SOLD from Wheatfield, IN:
DESCO Mark V US Navy Diver's Knife
This is a nice example of the classic United States Navy standard divers knife manufactured by DESCO and used in conjunction with the Mark V diving helmet. The wood handle is in excellent condition. The blade appears to have never been in the water. Perfect piece of equipment to set next to your Mark V helmet! These are most uncommon today but were essential equipment for the hardhat divers of the WWII era. Just what Bob Hope needed in the film "The Road to Bali" when fighting a giant squid! DESCO was an early Mark 5 diving equipment company. DESCO still makes these knives to this day. There were five or so manufacturers of this type of knife in WW2: DESCO, VINCE FORGE, MORRIS, BATTERYLESS TELEPHONE, BOMAR and SCHRADER.
The Desco U.S. Navy Divers Mark V Fixed-Blade Knife is a handsome and traditional piece of equipment manufactured to rigid U.S. Navy specifications. Originally set down in the 1929 Hull Standard Plan Drawing and cherished by Navy and commercial divers throughout the world, the upper edge of the knife blade is cut with saw teeth while the lower edge is a conventional knife edge. It is as much sought after by collectors for its unique design and appearance as by divers for its utility underwater. The sheath is marked with the word "DESCO" and the number 0204. Blade is slightly loose in handle with some movement; however, the handle is tight when screwed into sheath. There is some normal discoloration on the brass from age. The wooden handle is in excellent shape. Please refer to pictures for more details. Blade measures approximately 6 3/4 inches long by 1 inch wide. Overall knife measurement is 12 3/4 inches tip to hilt. Knife with sheath measures approximately 13 1/2 inches long. Sheath measures approximately 8 1/2 inches long.
This unique knife was designed to be an all-purpose tool for use by deep-sea divers who utilized the Mark V “dry suit” diving system. The Mark V system was adopted by the US Navy in 1916 and served until about 1979, when it was replaced by the Mark 12 system. The Mark V system is the classic “deep sea diver” dry suit with large brass & copper helmet, air lines, weighted boots, etc. that immediately comes to mind when you think about diving in the pre-SCUBA era. The Mark V knife was designed for use not only as a knife, but also as a prying tool, hammer, saw and general-purpose implement to accomplish whatever tasks were at the diver’s hands. The brass pommel cap allowed the knife to due duty as a makeshift hammer. The knife was carried in a heavy cast brass scabbard with a drain hole in the end and a funnel shaped opening that made it easier to sheath the knife while under water. The brass hilt cap on the knife was threaded with male threads, which would engage the female threads at the scabbard throat, allowing the knife to be secured in the scabbard. The scabbard was attached to the dive belt by a leather loop, which passed through a cast brass fitting on the scabbard. The knife and scabbard weighed in at a hefty 3lbs and were incredibly rugged and durable.
All in all, this is a really fantastic looking Mark V dive knife that would be a great addition to any military edged weapons collection, knife collection or naval & nautical collection. The knife is in about excellent condition and displays superbly.
$350 FTF in NW Indiana SOLD
$15 shipped to your door
The first, "I'll take it" gets the deal.
Thanks in advance for your time and interest.
Vanguard.45
DESCO Mark V US Navy Diver's Knife
This is a nice example of the classic United States Navy standard divers knife manufactured by DESCO and used in conjunction with the Mark V diving helmet. The wood handle is in excellent condition. The blade appears to have never been in the water. Perfect piece of equipment to set next to your Mark V helmet! These are most uncommon today but were essential equipment for the hardhat divers of the WWII era. Just what Bob Hope needed in the film "The Road to Bali" when fighting a giant squid! DESCO was an early Mark 5 diving equipment company. DESCO still makes these knives to this day. There were five or so manufacturers of this type of knife in WW2: DESCO, VINCE FORGE, MORRIS, BATTERYLESS TELEPHONE, BOMAR and SCHRADER.
The Desco U.S. Navy Divers Mark V Fixed-Blade Knife is a handsome and traditional piece of equipment manufactured to rigid U.S. Navy specifications. Originally set down in the 1929 Hull Standard Plan Drawing and cherished by Navy and commercial divers throughout the world, the upper edge of the knife blade is cut with saw teeth while the lower edge is a conventional knife edge. It is as much sought after by collectors for its unique design and appearance as by divers for its utility underwater. The sheath is marked with the word "DESCO" and the number 0204. Blade is slightly loose in handle with some movement; however, the handle is tight when screwed into sheath. There is some normal discoloration on the brass from age. The wooden handle is in excellent shape. Please refer to pictures for more details. Blade measures approximately 6 3/4 inches long by 1 inch wide. Overall knife measurement is 12 3/4 inches tip to hilt. Knife with sheath measures approximately 13 1/2 inches long. Sheath measures approximately 8 1/2 inches long.
This unique knife was designed to be an all-purpose tool for use by deep-sea divers who utilized the Mark V “dry suit” diving system. The Mark V system was adopted by the US Navy in 1916 and served until about 1979, when it was replaced by the Mark 12 system. The Mark V system is the classic “deep sea diver” dry suit with large brass & copper helmet, air lines, weighted boots, etc. that immediately comes to mind when you think about diving in the pre-SCUBA era. The Mark V knife was designed for use not only as a knife, but also as a prying tool, hammer, saw and general-purpose implement to accomplish whatever tasks were at the diver’s hands. The brass pommel cap allowed the knife to due duty as a makeshift hammer. The knife was carried in a heavy cast brass scabbard with a drain hole in the end and a funnel shaped opening that made it easier to sheath the knife while under water. The brass hilt cap on the knife was threaded with male threads, which would engage the female threads at the scabbard throat, allowing the knife to be secured in the scabbard. The scabbard was attached to the dive belt by a leather loop, which passed through a cast brass fitting on the scabbard. The knife and scabbard weighed in at a hefty 3lbs and were incredibly rugged and durable.
All in all, this is a really fantastic looking Mark V dive knife that would be a great addition to any military edged weapons collection, knife collection or naval & nautical collection. The knife is in about excellent condition and displays superbly.
$350 FTF in NW Indiana SOLD
$15 shipped to your door
The first, "I'll take it" gets the deal.
Thanks in advance for your time and interest.
Vanguard.45
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