US M2 Parachutists Knife

The knife is made from stainless steel. The handle scales are black plastic, which simulates picked bone. Some knives have brass rivets holding the handle scales in place. The safety mechanism is stamped sheet metal.

This is not a functioning switchblade knife. The release button and lock button work, but the blade does not open automatically to the fully open position. The blade must be opened partway by hand. This design was necessary to make the reproduction legal.

The blade opening mechanism is assisted, not automatic. Pushing the button opens the blade about one inch, and the rest of the opening must be done by hand. Some knives require working open and closing multiple times before the blade opens fully. The mainspring in some knives retains a little kick, opening the blade about a quarter of the way.

Yes, the blade locks in place once opened. There is a blade lock button, similar to the original design. Some knives require conscious effort to ensure the lock is engaged. In some cases, the blade may be loose and not lock fully.

Many knives ship with "Made in Pakistan" or "Pakistan" printed in black on the blade. This marking is usually easy to rub off with fine grit sanding sheets, Simichrome polish, or an emory cloth. Some knives have "STAINLESS" marked on the blade instead of "Pakistan".

Some knives arrive with light scratches on the blade. There can be some separation between the plastic handle material and the metal frame. The blade may be stiff and require working open and closing with lubrication to function smoothly. Some knives have loose handles or a blade that does not lock fully.