Italian Air Force Pilot Knife

Italian Air Force Issue

This fixed-blade pilot knife was issued to Italian Air Force aircrew as a survival tool, the kind of knife a downed flyer would use to cut cord, process wood and get through the hours before rescue. It combines a polished steel blade with a sawback spine, a stacked leather handle and a riveted green leather sheath. Collectors of Italian military kit and aviation survival gear will want it, and so will anyone who prefers a classic leather-handled field knife carrying genuine service provenance.

Features

• Sawback Spine — A row of teeth along the top of the blade lets you notch wood or rope, leaving the main edge for clean cutting.
• Full-Length Fuller — A long groove runs down the flat of the blade, taking weight out of the steel without weakening it.
• Polished Steel Blade — The blade carries a bright mirror finish and tapers to a sharp point for piercing and fine work.
• Flat Steel Crossguard — A plate guard between blade and handle stops your hand from sliding forward onto the edge.
• Stacked Leather Handle — Leather washers compressed onto the tang form a ribbed grip, set off with red, black and brass spacers at each end.
• Polished Steel Pommel — A rounded metal cap closes off the handle and adds weight at the rear for balance.
• Riveted Leather Sheath — The green leather scabbard is stitched along its edges and reinforced with metal rivets at the throat and body.
• Steel Chape Tip — A metal cap protects the bottom of the sheath, so the point cannot work through the leather.
• Snap Retention Strap — A leather strap closes over the handle with a press stud, keeping the knife seated when you move.
• Snap-Fastened Belt Loop — A leather loop on the back fastens with press studs so the sheath rides on a belt.

Original Specification

The knife follows a traditional pattern of the period: steel for the blade, guard and pommel, leather for the grip and scabbard. It was not drawn up for the civilian market, and the sheath shows that clearly in its rivets, metal chape and press-stud hardware. For a collector, an issued example has a provenance that a commercial lookalike cannot match. For a user, it is a straightforward, full-size field knife with a sawback for rough work.