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Who makes the Air Force survival knife?
It appears that in 2006, Ontario Knife Company became the current vendor to the DoD of the Jet Pilot Survival Knife under the National Stock Number (NSN): 7340-00-098-4327. The Ontario Knife Company identifies this knife as the 499 Air Force Survival Knife on their website.
What knife does Air Force use?
Product Description. The Ontario Knife 6150, 499 Air Force Survival Knife has become an Ontario CLASSIC also used by US Armed Forces. The 5″ plain edge blade has a . 17″ thickness with a flat bevel with swedge grind and an HRC of 50-55.
Do fighter pilots carry knives?
Currently, most pilots carry no weapons beyond a survival knife and occasionally a standard issue sidearm in their kits when flying combat operations, and with Air Force operations ongoing in multiple theaters around the world, a mishap that results in a crash or an aircraft downed by enemy fire could result in a lone …
What is an ASEK knife?
The Aircrew Survival Egress Knife or ASEK is a U.S. Army aircrew survival knife, designed and initially manufactured by the Ontario Knife Company, and entered service in 2003.
Do USAF pilots carry guns?
When did the Camillus jet pilot survival knife come out?
Camillus produced the knife with a 6-inch blade from 1959-1961. In 1961, updates to the military specifications called for a 5-inch blade. Camillus produced the Jet Pilot Survival Knife with a 5-inch blade from 1961-2006.
Who makes Air Force survival knives?
Later, after service members began returning from Vietnam, the military-grade issued knives began to be seen on the market. Currently, the military-grade Air Force Survival Knife is only manufactured and sold by the Ontario Knife Company.
How long is the blade on a Camillus knife?
From 1957 to 61 it was made with a 6 inch blade. The blade was shorted to 5 inches due to pilot feedback and the basic design of the knife has stayed that way since. Here are some examples of the markings on the Camillus made knives.
Are the Camillus knives available to active duty soldiers?
While these knives wouldnt have been provided as part of a Government contract and issued to active duty servicemen through that procurement process. Camillus continued to supply these knives to the U. S. Government AAFES, (PX/BX) system.