Air Force survival knife

[BIG-TARGET]

Ironically, The last USAF pilot to be shot down"behind enemy lines" was Captain Scott O'Grady during Bosnia.  And in his book"RETURN WITH HONOR", he had a very low opinion of the issued USAF survival knife.  During the time he was on the ground, in Bosnia, he actually used his SAK as his primary cutting/survival tool.

[Spork, Lord of Lime Jello!]

He probably didn't know how to sharpen it...  

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

He probably didn't know how to sharpen it...  

Sadly that's probably true

Fair play to him for carrying a Sak as back up though

[Spork, Lord of Lime Jello!]

I've been tinkering with the idea of putting a Doan MFS in the stone pocket. I can fit it in this sheath and close the flap, but it's pretty tight.

I have a fresh, untreated sheath that I can wet mold and stretch the pocket a little. The other option is to trim some of the magnesium off the block. A small diamond plate like the Eze-lap fishhook sharpener would replace the issue stone.

I would coat the MFS in varnish or fingernail polish...I've experienced corrosion on them when stored in the pocket of other leather sheaths.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I've been tinkering with the idea of putting a Doan MFS in the stone pocket. I can fit it in this sheath and close the flap, but it's pretty tight.

I have a fresh, untreated sheath that I can wet mold and stretch the pocket a little. The other option is to trim some of the magnesium off the block. A small diamond plate like the Eze-lap fishhook sharpener would replace the issue stone.

I would coat the MFS in varnish or fingernail polish...I've experienced corrosion on them when stored in the pocket of other leather sheaths.

Now that would make a great wood's package

[Dunc]

Did someone mention Air force Survival Knives 









Dunc

[Biru]

That last knife you posted SporkBob looked more like the Ontario I saw. Thanks.

Unfortunately, the USAF knife reviews I've found online tend to be rather hard on the knife. Generally they fault the saw-back which apparently fools potential users into thinking they can fell a California Redwood tree and the thin profiling of the blade (I can see their point a bit here, pardon the pun). Still, I love the styling of the knife, and it balances much better than my Buck General. The blade is much easier to sharpen as well.

I think the mink oil idea came from a rep for Kabar, but I can't remember as it's been a while. It treats the handle and sheath very well, and leaves a beautiful patina (I tried it on my hiking boots and like it), but i don't know its effect over the long run.

That's an interesting knife as well Dunc. Are the extensions on each side of the handle quick-release activators?

[BIG-TARGET]

After Scott O'Grady the USAF did look into a new survival knife.  One of the possible choices was the Knives of Alaska Brown Bear combo.
http://www.knivesofalaska.com/catalog/prod_display.aspx?from=Combination%20Sets&cat=Brown%20Combo




I have one of these.  A good general purpose camp knife combination.  I surprised the Airforce didn't choose it

[Dunc]

That's an interesting knife as well Dunc. Are the extensions on each side of the handle quick-release activators?

Yes , you have to press both together to release . Its very quick and easy and theres no way it can come loose while pulling G's in a fighter jet .


Dunc

[FredKJ]

Well the steam and votive candle wax job worked very well.  Perhaps a spoon was not the best for boning but worked ok.  I was seeing what I could do field expedient with what I could scavange.  The steam really heats the wax and works it into the leather.  It all worked pretty good.

[Spork, Lord of Lime Jello!]

Now we need pics