Posted 9 years ago
Sting
(27 items)
I was in the process of cleaning off multiple layers of paint and wondered about the original color. My dad said it caw out of a bomber and he was USAF 1954-1963. The tools I can find on line are mostly RAF and have brand names on the blade. Nothing on the blade here but there are characters on either side of the handle. I remember my dad always painted military surplus. Was this originally painted?
I think this is how it came from the factory, judging by some look alikes online. Very Nice!
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/usaf-raf-ww-2-bomber-escape-axe-b17-b24-b25
Thank you Frisco. Your link has a better picture than I was able to find. I am still trying to get remove paint. When my dad left the service he was involved in fire/rescue. This piece has some battle scars. Any idea who built these?
Your Welcome Sting. I would think an emergency tool like this should at least have the head painted a red or orange color, to find it easy in an emergency. I have seen similar tools before, but off hand do not know who built these for the military. When I served in the army, everything had a "national stock number" assigned to it , so you may start your search there. Good Luck!
Sting, I was snooping around for more info on your escape axe, and found the following: The design was patented in 1938, by the Chillington tool company, in the UK. Patent number 515767. Now they were also made by a company named "ELWELL", also located in the UK. I suspect other companies also made them off a government bid system. They were designed to cut thru the aircraft aluminum skin, and could also insulate the user for up to 20,000 volts, if he hit electrical wires. Here are a couple more links for you to look at below:
http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30028513
http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/aviation-history/raf-air-ministry-marked-escape-axe-11010-2/
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/raf-aircraft-crash-escape-axe-ww11-279639492
Thank you once again for the help. It looks like this was built in 1942 by D.L. Auld Co, of Columbus, OH. That is based on what numbers on the handle I can read. In my scrubbings I have uncovered what looks like the letter "D" in what appears to be more of an organized discoloration than any stamp.
I knew a bombardier that fought in Dresden. I wish I could ask him about the paint but he has long since passed. His stories about that conflict I will never forget.