Vic Astronaut

[Thunderpants]

Dear NASA,
Can I be an astronaut? I already have my own special "Astronaut" knife as well as a spare if any of my fellow spacemen need it. I don't like sardines but if that is all you have up there I should be able to bust the tins open, thanks to my trusty vintage Victorinox. I could also fix the exercise bike, though given my current fitness regime I am unlikely to damage it.

If I don't hear from you by 1993 I'll assume that's a "no" and do my best to become a Cosmonaut instead.

До свидания!
Thunderpants

[Gareth]

  How could they say no?

[Thunderpants]

How could they say no?

You know what hurts the most? I don't think they even read my letter...

Neither did the Russians.

But I reckon these days if anyone is gonna send me to the moon it'll be the Chinese. Time to purchase some of their quality SAKs on ebay...

[bren10man]

how long did it take you to get yours?

I ordered and it shipped earlier this week. 

London, UK to South Carolina, USA

[Spatha]

how long did it take you to get yours?

I ordered and it shipped earlier this week. 

London, UK to South Carolina, USA

Mine only took a day or two, but the parcel only had to travel a couple of hundred miles from London up to Yorkshire.  Your mileage may vary.     I would imagine it would take a week or so, as long as customs don't interfere that is.  I can tell you that mine were very carefully packaged so it should arrive in good nick.   

[ColoSwiss]

Dear NASA,
Can I be an astronaut? I already have my own special "Astronaut" knife as well as a spare if any of my fellow spacemen need it. I don't like sardines but if that is all you have up there I should be able to bust the tins open, thanks to my trusty vintage Victorinox. I could also fix the exercise bike, though given my current fitness regime I am unlikely to damage it.

If I don't hear from you by 1993 I'll assume that's a "no" and do my best to become a Cosmonaut instead.

До свидания!
Thunderpants

[bren10man]

Good news!!!

The postman didn't leave it (gotta sign for it).  Wife picks it up tomorrow for me at post office.

I will leave a report tomorrow.

[bren10man]

Basicly, a new Ranger, with Phillips screwdriver w/o can key, in lieu of Corkscrew; OR; new Craftsman w/o Pliers.   

It is post 1992: rivet  in scissors, pre-2005 Vic markings on main blade, NO pin hole behind the Phillips driver. 

[Spatha]

That's odd. The one I got has scissors with a screw, Phillips with can key, no chisel or hook, old style file, and no pin hole in the scales.  The can opener is also an older style.  Even the toothpick and tweezers are slightly different designs than the modern ones.

I'd reckoned mine to be from 1986-91 era, I think.


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[NutSAK]

That's odd. The one I got has scissors with a screw, Phillips with can key, no chisel or hook, old style file, and no pin hole in the scales.  The can opener is also an older style.  Even the toothpick and tweezers are slightly different designs than the modern ones.

I'd reckoned mine to be from 1986-91 era, I think.


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If the can opener is truly the older style (with "Pat"), then it is likely older than that.  "Pat" went away sometime right around 1980, I believe.

[Spatha]

No PAT.  it just has a wider "scoop", if you see what I mean.


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[neillcurrie]

I'd be interested to know what an astronaut would do with a woodsaw, or more generally how the NASA people settled on this particular model...I've got some googling to do 

Amputations maybe, if you couldn't get back to Earth quickly 

[ColoSwiss]

I'd be interested to know what an astronaut would do with a woodsaw, or more generally how the NASA people settled on this particular model...I've got some googling to do 

Amputations maybe, if you couldn't get back to Earth quickly 

The knife was also intended as a general survival tool in case the crew landed off-target in a remote area.

[bren10man]

No....Here is your astronaut knife: Randall #17 Astro:

http://www.randallknives.com/knives/model-17-astro/

Designed especially for the Mercury 7 Astronauts.  Final design by Astronaut Gordon "Gordo" Cooper.

[ColoSwiss]

Here's a letter from NASA confirming they bought 50 of the Master Craftsmen for the Space Shuttle missions back in 1978. Didn't know about the Randall. Thanks for the info.

http://www.e-webtechnologies.com/sak/Victorinox_Letter_From_NASA.pdf

[ColoSwiss]

Did some more digging. In addition to the Victorinox and Randall, a number of other knives have been used by NASA, including a Case machete, a modified Spyderco Delica, and an Emerson.

http://www.cartertown.com/Knives/CASE/Case%20Nasa.htm

http://tomsachs.org/item/nasa-knife

http://emersonknives.com/tag/nasa/

Also apparently the Camillus MC-1 automatic knife as was issued to paratroopers and pilots.

http://www.usmilitaryknives.com/knife_knotes_5.htm

[kirk13]

Hmmm.... The page for the modded Spydie claims they went to the moon. Odd given the last man walked on the moon in1972, and Spyderco was founded in 1976

[Spatha]

Interesting stuff.     I love learning about the history of the space program, even if there are some discrepancies.     Those Spyderco NASA scales look very good in white.    Perhaps I should get white scales for my Astronaut.

[burnside]

Very cool and interesting info, guys. 

Thanks for the links. I would love to check out one of those Randall knives, but considering that two are on display at the Smithsonian Institution, chances of that ever happening are slim to none.

[basilio]

Apparently a Wenger was also carried by a Space Shuttle crew member.
Here is an interesting document from the website linked above by Karl
http://www.e-webtechnologies.com/sak/Wenger_Shuttle_Document.pdf
The picture on the first page of the document (that I suspect comes from the Wenger Anniversary book) was also used in a Wenger catalog (see attachment)

[Etherealicer]

This involves only the S and no AK, still I think its fitting here. Switzerland supported the NASA (Probably primarily financially). So the Swiss Flag was carried to the moon on the Apollo 11 mission.



Upper Text
Presented to the People of the
Swiss Confederation
By
Richard Nixon
President of the United States of America

Lower Text
This flag of your nation was carried to the Moon and back by Apollo 11, and this fragment of the Moon's surface was brought to Earth by the crew of that first manned lunar landing.

[RT1969]

I  the flag and it's story!

One thing I just now noticed:
So, in former times, the Phillips driver could open cans and the can opener could turn Phillips screws?
 


And something I just discovered after reading the links:
I see the Tom Sachs knive as an art installation. It would shock me if this 'Space Program' (http://tomsachs.org/exhibition/space-program) ever reaches the moon!

[Philby]

Tried to buy one of these last night, entered all my details, clicked pay and a new page opened saying could not contact server!  Left it alone and bought a super tinker from somewhere else instead. You've guessed it, received an email off Bonds this morning confirming purchase of one Astronaut Cheers Kirk  I don't know how you do it, but I'm not complaining. Well found by the way!

[NutSAK]

(Image removed from quote.)

No PAT.  it just has a wider "scoop", if you see what I mean.


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That isn't necessarily indicative of a time period.  I have openers from the late sixties/early seventies that look like the one at the bottom of your picture.

[Spatha]

That isn't necessarily indicative of a time period.  I have openers from the late sixties/early seventies that look like the one at the bottom of your picture.

Thanks for the clarification.   

Tried to buy one of these last night, entered all my details, clicked pay and a new page opened saying could not contact server!  Left it alone and bought a super tinker from somewhere else instead. You've guessed it, received an email off Bonds this morning confirming purchase of one Astronaut Cheers Kirk  I don't know how you do it, but I'm not complaining. Well found by the way!

Congrats on your purchase!     It will be interesting to see which version you receive.   

[ColoSwiss]

Hmmm.... The page for the modded Spydie claims they went to the moon. Odd given the last man walked on the moon in1972, and Spyderco was founded in 1976

The modified Spyderco is bogus. None of the listed users were on any of the Apollo missions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Apollo_astronauts

[kirk13]

Hmmm.... The page for the modded Spydie claims they went to the moon. Odd given the last man walked on the moon in1972, and Spyderco was founded in 1976

The modified Spyderco is bogus. None of the listed users were on any of the Apollo missions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Apollo_astronauts

The one of them I could find a reference to( look I was on the train to work ) was at college during the last moon shots   

[bren10man]

Very cool and interesting info, guys. 

Thanks for the links. I would love to check out one of those Randall knives, but considering that two are on display at the Smithsonian Institution, chances of that ever happening are slim to none.

All the Randall knives you see on the link I sent you are for sale.  Each is individually HAND MADE.  Order now, and you will receive it in 2018.   

OR, do like I do: go to gun and knife shows, and see what is available.  I personally looked at 10 or so Randall knives for sale at the gunshow I went to this past Saturday.  I REALLY like the #14 and #18 and #1.  I am seriously thinking about getting one.  It will cost me around $500+.  If I do that, I need to get rid of my ANIB 1995 purchased NIB Gerber 9" BMF w/sawteeth bowie knife.

[papercut]

All this excitement got me to check my box of neglected Saks, I was sure I had something akin to the Astronaut. Alas, it is merely a slightly worse for wear Ranger.

[ColoSwiss]

On a somewhat related note, here's a Russian space mission survival gun, with a machete in the detachable stock. Its a 'drilling' (three barrels).

http://zombiehunters.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=109&t=98109