As a boy sailor from about 6 years old and an officer in the Royal Naval Reserve, I always had a main spike clasp knife, usually a 21306 pattern, but all the serious seamen I ever knew used a fixed blade and a marlin spike in a leather rigging set. Incidentally, splicing a loop was a basis skill I learned before I was 8 years old. The British Army knives had dozens of patterns, whereas the navy only had one pattern from 1938 till they stopped issuing them in the 80’s. The only change was that till 43, they had a copper bale. After 43 they had a steel bale, though we’d call it a lanyard ring.
I was a Marine and aboard ships over two years of four. Just walk on or look at a sail power ship and they are a spider web of lines and rope everywhere you look. That is just the rope you can see, then they carried more or as much stored away. I might think rope is still important to even current ships. The army and navy publish manuals on rope and knots. 🙂
@@gizmocarr3093 , I was going through Silveys book and there are numerous rope knives ( no spike) shown. The only spike knife shown is the one that according to The Camillus records was lend lease, made to British Royal Navy Specs. Again, I’m not saying they weren’t used in the USN but I’m just not finding it as a issue item.
Very interesting video. I absolutely love the history of different knives. I had no idea that US sailors carried an easy open jack knife during WWII. I incorrectly assumed they carried marlinspikes. Keep up the great work!
got a few rigging knives, none of them are camillus but i do have 3 richter knives, one is a fixed blade with a sheath and a separate spike the other is a folder, i have a copy of the small camillus stainless from japan and a large one like the sheffield knife but it has smooth scales and nothing stamped into the blade
Folding Marlins Spikes have been around at least until the 1880s or so. The Camillus 695. 696. and 697 and similar knives from KaBar, Buck, and Kutmaster are from the 1960s or so. But Camillus did make older Marlin Spikes; just not on this frame or with this locking mechanism.
Greetings and Salutations, from Goulburn NSW Australia, I was away from knives for a while but back, This was a superb Presentation Tobias, thank you, looking everywhere for the length of the spike 78 mm on the # 696 again thank you, Just bought from my local second hand dealer a never used in the box with original instructions, $ 45.00 AUD about $35.00 USD. I'm very happy, Regards Glen.
Great presentation, very interesting to say the least. I remember my father having the grey metal handle Royal Navy knife, he was a signalman in WWII. He also brought home the army version with Sheepsfoot blade, can opener and marlin spike but with black plastic handle. Both were carbon steel and not in good condition by the time I saw them.
The Half Hawk is patterned after the old Case Loom Fixer which is the two blade version of the Case Whaler. Definitely a Rope Knife. And definitely a cooler name than Loom Fixer! I really dig the Half Hawk.
Thank you for the great video! I have a small collection and my father left me a (probably) world war II vintage TL29-type knife I do some more research to determine the year manufactured and If in fact it was a military issue. I'm going to play back some of your podcasts and take notes! Thank you so much for your exhausted research
Just bought a $2 knife at a garage sale and was wondering what the spike was for which brought me here. It’s the 697 and now I know what the spike and shackle key is for… very interesting
Often overlooked, this pattern of knife maybe noted as knives used for marine purposes. In reality, the knife is common wherever braided rope is used. The cool looking braided lanyard on your knife really tells something about the owner. Being older, I made a Rope cattle halter using rope, marlinspike and rope threading needles in Agriculture class in High School. Cowboys, Lumberjacks, Miners, Farmers and Carpenters used knives like these. Naval ships still have traditional braided rope decorations on ladder ways and railings. The important fact is learning to use one. If you think, the tool is useless it is not the knife tools fault is it. Historically it is an iconic knife pattern and still used today. I can see why you like collecting them and most people don’t because they don’t what they are. 😅🤣😂
I have a question about a Knife I hear was used in the Navy but by a different company. It’s the Case XX 337-6 quartermaster. Can you tell me if that quartermaster had colored spacers and if they did what order did they come from the factory? I love your channel and thank you so much for providing historical information we can all enjoy.
Sorry, I'm not that familiar with the "Q" knife. What I do know is Case and Cartaraugus were the main suppliers and they were made for both Army and Navy. When the War initially broke out, the Both the Army and Navy called for a type of hunting knife with a six inch blade and stacked leather handle. A wide variety of knives were procured. Soon afterwards, both services worked together to and settled on a more specific pattern of six inch hunting knife. That pattern was basically the Case 337-6 or the Cattaraugus 225. As the knives were approved by the Quatermaster branch, they were stamped with a Q. The knives then became a general issue knives to anyone in the Army or Navy who it was deemed needed a knife. Thus the knife was used throughout the Army and the Navy. As for the Spacers. I really can't help you on that. Some would think that this was possibly early on and then quality suffered as the war progressed. Others argue, that the spacer would show up later because early on the demand was higher and the urgency to produce knives quickly meant corners were cut.
That was interesting, thanks. I have a collection of what I always called rope knives, several with marlin spikes. But the one that I treasure the most is the first Case XX knife I purchased in the 1970's, a 11031 SH with Walnut covers. Doesn't seem to be much information on line about it. Any insight?
@@KnifeChatswithTobias Thanks for your quick reply and your expertise. The Whaler is indeed close, but this is it: ua-cam.com/video/mKFg019l5Ps/v-deo.html however, as you see, not much information. I don't expect you to dig into it, just sharing.
Thank you for an informative video and setting straight some misconceptions that i believe are widely spread. The Navy Jack is a very nice knife, i guess that the navy issued a seperate marlinspike? The fact that the Royal navy did issue a knife with marlinspike while being made by Camillus and not the US navy, well that's a decission someone made for reasons we may never know. Thank you Tobias.
The difference between the springs in the 695 and 696 is just a design change. I believe there was an issue with the single spring breaking, thus the change to two springs. In the latter years, all knives of that pattern took the two spring version.
Primarily line work on a sailing craft. Essentially loosening knits and splicing lines together. Because of their use with ropes and such, they are also popular with anyone who uses rope, such as mountain climbers. Marlin is a corruption of an old sailing term for "Tarred Rope" commonly called a marline. The word itself was a corruption from the Middle English; mēren (to tie or moor) so it referred to the line used to moor a boat to the dock.
Great and informative video. I think that the reason to use a sheep's foot blade on the knife might have been so that there was less chance of stabbing yourself or others with it when using it on a moving and rolling ship. Just a thought.
Those are emergency knives, originally issued to paratroopers to cut fouled lines in the event of a runaway parachute or getting stuck in a tree, or some other fouling. I have one that is only the guthook but haven't snagged the parachutust knife yet. They are a little pricy.
@@KnifeChatswithTobias thank you so much. I love the fact that you’ve always been willing to help your subs. This is the reason I still love hunting for older knives. Way cool. 👍
The navy contracted the knife/gut orange handle knife pre ‘72. They were recalled,as I was told by my squadron’s parrigger, because it was supposed to have the gut hook spring loaded(for one hand use if you had to slash para lines). Unfortunately, the ones I’ve seen had the knife blade spring loaded and it didn’t have that locked open feature. Very unsafe. If you want, I can post you a picture.
I have the 697 model marlin spike knife. It’s marked Camillus New York USA. How does this one compare to the ones marked Stainless? Was it made before or after the stainless mark?
17:1hello Tobias. I found one with the number 73 on the blade and looks pretty old. Do you know a bit about this model? It has a rat,-tail like blade which i dont understand what It could have been used for. Thanks and congratulacions on your channel.
Sailors who actually deal with line handling, rigging, and any fancywork often have a totally separate and stand alone marlinspike or fid and carried in addition to their knife. Outside of that, other Rate's didn't have a large use.
Royal Navy jack knives had no need of a can opener as they were not issued individual rations unlike the Army who had to cook for themselves when deployed
Happy Sunday Sir Tobias, I've got my popcorn ready for the film to start!
Hi Steve! Thanks for coming by!
@@KnifeChatswithTobias I ate all my popcorn before the main feature started !
That L46 jack is a heck of a handsome knife. Thanks for the look at all these, buddy!
As a boy sailor from about 6 years old and an officer in the Royal Naval Reserve, I always had a main spike clasp knife, usually a 21306 pattern, but all the serious seamen I ever knew used a fixed blade and a marlin spike in a leather rigging set. Incidentally, splicing a loop was a basis skill I learned before I was 8 years old.
The British Army knives had dozens of patterns, whereas the navy only had one pattern from 1938 till they stopped issuing them in the 80’s. The only change was that till 43, they had a copper bale. After 43 they had a steel bale, though we’d call it a lanyard ring.
Thanks for the information.
I was a Marine and aboard ships over two years of four. Just walk on or look at a sail power ship and they are a spider web of lines and rope everywhere you look. That is just the rope you can see, then they carried more or as much stored away. I might think rope is still important to even current ships. The army and navy publish manuals on rope and knots. 🙂
@@gizmocarr3093 , I was going through Silveys book and there are numerous rope knives ( no spike) shown. The only spike knife shown is the one that according to The Camillus records was lend lease, made to British Royal Navy Specs.
Again, I’m not saying they weren’t used in the USN but I’m just not finding it as a issue item.
Cool history. And nice effects at the end.
Thank you Tobias 👍👍🤠🤠
Enjoyed very much, Thanks Tobias 👍
Very interesting video. I absolutely love the history of different knives. I had no idea that US sailors carried an easy open jack knife during WWII. I incorrectly assumed they carried marlinspikes. Keep up the great work!
Very informative video.
got a few rigging knives, none of them are camillus but i do have 3 richter knives, one is a fixed blade with a sheath and a separate spike the other is a folder, i have a copy of the small camillus stainless from japan and a large one like the sheffield knife but it has smooth scales and nothing stamped into the blade
the smooth one also has a wide brass shackle or bail or whatever its called
You learn back splicing in the boilermakers. Working with wire rope slings. Also handy when rigging a wheel to hoist you tools up scaffolding, etc.
I like them quite a bit….. I love rope knives!!!!! Thanks for showing them Tobias
Nice snap sound on the spikes, I would have thought that these knives, were much older than pre-WW2, thank you for the presentation.
Folding Marlins Spikes have been around at least until the 1880s or so. The Camillus 695. 696. and 697 and similar knives from KaBar, Buck, and Kutmaster are from the 1960s or so. But Camillus did make older Marlin Spikes; just not on this frame or with this locking mechanism.
Greetings and Salutations, from Goulburn NSW Australia, I was away from knives for a while but back, This was a superb Presentation Tobias, thank you, looking everywhere for the length of the spike 78 mm on the # 696 again thank you, Just bought from my local second hand dealer a never used in the box with original instructions, $ 45.00 AUD about $35.00 USD. I'm very happy, Regards Glen.
More like $30.00 USD
What a great deal. Those go for a pretty penny hear in the US, easily double or triple what you paid!
Even a better deal!
@@KnifeChatswithTobias in Australia I would say $290.00 Aud
Great presentation, very interesting to say the least. I remember my father having the grey metal handle Royal Navy knife, he was a signalman in WWII. He also brought home the army version with Sheepsfoot blade, can opener and marlin spike but with black plastic handle. Both were carbon steel and not in good condition by the time I saw them.
Those knives were rock solid back in the day!
15:55 I know the 697 (as you called it) was being issued by US Navy Supply in 1990. A friend in Supply gave me one while I was on active duty.
Really like that 76 US Navy but with ‘snaps’ that strong I wonder if a locking mechanism was not really needed.
I tend to agree. The British navy never bothered to lock the spike. or blade.
Awesome knives..I have a RR half hawk which is basically a rope knife..thanks for sharing.
The Half Hawk is patterned after the old Case Loom Fixer which is the two blade version of the Case Whaler. Definitely a Rope Knife. And definitely a cooler name than Loom Fixer! I really dig the Half Hawk.
Thank you for the great video! I have a small collection and my father left me a (probably) world war II vintage TL29-type knife I do some more research to determine the year manufactured and If in fact it was a military issue. I'm going to play back some of your podcasts and take notes! Thank you so much for your exhausted research
Good video! Cool knives and cool history!
Just bought a $2 knife at a garage sale and was wondering what the spike was for which brought me here. It’s the 697 and now I know what the spike and shackle key is for… very interesting
Glad I could be of help.
Often overlooked, this pattern of knife maybe noted as knives used for marine purposes. In reality, the knife is common wherever braided rope is used. The cool looking braided lanyard on your knife really tells something about the owner. Being older, I made a Rope cattle halter using rope, marlinspike and rope threading needles in Agriculture class in High School.
Cowboys, Lumberjacks, Miners, Farmers and Carpenters used knives like these. Naval ships still have traditional braided rope decorations on ladder ways and railings. The important fact is learning to use one. If you think, the tool is useless it is not the knife tools fault is it. Historically it is an iconic knife pattern and still used today. I can see why you like collecting them and most people don’t because they don’t what they are. 😅🤣😂
I have a question about a Knife I hear was used in the Navy but by a different company. It’s the Case XX 337-6 quartermaster. Can you tell me if that quartermaster had colored spacers and if they did what order did they come from the factory? I love your channel and thank you so much for providing historical information we can all enjoy.
Sorry, I'm not that familiar with the "Q" knife. What I do know is Case and Cartaraugus were the main suppliers and they were made for both Army and Navy. When the War initially broke out, the Both the Army and Navy called for a type of hunting knife with a six inch blade and stacked leather handle. A wide variety of knives were procured. Soon afterwards, both services worked together to and settled on a more specific pattern of six inch hunting knife. That pattern was basically the Case 337-6 or the Cattaraugus 225. As the knives were approved by the Quatermaster branch, they were stamped with a Q. The knives then became a general issue knives to anyone in the Army or Navy who it was deemed needed a knife. Thus the knife was used throughout the Army and the Navy. As for the Spacers. I really can't help you on that. Some would think that this was possibly early on and then quality suffered as the war progressed. Others argue, that the spacer would show up later because early on the demand was higher and the urgency to produce knives quickly meant corners were cut.
That was interesting, thanks. I have a collection of what I always called rope knives, several with marlin spikes. But the one that I treasure the most is the first Case XX knife I purchased in the 1970's, a 11031 SH with Walnut covers. Doesn't seem to be much information on line about it. Any insight?
Sound s like the "Whaler." See: ua-cam.com/video/ku2j0S7s2lc/v-deo.html and: ua-cam.com/video/egbsw6lQXDo/v-deo.html
@@KnifeChatswithTobias Thanks for your quick reply and your expertise. The Whaler is indeed close, but this is it: ua-cam.com/video/mKFg019l5Ps/v-deo.html however, as you see, not much information. I don't expect you to dig into it, just sharing.
Thank you for an informative video and setting straight some misconceptions that i believe are widely spread. The Navy Jack is a very nice knife, i guess that the navy issued a seperate marlinspike? The fact that the Royal navy did issue a knife with marlinspike while being made by Camillus and not the US navy, well that's a decission someone made for reasons we may never know. Thank you Tobias.
Learned alot, thanks
Glad it was helpful!
The difference between the springs in the 695 and 696 is just a design change. I believe there was an issue with the single spring breaking, thus the change to two springs. In the latter years, all knives of that pattern took the two spring version.
What is the marlin spike used for
Primarily line work on a sailing craft. Essentially loosening knits and splicing lines together. Because of their use with ropes and such, they are also popular with anyone who uses rope, such as mountain climbers. Marlin is a corruption of an old sailing term for "Tarred Rope" commonly called a marline. The word itself was a corruption from the Middle English; mēren (to tie or moor) so it referred to the line used to moor a boat to the dock.
Great and informative video. I think that the reason to use a sheep's foot blade on the knife might have been so that there was less chance of stabbing yourself or others with it when using it on a moving and rolling ship. Just a thought.
And .. sorry. Any info on an orange camilus switch blade that has a “ gut hook” knife thing?
Those are emergency knives, originally issued to paratroopers to cut fouled lines in the event of a runaway parachute or getting stuck in a tree, or some other fouling. I have one that is only the guthook but haven't snagged the parachutust knife yet. They are a little pricy.
@@KnifeChatswithTobias thank you so much. I love the fact that you’ve always been willing to help your subs. This is the reason I still love hunting for older knives. Way cool. 👍
The navy contracted the knife/gut orange handle knife pre ‘72. They were recalled,as I was told by my squadron’s parrigger, because it was supposed to have the gut hook spring loaded(for one hand use if you had to slash para lines). Unfortunately, the ones I’ve seen had the knife blade spring loaded and it didn’t have that locked open feature. Very unsafe. If you want, I can post you a picture.
I have the 697 model marlin spike knife. It’s marked Camillus New York USA. How does this one compare to the ones marked Stainless? Was it made before or after the stainless mark?
17:1hello Tobias. I found one with the number 73 on the blade and looks pretty old. Do you know a bit about this model? It has a rat,-tail like blade which i dont understand what It could have been used for.
Thanks and congratulacions on your channel.
Sailors who actually deal with line handling, rigging, and any fancywork often have a totally separate and stand alone marlinspike or fid and carried in addition to their knife. Outside of that, other Rate's didn't have a large use.
Royal Navy jack knives had no need of a can opener as they were not issued individual rations unlike the Army who had to cook for themselves when deployed
This is the exact same thing that Slick Slicer told me a while back!
Brother you have some really good knives, who gets them when you die?
I'm taking them with me. I might need them as a bribe when I get to the Pearly Gates.
Any one have any knowledge of Hammer brand Eagle Scout knives from the 40s. I can’t find any solid info and figured you might know something about it.
I will see what I can find out. Hammer Brand was owned by Scrhade by the 1940s.