I was always under the assumption that Bill Platts started in 1943, as best as my old memory can tell. Re-reading Gaddis states early (Jan.) 1944. We all know that Bill was mostly responsible for the switch from the furnace link type of wrist thong to the much more efficient drilled tong hole. Of course, who knows of Bo had offered (or tried) it earlier?? Nice knife Mitchell.
Best, Capt. Chris