Max Knives PA5M — Aluminium impact tool, three fingers, US 1918

Overview

The PA5M belongs to the US 1918 line, the one whose name points back to a First World War model. It is listed in aluminium, with three finger holes and spikes along the upper edge. Three openings instead of two means a body that covers the palm from one side to the other, and a piece enthusiasts recognise without needing to read the label.

Where the US 1918 shape comes from

The US 1918 name points back to a First World War model. Its production is credited in particular to Landers, Frary & Clark, a cutlery and housewares manufacturer based in New Britain, Connecticut: those are the initials read as LF&C on period pieces, and that is where the abbreviation still used in catalogues today comes from. The 1918 drawing left behind a silhouette that has been copied for a century, and the pieces carrying it, this PA5M among them, are collected for that descent as much as for themselves.

Technical specifications

Body in aluminium, three finger holes, spikes along the upper edge, US 1918 shape. Those four points are what the shop states; the length, the height and the weight do not appear in the catalogue for this reference and are not estimated here. The move to three openings makes it the long version of the series next to the two-finger models, and aluminium makes it the light one next to the brass bodies.

Care

Aluminium asks for very little: wipe the piece with a soft cloth after handling to lift finger marks, and dry it if it has been wet. The metal takes no rust, but it stays soft compared with a steel, so keep it on its own rather than loose with a bunch of keys. A soft pouch or a compartmented box keeps the spikes and the edges of the drawing crisp.

Legal notice. Impact tools are restricted or prohibited in a number of countries and are frequently refused in aircraft cabin baggage. Check the law that applies where the order is delivered before purchasing.