20th Century Military Combat and Survival Knives: Design & Function

Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/94125281066?pwd=T3BPcU1wMmphNmhnTHpaNGFjSGphUT09

The knife is arguably the oldest weapon and tool ever made and used by man, dating back to almost 2.4 million years ago. Knife designs and materials evolved over the millennia, but even today a good knife is still an indispensable tool for outdoorsmen, soldiers, chefs, etc., basically people from all walks of life. Late 19th and early 20th century manufacturing improvements ushered a higher quality of mass production military style knives that saw service in all conflicts worldwide across the 20th century, and into today’s world. Yet there was and still is a place for innovation for customized, hand-made knives, both in the 20th century and today.

The presentation will first focus on describing some of the “classic” knife designs that possibly influenced and were incorporated into 20th century military knives: The dagger, poignard, sword/dagger canes, bowie knife, dirk, sicae, etc. We will then discuss both factory made and customized (ex., Randall made) 20th century military designs that possibly were influenced by those earlier designs, and those that are likely newer styles of blades. Many of the Randall knife designs have great “creation” stories behind them. We will also look at modern materials that modern designs are made from, from high quality steel(s) to titanium blades, and even copper beryllium knives used by Marine EOD specialists.

John H. Dowdle   (COL USA RET) spent over 29 years in the Army: with the regular Army, then with the Army National Guard, and finally as a full time Title 10 Army National Guard officer.   His military background was in Infantry and Special Forces, first with the 9th Infantry Division, and then over 16 years in Army Special Forces (SF), with tours in the 5th, 10th, and 20th 'SF' Groups, and was the 5th SF Group Operations Officer in Desert Shield/Desert Storm.  The last 10 years of his military career was at the Pentagon and National Guard Bureau as an Operations Research Systems Analyst and a Strategic Plans and Analysis Officer, retiring in 2010.  He has graduate degrees in Public Administration, Educational Technology, and a Master’s in Strategic Studies from the Army War College.  He currently works as an Instructor/Facilitator/Course Director at the Army Force Management School at FT Belvoir, VA, where he instructs students in national defense strategy, the Department of Defense Plans, Programming, and Budget process, and aspects of Army Force Management.  Besides having a keen, lifelong interest and study in history and both land and underwater archeology, John is also a certified docent at the National Museum of the Army at FT Belvoir, VA, as well as occasionally leading regional battlefield/historical tours.  John studies and practices Historical European Martial Arts, calligraphy, collects bladed weapons, hikes both nature trails and battlefields, scuba dives, and bicycles/swims as part of his many interests and avocations.