W.A.K. Folding throwing knife info

[Gordon]

Back in the middle 70s when I was still in Army Reserves I managed to get my hands on these 3 well made W.A.K. Folding throwing knives , I think they were called "Atchisson Folding Hunters" and purportedly they were a military overrun from the VN war period. I bever saw them over there but I believe these heavy stamped four bladed double edged black blades had indexing pins that held them in place when you unfolded them and tightened the center wing nut. They were very heavy duty and I got so I could hit a shilloette at 50' about every time and they allways stuck deep and hard. My kids lost my remaining two by the end of the 80s . I have been searching for info on them since the internet went up with google ect. but to no avail. Any help on these ? I know they are banned from possesion in kali since the 90s , actually I think a modern version would be pretty kewl to make if done correctly . Anyone ?

 

[bannockburn]

Gordon

I remember seeing those knives advertised in Soldier of Fortune magazine. Never saw them for sale at any of the countless gun and knife shows I have been to over the years.

Only ones I recall that were decent were the Tru-Balance line of throwing knives made by Harry K. McEvoy that pretty much worked as advertised.

 

[bannockburn]

Gordon

Finally found an issue of Soldier of Fortune magazine (actually it was in the March '78 issue), that had an ad in it for the W.A.K. "Atchisson Folding" Hunter. Thought you might like to see it!

 

[lemaymiami]

The mention of Soldier of Fortune magazine brings back memories... I used to advise young officers to make a point of occasionally reading that publication - solely for the ads, if nothing else. It gave any young cop a quick view of what kids could buy and might just be carrying on the street... Can't remember when and if that rag quit publishing...

 

[bannockburn]

lemaymiami

Can't remember when and if that rag quit publishing...

Pretty sure they're still around, both in print and online: (www.sofmag.com). I think their first edition was back in '75 or '76.

 

[sean m]

A couple of pieces of mild steel from the hardware store could make for a serviceable replacement. Probably won't hold an edge for long, but it been tossed around. Looks like an Apache small game cross-stick. Might have the tribe wrong.

 

[bikerdoc]

A good Smith could replicate that.
Or buy 4 old cheap bayonets and cut, chop, grind, and drill one yourself.

 

[Gordon]

Thank you so much for the picture and. I didn't order mine, I obtained them from an NCO who got deployment somewhere and sold me three for $40, I only had two twenties on me. He said they were VN overruns, he was in Hunterligget "experimental" command . They we're hardened very nicely and blued the pins on each blade locked into recesses when unfolded and wing nut tightened, they indexed when folded same way. They were darn near indetructable. I am going to recreate one , or more,with the pile of unhardened throwing knife blanks I bought from the Cammillus factory auction when it closed, I have 100 and will harden them after grinding to shape necessary to spring steel hardness which is low 50 s on Rockwell C scale. Was gonna be a retirement project. looks like I drill a pin hole on either side of the center bolt hole and push a pin into one so a blade thickness protrudes and braize it into place . Then stack them so the pin indexes to the open hole below it ,