War museum acquires rare WW II-era knife after it winds up at community tool library

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A parachute release knife of the type used by soldiers in the Second World War has found a new home at the Canadian War Museum, after being found among other donations to the Ottawa Tool Library.

The library is a volunteer-run organization that aims to keep items out of the landfill. Ottawa residents can borrow tools or use the library’s workspace to work on personal projects. Most tools come in as donations, according to Brian Smith, the library’s operations manager.

The knife, like most donations, was on track to be restored and either used in the tool library, donated to other not-for-profits, or sold to cover operating costs.

“I tagged it as vintage, but I didn’t really know the significance,” Smith said.

It wasn’t until volunteer Gary Friedrich saw the knife that the organization realized the significance of what it had.

A Royal Canadian Navy veteran, Friedrich called his former colleagues, who suggested he dig deeper into where it came from. Online research and conversations with other members of the navy helped establish that the item has some historical value.

“This really needs to go to a museum,” Friedrich recalls being told.

In his research, Friedrich discovered the knife was made for riggers and air crews, and mostly used during the Second World War. It would have been employed to cut a parachute or straps free in an emergency.

A curved knife and a leather pouch. — The parachute release knife came with a sleeve that would have allowed Air Force Members to store it in their waistbands without cutting themselves. (Submitted by Brian Smith)

The wooden-handled steel knife has a rounded tip and curves inwards towards the blade. The unique design reduced the chances of users accidentally cutting themselves.

Similar Royal Air Force-issued knives are available for sale online, listed for the equivalent of about $500 CAD.

But the library decided to donate the knife to the Canadian War Museum.

“It’s a beautiful-looking knife and it should go to a location where it can live on,” Friedrich said.

A close-up of a WW II-era knife blade that reads "Joseph Rogers, Sheffield England" and "'D.N.D.' R.C.A.F." — The outer curve of the blade is engraved with details that indicate it was made in England for Canada’s Department of National Defence and the Royal Canadian Air Force. (Submitted by Brian Smith)

A rare museum acquisition

Grant Vogl, the museum’s collections specialist of arms and technology, said the institution didn’t have anything like it.

“They’re rather rare,” he said, adding that while he doesn’t know the exact story behind this knife, it’s a valuable addition.

“It could’ve been something that was used in Canada during the war. Maybe it was brought back by an airman,” he said. “Because it was marked ‘RCAF,’ we at least know it has that Canadian provenance.”