POTD: Expensive Piece of Kit – U.S. Imperial Underwater Demolition Knife
Sam.S 08.14.23

Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Here we have a cool piece of combat diver kit. This is a U.S. Imperial Underwater Demolition Knife. Can you believe this Underwater Demolition Knife that was made way back in 1962 was just under a hundred bucks? That was $1,012.22 by today’s purchasing power sooo oofta. It was built using synthetic materials and special non-magnetic alloys so Navy Underwater Demolition Teams could carry them without setting off those tricky magnetic mines they had to defuse. With its 7-inch spear point blade – straight on one side and serrated on the other – plus an overall length of nearly 12 inches, this knife was ideal for those frogmen’s dangerous missions. Even now, over 60 years later, you have to admit these vintage diving knives have an elegant retro look and feel to them.
“Manufactured in 1962 at an original cost of $99.67. Made from synthetic materials and non-magnetic alloys, this knife was designed for use by Underwater Demolition Team members and similar combat divers, who could find themselves having to dispose of magnetically fuzed sea mines. 11 7/8 inches overall, with a 7 1/4 inch spear point blade, straight on one side and serrated on the reverse. The oval guard is marked “U.S./NONMAGNETIC/Serial No. 185/61/IMPERIAL” on top, with a checkered and grooved gray plastic grip and an alloy pommel. With a gray plastic and nylon sheath. For more information see M.H. Cole’s “U.S. Military Knives, Bayonets, & Machetes Book III” on page 169.”
Lot 598: Scarce U.S. Imperial Underwater Demolition Knife with Sheath – Very Scarce U.S. Imperial Underwater Demolition Knife with Sheath. (n.d.-af). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved August 13, 2023, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/77/598/scarce-us-imperial-underwater-demolition-knife-with-sheath.