Navy Knife

mpr933 · Post by **mpr933** » Fri Apr 16, 2004 11:13 pm

I found this knife in my Grandmothers house after she passed away. I contacted Bernard Levine many years back and he told me it is a Case knife.
Has anyone ever seen this type of knife before?

7" Blade / 4" Handle
No other markings

Pushbutton · Post by **Pushbutton** » Sat Apr 17, 2004 1:51 am

I would guess it's a theater knife because of the cast alumium handles. But if Bernie said it was a Case who am I to dispute it. I have never seen one either and I have about 3 case books.
PB

BennytheBlade · Post by **BennytheBlade** » Sat Apr 17, 2004 2:40 am

Interesting... was someone in your family in the service during the war?

Always like to get a bit of history.

HTMLBali · Post by **HTMLBali** » Sat Apr 17, 2004 2:44 am

It looks very similar to a an old US SI diving knife......Although I do challenge its authenticity due to the fact the handle looks like very unstable/unsturdy aluminum and not the solid steel you would find on military grade knives.....

Although just my opinion.

mpr933 · Post by **mpr933** » Sat Apr 17, 2004 3:20 am

The story is that it was given to my Grandfather by the Navy. I am not sure for what though.

I am hoping to hear from Bernard again:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showt ... p?t=295870

mrbigg · Post by **mrbigg** » Sat Apr 17, 2004 5:25 am

HTMLBali wrote:It looks very similar to a an old US SI diving knife......Although I do challenge its authenticity due to the fact the handle looks like very unstable/unsturdy aluminum and not the solid steel you would find on military grade knives.....

Although just my opinion.

if it is a theater knife it seems more likely they would use aluminum to keep the weight down - plus i imagine steel and saltwater don't mix well!

Vagrant · Post by **Vagrant** » Sat Apr 17, 2004 5:51 am

Gee I'll take a guess too

The Blade appears genuine

The handle is almost certainly a "custom" item

It may have been done stateside or "in country" [whatever country] by a craftsman or small company, and then given to your Grandfather as gift for services, or as a memento. It may have been from his unit or parts thereof or one he purchased himself, but I don't think it's from the Navy Dept itself.
Of course I could be totally wrong and it was part of his issue equipment. [Also the sun COULD go "supernova" tomorrow, same odds ]

Pushbutton · Post by **Pushbutton** » Sat Apr 17, 2004 2:50 pm

I concur with Mr Bigg
Aluminium was the metal of choice for theater knives.Many were made on board ships in the machine shops.Many were made stateside by relatives of those going off to war.Other handle materials were used but the majority were aluminium. There have been some excellant articles in KnifeWorld on theater knives.
PB

Vagrant · Post by **Vagrant** » Sat Apr 17, 2004 8:02 pm

I've re-handled a couple WW-2 theatre knives that were done in [deteriorating] plexiglass with chalk rubbed on the inside for color, an interesting way to do things

Pushbutton · Post by **Pushbutton** » Sat Apr 17, 2004 10:11 pm

Al
I have seen similiar ones done in plexiglass with different colored spacers.They reminded me of a futuristic stacked leather handle.

A good many came with knuckle handles also. I think the best reason there were so many is because the guys would break there knives and there was always some machinest working who was like Bill De'Shivs and he would take the blades and rehandle them and regrind them if the blades were chipped. Hell Bills old enough it could have been him.

PB

mpr933 · Post by **mpr933** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 2:36 pm

Here is the post from Bernard. I guess I was wrong that it is a Case knife:

I would not have told you that this is a Case knife, because I know it is not. Case never made anything remotely like it.

It is a Grieshaber knife, made by the Grieshaber Mfg. Co. of Chicago, circa 1941-1942. It was never Navy issue, but rather was a PX knife, like the Westerns. Grieshaber Mfg. Co. was in business circa 1850s - 1950s.

See page 159 of Cole's US MILITARY KNIVES, Book IV.

Info courtesy Frank Trzaska.

BRL...