WAR AND THE WAY FORWARD

When the guns fell silent and World War II ended 75 years ago, the human experience was forever altered. Every aspect of life that was known, comfortable and commonplace before the war had been touched. In fact, the impact of the greatest armed conflict in history is still felt today.

While industry had been mobilized and individual craftsmen had filled a pressing need in wartime, the role of the knife in society was also evolving. From 1939 to 1945, and after the United States entered the war in 1941, the demand for knives soared. Beyond its daily use as a tool, the knife was suddenly being produced not only as a weapon but also as a self-defense tool and a survival implement.

“During World War II, the knife industry in the United States made millions and millions of knives, both fixed blades and folders,” author Michael Silvey related. “The requirements were for quantity, quick delivery and low cost. This led to incredible production numbers in a short time—and the inevitable drop in quality.