Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!csd4.csd.uwm.edu!bionet!ames!amdcad!military
From: nuchat!steve@uunet.UU.NET (Steve Nuchia)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Knife information request
Message-ID: <27131@amdcad.AMD.COM>
Date: 6 Sep 89 10:51:02 GMT
References: <27067@amdcad.AMD.COM>
Sender: cdr@amdcad.AMD.COM
Organization: Houston Public Access
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Approved: military@amdcad.amd.com



From: nuchat!steve@uunet.UU.NET (Steve Nuchia)

In article <27067@amdcad.AMD.COM> gahooten@ames.arc.nasa.gov (Greg A. Hooten) writes:
>explained that the serrations along the back of the knife were
>place there (and were deepened for) to cut thorough the
>aluminum skin on helicopters and airplanes.  

It is plausible that the serations were designed with that function
in mind.  Military aircraft are equiped with a variety of escape
and rescue fittings.  On transport types (including utility helos)
there is often an area stenciled "cut here for rescue" with the
corners of a hatch-sized rectangle marked off.  The designers ensure
that this area is a patch of aluminum with no structual, cable, or
furniture pieces behind it.  You could cut it with a good strong
stick but a big serrated knife probably works better.

>like this, it seems a waste, it is not a combat essential for
>fighting, but seems more as a tool.  Any info?

Don't forget that a lot of modern combat consists of sitting
around in the woods playing boy scout.  A "combat" knife is
a very handy tool around the campfire.
-- 
Steve Nuchia	      South Coast Computing Services
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