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kingston "Made in USA" Utility knife

A closer view of the 1943 Kingston. As mentioned 1095 Carbon steel was used through out the knife with the exception of the bone handles. This was due to shortage of brass. The can opener has a thumb stud and is one of the last old style can openers. The following year, Imperial (who along with Ulster, owned Kingston) would introduce the safety can opener in 1944 The knife is a no frill knife with no shield or other marks other than Made in USA" tang stamp on two lines on the spear blade. over all length is 3 3/4 inches.

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Albums: Boy Scout and related Camp/Utility knives

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Comment by Tobias Gibson on March 2, 2013 at 20:36: Apparently these old style can openers were brutal. you jab the can, and then basically cut the can with upward motions. The can opener would often slip out of the can and cause serious injury to the unsuspecting GI trying to open his k-rations. The story has it the War department came tot he Camillus factory and explained they wanted a can opener that would cut on the down stroke instead of the upstroke. One of the machinist in the factory Set about regrinding the cap-lifter screw-driver blade, giving it an internal cutting edge and the new down stroke can opener was invented. The guy then was hired by Imperial were he perfected the new down stroke can-opener. Imperial then patented the device and the new safety can opener was invented. The new style has been used ever since.