Who made the first hollow handle survival knives? The RMK Model 18 and the Robert Parrish Survival are my favorites. But who has one that predates the Model 18? I have a Case example from the 1940's. Is there earlier examples? Did Case come up with the idea?

Nice knife, Eric. Case and Kabar both offered hollow handle knives maybe even before the 1940s. Not sure who came first. Both were advertised as hunting knives with a matchsafe handle. To my knowledge, the Model 18 was the first hollow handle knife intentionally designed for survival.

Here's a photo of a Kabar that I borrowed from eBay.

Eric,

Thought you might enjoy this article from Knives '88. If you have trouble reading it, I would be happy to send you a hard copy.

You beat me to that one! I bet you have the Smith book on survival knives, as well as the same subject book by Thompson.

I don't own those books, but I do have the "Survival Knife Reference Guide" by Douglas Berner.

aha!....CAUGHT you!

Good History lessons!!

Thanks Tom. I have always liked the hollow handled knives, I think its the pack-rat in me. A place to store more stuff. I never thought of stuffing the handle with pain killers and amphetamines. Penicillin could be another. Great read. Thanks again, Eric

No problem, Eric. Where and when did you find that knife? It is in fantastic condition.

I am not sure where I got that one from.
Here is one I found. Its a Western W-31 but without the USMC marking and with stacked leather grip rather then the wood version. Only one I ever saw. Last picture is the USMC version.

Our standard supplies were water purification tablets, pain killer (real pain killer), benedryl (reaction to plants or bites), antibiotics, waterproof matches/tinder, plus anything personally desired. No mountain man stuff, just what you might need until the cavalry arrived. Main worries always dehydration and hypothermia. Always.