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Photo of my WWII Pals
Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2022 11:37 am
by SA1911a1
Top to bottom; RH-34, RH-35, RH-36 and RH-37.
R= Remington Hunting pattern
3= blade style
last digit= Blade length
PAL started making these in 1941, after they bought knife production from Remington, who was concentrating on making ammo, and they went out of business several years after the end of the war. These were most likely wartime production that went to the troops. The '35 and '37 were military purchase knives, marked Navy and USMC respectively. Tthe others could be either military purchase of troop purchases. Sometimes ships or other small units would buy them to distribute, or they could be had at the PX or Exchange. The Rh-36 must have been the most prolific of the bunch because you can still find them, in good condition, for less than $50.00. (although like everything else, the prices have been rising)
I love the old carbon steel blades, if you are ever at my house, and forget your razor, you can grab any of these for a smooth shave. ;)
Edit: I see the photo did not link....so, sue me!
Re: Photo of my WWII Pals
Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2022 1:26 am
by Junk Yard Dog
Re: Photo of my WWII Pals
Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2022 8:25 pm
by Darryl
Hey Steve,
I only have one WWII PAL now.
It was my Dad's knife. He had it even after WWII and used it when hunting.
I remember it bouncing around the garqage when I was younger. I grabbed it out of the garage when he passed away.
dad's_knife.jpg
dad's_knife2.jpg
Re: Photo of my WWII Pals
Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2022 6:28 am
by SA1911a1
Darryl wrote: ↑Sat Jun 25, 2022 8:25 pm
Hey Steve,
I only have one WWII PAL now.
It was my Dad's knife. He had it even after WWII and used it when hunting.
I remember it bouncing around the garqage when I was younger. I grabbed it out of the garage when he passed away.
dad's_knife.jpg
dad's_knife2.jpg
The RH 36 hits the sweet spot in that series of knives. The 34 is too light, the 37 is too heavy, and I like the 6" blade better than the 5" blade. However, all other factors aside, your dad's RH 36 must be worth double its weight in gold.
Do you have the sheath for it?
Re: Photo of my WWII Pals
Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2022 12:14 pm
by Darryl
No, no sheath. I guess I am lucky to have the knife. It was really a "working knife" when it was in the garage. A "go to" tool.
He got it when he was stationed in Hawaii from a sailor (or so he says).
He was a scrub nurse in a mobile hospital bound for the Tinian Island (prep for Japan invasion), before the Bombs were used.
He was on leave and standing on a corner in Honolulu, when a city bus jumped the curb and hit him and knocking him into the middle of the intersection. He woke up 2 months later and the war was over! Because of the crash, he didn't have enough points to get out soon, so they made him work in the military hospital there till he did.
He said the knife came from a sailor who was visiting his friend in the hospital before he was hit by the bus.
But, I think he was lucky to get it without a sheath.
It sit next to
my hunting knife on my gun room shelf.
Darryl
Re: Photo of my WWII Pals
Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2022 1:19 pm
by SA1911a1
Darryl wrote: ↑Sun Jun 26, 2022 12:14 pm
No, no sheath. I guess I am lucky to have the knife. It was really a "working knife" when it was in the garage. A "go to" tool.
He got it when he was stationed in Hawaii from a sailor (or so he says).
He was a scrub nurse in a mobile hospital bound for the Tinian Island (prep for Japan invasion), before the Bombs were used.
He was on leave and standing on a corner in Honolulu, when a city bus jumped the curb and hit him and knocking him into the middle of the intersection. He woke up 2 months later and the war was over! Because of the crash, he didn't have enough points to get out soon, so they made him work in the military hospital there till he did.
He said the knife came from a sailor who was visiting his friend in the hospital before he was hit by the bus.
But, I think he was lucky to get it without a sheath.
It sit next to
my hunting knife on my gun room shelf.
Darryl
Cool story. You are lucky to have been born! I will keep my eyes out for an appropriate WWII era sheath for you.
Re: Photo of my WWII Pals
Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2022 5:46 pm
by Darryl
My Dad would tell the entire story and have you rolling on the ground........
He had VERY bad eyes. Almost legally blind, but was OK with coke bottle glasses.
They would not even take him in the military. He tried several times.
Towards the end of the war, they lowered their standards and he enlisted but was classified "could not serve on the front lines".
So, they trained him as a scrub nurse in a mobile hospital (like a MASH unit in Korea). Dad said it was more like their way of putting you on the front lines except, without a rifle!
Nothing to shoot back with.
His Mother was a very religious person and she said she prayed day and night that her "baby" would not have to kill anyone.
After training, my Dad was sent to North Carolina and put on the boat to go to.......D-Day.
He was hours from sailing when he came down with a fever and doubled over.
He was taken off the boat and to surgery where he had his appendix taken out.
Healed up in a month or so and sent to Hawaii to go to Tinian Island for the invasion of Japan.
Well, you know the rest of the story. (Hit by the bus)
He used to say he blamed all of it on him Mother and her prayers.!
Darryl
Re: Photo of my WWII Pals
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2022 11:19 am
by SA1911a1
Darryl wrote: ↑Sun Jun 26, 2022 5:46 pm
My Dad would tell the entire story and have you rolling on the ground........
He had VERY bad eyes. Almost legally blind, but was OK with coke bottle glasses.
They would not even take him in the military. He tried several times.
Towards the end of the war, they lowered their standards and he enlisted but was classified "could not serve on the front lines".
So, they trained him as a scrub nurse in a mobile hospital (like a MASH unit in Korea). Dad said it was more like their way of putting you on the front lines except, without a rifle!
Nothing to shoot back with.
His Mother was a very religious person and she said she prayed day and night that her "baby" would not have to kill anyone.
After training, my Dad was sent to North Carolina and put on the boat to go to.......D-Day.
He was hours from sailing when he came down with a fever and doubled over.
He was taken off the boat and to surgery where he had his appendix taken out.
Healed up in a month or so and sent to Hawaii to go to Tinian Island for the invasion of Japan.
Well, you know the rest of the story. (Hit by the bus)
He used to say he blamed all of it on him Mother and her prayers.!
Darryl
It sounds like he needed a purple heart for the bus incident. Missing D-Day may have been the blessing that allowed you to post.
It is a great story!
