One of the world�s foremost manufacturers of premium knives to develop a knife that would ultimately be stowed inside every manned U.S. spacecraft involved in the Gemini and Apollo mission series. The M-1 knife was born. The original Case Astronaut Knife M-1 was designed to be lightweight and featured a sharp cutting edge partnered with saw teeth on the back side. The blunt base of the knife�s blade was capable of prying items from terrain. The handle was made of an ultra-lightweight synthetic which was found to withstand a hard impact without shattering. It also exuded no fumes, a feature that was critical to maintaining the purity of the air quality within the spacecraft. The knife�s most practical applications can be derived from its stowed location inside the ship�s Command Module, where it resided with other essential gear as part of a survival pack. The items inside were to be used in the event the capsule splashed down off-course after re-entering Earth. In all, the Case Astronaut Knife M-1 was carried on every manned Gemini and Apollo space flight since Gemini 3's Molly Brown with astronauts John Young and Gus Grissom. Additionally, the M-1 traveled to the Moon and back nine times from 1968-1972 as part of NASA's Apollo program. In 1966, Case issued a special limited-edition of the Case Astronaut M-1 knife in a commemorative shadow box display. In total, only 2,492 were made available to the public. The plaque affixed to the front of the shadowbox reads. Astronauts' Knife � M-1. This knife is manufactured by W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company Bradford Pennsylvania in conjunction with NASA for the Manned Spacecraft Projects Gemini and Apollo. This item has its original box. Box measures: 8.5"L x 20.75"W x 2.75"H.

Issued: 1996
Dimensions: 16.5"L
Edition Size: 1712 of 2492
Manufacturer: W. R. Case and Sons Cutlery Co.
Country of Origin: United States