I just created a YouTube video on the 3 types of knives I was issued over my 30 year career in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqHnaT0z_CY This article is a more detailed account of each knife.
Canadian Forces Clasp Knife #5: Better
known as the “C5 knife”. It's the exact
same pattern of knife that Camillus made for the US military known as the
Demo Knife. It was issued to the Canadian Army from
1956 till 1998. It comes with a blade, bottle opener/screw
driver, awl, and a can opener. You know
you have a Canadian one because it doesn’t have “US” on the scales. It’s a great little utility knife. But to be honest, due to supply issues at the
time when I joined the Army in 1986, didn't get mine issued till 1988. As I had been using my Swiss Army Knife Climber for all that time, I just stuck with it, and didn't really carry my C5. I do carry it now while on duty, but more as "prestige" token to show how long I have been in to my younger soldiers.
DH Russell #3 Army
Knife: It's better known as the “Jump
Knife”. It’s made by Grohmann out of Nova Scotia and has been issued to CAF since
1964. At first it was only issued to
Combat Engineers, specifically Combat Engineers in Royal Canadian Airborne
Regiment. Hence the name “Jump Knife.” Then it slowly worked its way through the
system as everyone wanted it. It’s been
common issue to all soldiers since about 1998. The troops have nick named it
the “steak knife” because of its size, but don’t let that fool you. It is one of the best field knives there
is. I’m from northern Ontario, and just
about anyone who goes hunting or makes their living in the bush up there has a
version of this knife. Grohmann makes 3
versions of this knife: the boat, yacht, and army. The only difference is the sheath each one
has. Canadian army has the Jump Sheath. My father had his Boat Knife for years and swears
by it. So when I got issued mine around 1999, we spent the afternoon comparing
them.
Gerber MP 600
Multi Tool: This was the replacement for the C5 knife. As they retired the C5, everyone got issued “the
Gerber” as the Troops call it. I got
mine around 2000. Great piece of kit!
Mine is the original MP 600 that came in unfinished stainless steel
without locks. It has needle nose pliers,
grips, wire cutters, two blades (one is serrated, the other straight), lanyard
loop, bottle and can openers, with assorted screw drivers. It was an instant hit with the troops. During the Afghan War, the CAF began issuing
an updated version of the MP 600. It’s
black with locks. Everything else is the
same, except the straight blade is smaller and more of a pen knife. As I’m still serving in the CAF, and have
dropped kit at “Oh Dark 30” too many times to know the last thing I needs is a black
knife! I’ll never find it! So I’m keeping my old Gerber till I retire.
Peace Target C5
Knife: I was issued two C5
knives during my time in the Army. I got
my second when I commissioned from the ranks in the late 1990s. I had my Swiss army knife in
my webbing and not my C5, and therefore failed my first inspection! So right after my Drill Instructor
had a 'melt down" on me, I was marched into stores to get issued a new C5. And this is what they gave me. At first glance I thought it was an America Issue Demo Knife because it has "US" on the scales! But no! It was a poorly constructed knock off of the
Camillus version made by Peace Target out of China. Not sure how the Canadian Army
got them. Maybe someone out there can
enlighten me? I figure it may have been because of the timing. It was around the time the Army was looking to get Gerber. I can only assume that the army was out of
contract with Camillus and still waiting for a new contract/shipment of the Gerber. And in the short term bought
some knock offs to hold the line. Who knows? If you do, please tell me.
So those are the knives I was issued over my 30+ years
in the Canadian Armed Forces. Let me
know what you think.
Cheers.
