This is a really high condition example of a desirable World War II Era US Navy Mark V Dive Knife by DESCO. These unique knives were designed to be an all-purpose tool for use by deep-sea divers who utilized the Mark V “dry suit” diving system. 

The Mark V system was adopted by the US Navy in 1916 and served until about 1983, when the nearly 70-year-old system began to be replaced by the Mark 12 system. The Mark V system was the classic “deep sea diver” dry suit that used the large brass copper helmet with glass “windows”, air lines, weighted boots, etc. that immediately come to mind when you think about diving in the pre-SCUBA era and for use in deeper sea diving even after the introduction of more modern diving systems. 

The Mark V knife was designed for use not only as a knife, but also as a prying tool, hammer, saw and general-purpose implement to accomplish whatever tasks were at the diver’s hands while submerged. The knife was manufactured with a nominally 7” long single edges spear point blade and was made available both with and without a serrated spine. The knife had a turned maple grip with a palm swell and grasping grooves cut into it and had heavy brass mounts both at the blade junction and the pommel cap. The brass pommel cap allowed the knife to serve as an ersatz hammer if needed. The knives were carried in a heavy cast brass scabbard with a drain hole in the end and a funnel shaped opening that made it easier to sheath the knife while under water. The brass hilt of the knife was threaded with coarse male threads, which would engage the female threads at the scabbard throat, allowing the knife to be secured in the scabbard with a few turns. The scabbard was attached to the dive belt by a heavy leather loop, which passed through a cast brass fitting on the scabbard. The knife and scabbard weighed in at a hefty 3lbs and were incredibly rugged and durable. During World War II these knives were produced by several manufacturers, including Vince, Union Cutlery (KA-BAR), Morse, Batteryless Telephone, Fischer Spring and DESCO. Of those makers, only Vince included a swivel bale, or lanyard loop, in the pommel cap. This was a convenience that could reduce the chance of loss if the knife was dropped while under water, but which would make it more difficult to use the pommel as a hammer. In addition to the standard steel blade versions that saw the most use during the war, a non-magnetic version with a copper beryllium blade was also produced for use around mines with magnetic triggers and for other EOD and UDT purposes. Only Vince and Fischer Spring made these non-magnetic knives and Fischer Spring did not make any of the standard production knives.

This DESCO produced US Navy Mark V Dive Knife remains in VERY FINE to NEAR EXELLENT condition. The acronym “DESCO” stood for Diving Equipment & Salvage Company at the time the knife was made. The firm was organized in 1937 to manufacture diving equipment, much of it newly designed by two of the founders Max Nohl and Jack Browne with help from other founders John Craig and Norman Kuehn, who provided much of the start-up capital. The original factory was in the back of Kuehn’s rubber company in Milwaukee. Nohl had done some groundbreaking deep-water work in 1935 by conducting salvage operations on the sunken steamer John Dwight, using some equipment of his and Browne’s design. This brought them to the attention of John Craig who was interested in doing salvage operations on the Lusitania, which was laying in 312 feet of water off the Irish Coast. The team worked on perfecting a lightweight, self-contained diving suit that relied upon the use of a Helium and Oxygen mix (Heliox) to avoid contracting the Bends. The team set a new deep-water diving record in late 1937, when the operated at 412 feet using their new system. Due to the coming war in Europe, the Lusitania project was placed on hold and over the next couple of years the firm worked on finding and performing salvage operations on Spanish treasures ships lost off the West Indies. They developed a SCUBA system some five years prior to the invention of the Aqua-Lung and worked with Hollywood in Silver Springs, FL to film the Tarzan films that starred Johnny Weissmuller. The firm also developed a diving bell to allow visitors to Silver Springs Park to view the park while submerged. With the coming of the United States entry into World War II the firm approached the US Navy about their new diving technologies and received a small order for their new lightweight diving suites. However, the Navy was more interested in obtaining more of the equipment they were currently using and DESCO ended up producing some 3,000 Mark V dive helmets for the Navy during the war, in addition to other Mark V system components, including the dive knives. The firm also developed a SCUBA type system that did not produce bubbles, known as the DESCO B-Lung, which was procured by the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) for clandestine work. By the end of World War II, DESCO was the largest diving equipment manufacturer in the world. The firm continued to innovate during the war and introduced a number of revolutionary products. With the end of the war and a reduction in Navy contracts, the firm rebranded as Diving Equipment & Supply Company and entered the civilian recreational diving market as well. In 1947 the founders sold off the company to a new group of owners, although a couple served as consultants for some time after the sale. The company changed hands several times over the next few decades, but some 80 years after their founding the firm is still in business in Wisconsin and remains an industry leader in the production and innovation of diving equipment.

As noted, this World War II Era DESCO US Navy Mark V Dive Knife remains in VERY FINE to NEAR EXELLENT. As is typical of these knives, it is unmarked with only the brass scabbard marked with the name DESCO. The 7” blade is bright and retains much of its original factory polish and cross polishing lines. The knife retains its original factory applied edge, which has not been polished, and the serrated spine is in equally excellent and untouched condition. The only condition issues present on the blade are a few small patches of light surface oxidation and staining, which might be carefully cleaned off. Were these small spots of oxidation not present on the blade, it would truly rate about “mint” condition. The brass fittings of the knife have a rich, dark bronze patina with the threads at the hilt showing old Cosmoline and grease in them, as do the threads of the scabbard throat. The wood handle is in equally fine condition and remains quite crisp, showing only a handful of lightly scattered minor dings and handling marks. The heavy brass scabbard is in wonderful condition with only some lightly scattered minor surface scuffs and scratches from handling and use. The brass of the scabbard has a rich, uncleaned, dark bronze patina with some darker age staining. The scabbard is marked DESCO as mentioned above. The brass loop for the leather attachment belt is present, as is the original heavy leather belt.  The belt shows good age and some moderate wear with the steel roller buckle having a moderate amount of surface oxidation and some salt staining. The leather shows some dried salty residue as well.

Overall, this is a really exceptional condition example of a World War II era DESCO Mark V Diver’s Knife. These knives are getting harder and harder to find on the market, particularly in such wonderful condition and complete with the original leather belt. These knives are regularly reaching the $1,000 price point and sometimes more in the current market, so don’t miss your chance to obtain a really wonderful condition World War II era dive knife in great condition for your collection.

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