The PJLT- Pararescue's Most Popular CSAR Knife
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Featured: United States Air Force Pararescue LighT: The PJLT Mirror finished 440C high chromium martensitic stainless tool steel, with full filework, fully tapered tang, half-blade length swage, and 2" of positive rip tooth serrations. Bolster: bead blasted 304 stainless steel, dovetailed, fiberglass linen reinforce micarta handle, with stainless steel pins and lanyard liner. Sheath: double thickness kydex hot-formed over aluminum welt frame, secured with steel Chicago screws and aluminum belt loops. A serious rescue combat knife.
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Want to know more about the current missions of USAF Pararescue PJs? Here's a link to a recent, well done article by the USAF.
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"My sheath held my knife in place at all times... On one mission when rappelling into a hot HLZ with a 70 lbs pack I went upside down and got drug when the Helo decided to spilt, my knife was there. Jay, I know of no other knife that you made that have seen so much action. From the first ever Jump mission conducted at the PJ School to the 2 OEF deployments 23 Combat missions in all; “not to forget multiple peace time missions”. When my life depends on my knife why carry anything but the very best. Thanks for building the best for the best." --SZ (Super) |
| Please note: I'm only making a limited number of combat grade knives yearly. Because of high order volume, I've had to regulate the amount of combat knife orders, so I can make and deliver them in a timely fashion. Thanks for you patience and understanding. |
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The PJ Light (PJLT) This knife is my most popular design for USAF Pararescue CSAR (Combat Search and Rescue) and other service use and carry. The design started as a full-sized PJ, which was a real chopper, a large knife with a 12.75" overall length. Though the big PJ is still a very popular knife, Pararescuemen asked for a lighter version. I reduced the size about 15% and came up with the "PJLT." LT stands for LighT version. click on thumbnails!
The PJLT is 11.25" overall length, with a practical 6-6.5" blade, and is usually made of 440C high chromium stainless steel. This steel, when properly heat-treated and tempered for the cross-sectional area and intended use, is a very fine stainless tool steel that will withstand the rigors of tactical use, combat, and even oceanic rescue without oxidizing or rusting, with minimal care. When more toughness is desired, ATS-34 is used. Read more about these tool steels on the FAQ page here and the Blades Page here. click on thumbnails!
The blade shape is a hollow ground tanto, which leaves a very strong point by maintaining blade width. Thickness at the point is lightly reduced by a swage, and the point is dropped for easy insertion into the sheath. This is a full tang knife blade, for highest strength, and features front a rear finger quillions and belly in the grip to lock the hand into the handle. There is a thumb rise on the spine of the knife for more control and to apply pressure to the cut. The knife can also be carried defensively, with a reverse grip by laying the thumb across the rear "hawk's bill." The hawk's bill also allows quick and easy withdrawal from the sheath. The handle materials are usually micarta or stabilized hardwood, but you can also see PJs and soldiers carrying them with gemstone handles. Micarta handles are stout and are usually bead blasted for a solid tactile grip, and are locked onto the handle with double pinned and dovetailed bolsters, and anchored by handle pins. Often, a rear lanyard or thong tube or hole is included for extra security. Read about a very special Pararescue knife commissioned by an anonymous patron and donated to a Pararescueman for his CSAR use! The sheaths are some of the finest made, period. I make my combat sheaths on a 5052H32 corrosion resistant aluminum welt frame, the kydex is double layered and attached with waterproof cement and very rigid steel Chicago screws, either nickel plated or hot blued. The belt clips are nickel plated steel, the belt loops are solid aluminum.
Often, the PJLT is set with 2" of aggressive rip teeth near the ricasso. One complaint Pararescuemen had with factory knives and other handmade knives was that the serrations were not really aggressive, and they asked that the teeth rip and cut even if broken off! Factories use automated machinery to rough out what looks like aggressive serrations, and often they're not even sharpened. I hand-shape, contour, and sharpen each individual tooth, and offer several styles depending on the Pararescueman's needs, including staggered teeth, deep, angled, or "Vampire" and any combination of those. They are more than serrations, they are teeth: razor keen and described by users as scary, nasty, and vicious. I made the mistake of just touching a set recently to check for sharpness, and laid open my thumb... ouch! click on thumbnails!
The PJLT is usually worn and carried in a sheath of Kydex, 5052H32 corrosion resistant aluminum, and blued or nickel-plated steel Chicago screws with either a nickel plated steel clip or 1.75" aluminum belt loops. Sometimes the PJLT is made with a stainless steel 39 component locking sheath, that can be carried upside down even when jumping out of aircraft or slamming over rough terrain on a quad. Both of these sheath styles are waterproof, with simple care being a light rinse and dry. For a tactical appearance, the sheath and knife are often sprayed with camo paint while deployed, then the paint is removed with lacquer thinner or acetone upon return to the real world. I also make the sheaths in co-extruded acrylic, engrave flash panels or fronts with logos, names, or significant recognition, and also now provide a desert or forest camo kydex sheath. click on thumbnails!
The PJLT has a fine history of combat, rescue and tactical applications. One particular knife has been on a dozen combat missions, pried the skin off a HELO, rescued a Navy Seal from a wrecked APC, freed the Pararescueman from a knotted, slimy cargo net deep in the Pacific swells, and much more. Combat and rescue tested and proven, that's the Pararescue Jumper Light: the PJLT! Individual Featured PJLT knife Pages:
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