

Maybe the knife with the "dual can openers" will find its way to a cook!

Only if a cook has need of the C4 punch and the cap-crimper jaws. :)

[river rat]

Check out the Seal Knife 2000.

Semper Fi

[RadioAstronomer]

Not in my family at all. It was left to me in a will from a long time D&D friend. The blade even has a blood grove. And yes, it is hanging on the wall. :-)

[Blue Jays]

Forward Operating Base is certainly more politically-correct, but REMF is much funnier and well-recognized!

[T Wayne]

Neat thread!

I still have the knives I brought back from 'Nam but have recently (well really not so recently) been bitten by the handmade/custom knife bug.

There are some guys out there making some really fantastic blades.

BTW, my tagline also applies to knives!!

[Blue Jays]

That 400-year-old sword is definitely a piece of history that I'm sure could tell a tale if it could speak!

[RadioAstronomer]

Beautiful knife, about an inch longer than the Gov-Tac. I would have a hard time choosing between the two. :-)

[river rat]

It's a VERY tough and functional knife...
You can find it new on eBay for less than $90. + about $8 bucks shipping..

Semper Fi

[stevio]

I guess a lot of us gun guys take the knife for granted. My favorite right now is the Columbia River K&T "Carson Design" M16-03Z. Next time I'll opt for the serrated back edge and hardened steel model.

[RadioAstronomer]

That 400-year-old sword is definitely a piece of history that I'm sure could tell a tale if it could speak!

No kidding! There are some small nicks in the blade where it had been beaten against something. It was most definitely used. This was no presentation blade. The guard has two short metal pieces (2 inches or so) that are parallel on each side of the blade. All I can figure is it could catch an opponents blade there. I wish it could talk. :-)

http://www.hillgiftware.com/images/large/S5704M.jpg

The blade looks like this one, however the cross guard and pommel are diamond shaped on the ends. And there are the two short steel peices that parallel the flat side of the blade coming out of the cross guard.

[RadioAstronomer]

Thanks! I will get one. You are an expert and I am just a novice so I truly appreciate the advice.

[Lancer_N3502A]

Cold Steel Trail Master

[DragonMarine]

Sounds like a fabulous blade. The Blood Groove you refer to is a technique called "fullering", and it lightens and balances the blade, not for letting blood, I'm afraid.

We'd love a picture