A US military aircrew survival knife usually blaze
orange in color that has a single side opening switch-activated
blade propelled by means of a bar spring. Opposite this is a
hook sharpened to cut the shroud lines of a parachute (looks somewhat like a large popcketknife can opener). Sometimes the automatic function is reversed to the
hook to comply with local laws regarding switch
blade knives or user prefernce. Was
made in quantity by Schrade/Walden, Camilus and others from the 1950's to the early 1990's.
Handle is synthetic stag. An updated model, with a stronger coil spring less prone to fatigue and able to be easily disasembled with a hex wrench has superceded the earlier rivited design although the former is still commonly available. It resembles a large conventional pocket knife.