Fence Cutters or what?

[oldbattleaxe]

I had purchased a World War Two parachute bag and these cutters were inside. There are no names, numbers or any other marks. You can tell they have been casted at the grips. They will cut barbed wire and some stronger wire. Does anyone know a WW2 paratrooper that could put some light on these cutters. I have taken these to many authorities on this topic but have no definate opinions. Military fence cutters and pruners are guesses. Maybe they are foreign? They are very light and fit well into the hand. Maybe a protoype for the military? This is where you come in. Bill

 

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[NHBandit]

They have a GI issue "look" to them in my humble opinion. Possibly for cutting barbed wire. Another thought I had but less likely is that they could be for cutting para cord if the chute got hung up in a tree. This is not as far fetched as it sounds. In my knife collection at home I have a GI issue Vietnam war era orange switchblade that has a razor sharp hook on the end opposite the blade for just this purpose. Here is a link to one of the foremost collectors & dealers in US military stuff. Send him an email with a pic. If it's GI issue he's seen them before. I can pretty much guarantee that. If not then, as SWR has said, they are pruning shears. Pretty fancy in any case. The jaws are adjustable via the turnbuckle to accomodate any size wire or tree branch, whatever the case may be. http://www.hayesotoupalik.com/WW2 U.S. Field Equipment.htm

 

[NHBandit]

Here is one variety of WWII wire cutter I found on Hayes Otoupalic's site but it's possible there was a lightweight aluminum version made for paratroop use.

 

[clovis97]

Just to fill up space, I decided to chime in. This means that I am just guessing, and no expert in this area.

I'm guessing these were to cut parachute lines, just like what was mentioned before.

I agree that the jaws are far too thin to cut much more than thin rope or cord. Definitely not barbed wire.

I own a somewhat similar pair of the wire cutters that NHBandit posted. IIRC, my pair is marked 1942, and have all forged steel handles.

 

[ivan salis]

if one parachutes in and gets hung up in the trees on the way down --one is a dead duck --unless one can cut onesself down / free of the tree limbs or the parachute cords so one can get free -many a paratropper was shot just dangling from the tree unable to get free so he could fight back. --thats why they are in the paratroop kit --of course later on they could be used as wire cutters to take out barb wire or to cut phone lines ect.

 

[ivan salis]

the item was in a older ww 2 era military chute ttype "leg" bag most likely -- thus its not a modern type parachute--- the old WW2 era "round" military jump chutes were much differant than moderrn chutes are

 

[allen_idaho]

These look a lot like a pair of #316 Aircraft Cable Cutters. However, I have never seen any that were adjustable like that.

 

[NHBandit]

Here is a pic of the Vietnam era GI issue switchblade with the hook for cutting parachute cords. I own one of these and I can tell you, the inside radius of the hook is razor sharp. Just to show that having a quick way to cut the cords in an emergency was a concern into the 70s. Not sure what, if anything they use today. Maybe the quick release gizmo SWR referred to. I have seen pictures of a WWII GI issue switchblade but it is just a knife and has no provision for cutting para cord.

 

[Retired Sarge]

The orange knife is a MC-1 hook blade knife, funny story about it. A common rumour/mis-conception is that the manufacturer mis-read into the specs and made a switchblade with it, and that the hook part was supposed to be the switchblade portion, not true. The previous version had a fixed hook blade, no knife blade, and the handle was made of rubber. The knife is stored in G-suits (leather pocket) and on parachutes risers with the hook blade opened, allowing the aircrew member to use it quickly. The MC-1 knife is still used by the USAF today.

The hook blade is very sharp, when I first came into the USAF and the Aircrew Life Support career field, I was cleaning and oiling one of the knives as I wiped the hook blade down my finger went into the groove, dang near took my pinkie off.

Parachutes in the USAF and the Parachute harnesses have a PLD installed (Personnel Lowering Device, PCU-10/P is one type of this) to lower yourself to the ground from high tree canopies (Think Viet-Nam and a high jungle canopy). Opening the chest strap would cause you to tumble forward and out of your harness and take a head dive to the ground. The PLD is 150 feet long, last 25 feet has stripes to let you know you are near the end of the rope.

Mike
USAF Retired

 

[Retired Sarge]

Thank you for the kind words SWR, as an added note, the MC-1 knife had two purposes, the hook end to cut the parachute lines if you were entangled in them (Imagine a water landing, becoming entangled in the chute could drown you), and the blade end could be used to slash the raft to get it deflated quickly.

Spent 23 years doing Aircrew Life Support, taught water survival, combat survival, proper parachute precedures, along with maintaining all the survival equipment etc etc.

Mike
USAF Retired

 

[oldbattleaxe]

I have had it for many years and never seen anything like it. It will cut barbed wire easily. Lots of ideas given. Would love to see another one. I sure would love to put a name on these cutters. Thanks for all of your opinions. Bill

 

[Rmeav8r]

Wire or cable cutters....I served over 26 years in the Army and can say it is definitely not for para cord. A trench knife or similar would be used to cut para cord and nylon straps. Cutting multiple strands of para cord (especially at night) would have required a sharp knife that would have been readily available. It's still done the same way for modern paratroopers today. Mostly likely if it is military it was used by commo or engineer troops for a specific task such as laying commo wire. Too bad a Leatherman wasn't available to them....that’s what most all paratroopers have with them today!

 

[blkcwbyhat]

I'd lean toward pruning shears.The handle has injection mold mark's,those lil round dots.Definately not ww2.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I'd lean toward pruning shears.The handle has injection mold mark's,those lil round dots.Definately not ww2.

They seem to have those same injection mold marks on drapery weights often sold as CW coat weights. http://www.greybirdrelics.com/Buttons.htm

 

[NHBandit]

I have had it for many years and never seen anything like it. It will cut barbed wire easily. Lots of ideas given. Would love to see another one. I sure would love to put a name on these cutters. Thanks for all of your opinions. Bill

Sgt Mike, as the others have said, thanks for your service. Personally I worked on C130s in the mid 70s. Bill as far as your cutters take a minute to send an email with a pic to Hayes Otoupalic through the link I provided. He is truly one of the foremost collectors & dealers of anything USGI issue and even if they are for cutting the toenails on a dog, if they were ever used by the military he will know. If going that route draws a blank I guess you should look for something similar in the gardening department at Walmart...

 

[oldbattleaxe]

Thanks I will do that.

 

[Chug And Red]

can you give the size of the cutter For some reason the way it looks It might be a medical Instrument for cutting bone!!!! looks like it is designed to put allot of cutting force when squeezing the handle and it adjustable!!! Chug

 

[oldbattleaxe]

The lower jaw is 1 1/2" long and when opened they would cut approx 2", if adjusted maybe 3 or more inches.. They look to be made too well and too costly to be manufactured for tree or hedge trimmers. What gets me is that almost all US made militaria have some markings, US, company, etc.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Any chance they could be for medical use?

 

[trixie charger]

Chug, That's exactly what I thought!!! It looks like Amputation Shears to me, with the adjustable part to larger or smaller bones and cartledge.