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