Vintage Vince Dive Knife
Steel, brass &
wood Made 20th Century
Overall
Dimension knife 13
3/4 Blade 6 3/4 x 1 x
1/8Hilt 4 3/8 x 1 1/4 x 1
1/4 No
Markings
Ferule
1 Sheath
8 3/8 L x 1 7/8 Dia
Weight 3
lbs. 7 7/8 oz.
Presented is a very rare MK V
dive knife made by the Vince Forge Company of Easton, PA. Vince was one
of the low volume producers of these knives which makes them scarce
and highly collectible. Two features make the Vince knife distinctive.
The first is a loop that is fitted to the pommel on a swivel
that rotates around its circumference. It was the only MK V style knife
made with this feature. The second is the tiny teeth that are along
one serrated edge that number 13 to the inch. Unfortunately,
there is no documented information as to when Vince made these
knives, but the most knife experts believe them to be first
introduced in 1935 and made until after WW II.
The MK V Dive
Knife became part of the MK V Diving System in 1929 and was
included in the specifications first adopted by the U.S. Navy in
1916. The MK V System was used until 1984. However, this type of knife
is reported to have been in use in Europe and this country as early as
1915.
The knife is designed to screw into the top 1″
of a cast brass sheath which is included using Acme threads
which hold it securely, and allows it to be easily and quickly
removed. The upper edge of the knife blade has saw teeth while the
lower edge has a very sharp knife edge. This style knife
without the loop is still in production today by Morse and
DESCO.
This example
is in excellent condition with the brass bail intact and the turned
handle in good shape. It is a very desirable and
rare dive knife for the collector or for
use.
Obverse side
of handle, pommel and
blade
Reverse
side of handle pommel and
blade
Both sides of complete
knifeCONDITION: This knife was used in salt water and shows pitting
as would be expected. The blade is tight in the ferule and is in
very good condition and tight. The wood handle is in
good shape and has the brass brail swivel loop attached. The
sheath is missing it’s leather strap, and there are some marks from
use. Overall this is a very desirable piece.
The round brass
sheath without
belt
Steel, brass & wood
Made 20th Century
Overall
Dimension 12 3/4“ Blade 6
1/2” x 1” x 1/8”
Hilt 5“ x 1 1/4“ x 1 1/4”
No Markings
Ferule 1”
Sheath 8 1/4“ L x 1 5/8“ DiaPresented is a rare MK V dive knife made by the Vince Forge Company of Easton,
PA. Vince was one of the low volume producers of these knives which makes them rare and highly collectible. What makes the
Vince knife distinctive is a loop that was fitted to the pommel. In this example the loop has broken off and is missing.
Unfortunately, there is no documented information as to when Vince made these knives, but the most knife experts
believe them to be post WW II.The MK V Dive Knife became part of the MK V Diving System in 1929 and was included
in the specifications first adopted by the U.S. Navy in 1916. The MK V System was used until 1984. However, this type
of knife is reported to have been in use in Europe and this country as early as 1915.The knife is designed to screw into the top 1″ of a cast brass sheath which is included using Acme
threads which hold it securely, and allows it to be easily and quickly removed. The upper edge of the knife blade has
saw teeth while the lower edge has a very sharp knife edge. This style knife is still in production today by
Morse and DESCO.
A very desirable and rare Vince dive knife for
the collector or for use.
Obverse side of hilt and blade
Reverse side of hilt and blade
CONDITION:
Considering its age everything is in very good condition and tight. The blade has only some minor very small Brown speckling
and one brown spot at the tip, but no pitting. There is a shallow manufacturing dimple on the reverse of the blade. It
looks deeper in the photo than it actually is. The wood handle is well worn and the loop is missing from the
pommel. The sheath is missing it’s leather strap, and there are some marks from use. Still very much a desirable
piece.
