W. R. CASE & SONS CUTLERY CO. / BRADFORD, PA. / U S A

ASTRONAUT KNIFE M-1 / S/N - 1470 / MODEL 1966

*EXTREMELY RARE* You will not see these anytime soon after this sale is over unless you visit the the National Air and Space Museum, the Astronaut Hall of Fame, or theSmithsonian Institute Museum.Not many knives are noteworthy enough to be featured individually on the Case historical timeline. Serial Number 1470 cold stamped into the blade.

In 1966, Case produced a special limited-edition model of the survival knife that they engineered for NASA. The M-1 Survival Knife has been carried on every manned Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, and ASTP missionssince the \"Molly Brown\" with astronauts Grissom and Young in 1965. One accompanied Neil Armstrong to the moon. Why? In the event that their reentry put them on a deserted island. They were prepared for everything. Armstrong is pictured with one of these knives on the Case company historical timeline. The Astronaut knife was discontinued January 1, 1972 after a total of 2494 were made for resale to the general public.The M-1 model 1966 knife is a survival knife and actually resembles a machete. It is 17\" long overall and has an 11 3/4\" blade. It features a white polypropylene handle (the lightest plastic that gives off no fumes) and saw teeth along the back of the blade. The blade is engineered of 13-gauge special high carbon stainless steel. The polished edge is incredibly sharp. The back edge has a double row of teeth capable of sawing wood. The handle is pinned to the blade by brass rods. The first 2 inches of the blade in front of the handle was left blunt for prying. The handle includes a hole drilled for a lanyard.

The condition is near perfect. Never used. There are no scratches on the handle or blade. It does not include a display case or booklet. It has remained in a gun safe, inside its cardboard sheath for 40 years.

Priced at what you would pay for a nice new Spyderco, but with Case engineering for the US space program, serialized limited production, more than 40 year\'s vintage, historical significance, and FREE SHIPPING!