Attack knife vz. 75 "UTON"
In the mid-1970s, the Ministry of National Defence decided to replace the no longer satisfactory attack knife vz. V07, and therefore technical-tactical requirements (TP-VD-648-76 of 15 December 1976) were created, which the new knife should meet. The development of the new knife was carried out at the Military Research Institute 010 Slavičín in cooperation with the Mikov n. p.
The attack knife vz. 75 passed demanding company and military tests and was introduced into the armament of the CSLA. A number of national enterprises participated in the production, besides n. p. Mikov, n. p. Gumokov (handle), n. p. Kozak (sheath), n. p. Ajax (file and saw). The army was supplied with the vz. 75 assault knives in a cardboard box, in which 10 knives and one sheathing stone were packed.
The vz. 75 assault knife (ÚN-75) was introduced to the CSLA as an individual's personal weapon. It was intended for reconnaissance, airborne, airborne and other special units for self-defense and for noiseless incapacitation of the enemy. Airborne and airborne units were to use the knife to troubleshoot parachute malfunctions during parachutes.
The vz. 75 assault knife consists of:
- a knife,
- a sheath,
- a safety cord,
- a file,
- and a saw with a screwdriver.
The leather scabbard of the vz. 75 assault knife underwent minor changes during serial production, which mainly concerned the use of rivets to strengthen the stitching of the scabbard. At the beginning of production in 1976, smaller rivets were used, but these rivets appeared to be breaking out, and were therefore replaced by larger rivets in approximately 1977-1978. Several types of leather sheaths according to the type of rivets used:
- with small iron rivets with a hemispherical head and iron washer (r. v. 1976),
- with small brass rivets with a hemispherical head and iron washer (r. v. 1976),
- with small brass flat-headed rivets with flat head (r. v. 1976),
- with small brass rivets with rounded head, the lower part has a hole in the middle (r. v. 1977),
- with large brass rivets with a hole in the middle, these rivets are more prominent (r. v. 1977, 1978, 1979),
- with large brass rivets with a hole in the middle, these rivets are flatter than the previous type, they are probably more pressed (r.v. 1983).
In addition to the change in the use of rivets, the lacquer used on the top of the safety strap print was also changed during the production of the leather sheath of the vz. 75 attack knife. Usually the lacquer on the print was black, it could be dark brown, there is also a type with a thicker layer of paint used and a type with a weak layer of paint that quickly flaked off during use.
A common question is: What do the numbers on the blades of UTON knives mean? The four-digit number on military-style blades does not indicate the serial number of the piece or assignment to any of the branches of the CSLA/Army, as some might assume. It is a serial number, which also hides the manufacturing method of the blades. The blades were first cut out of sheet metal, later they were forged.
0001 - production series not yet fully corresponding to the range of technical conditions. The blade was hot forged. About 500 pieces produced.
0002 - blade made by cutting from solid material, machined only by grinding after hardening and cold straightening. Made 1680 pcs.
0003 - blade made by cutting from solid material, machined by sharpening and blades cooled by air in straightening agent. 4500 pieces were produced.
0004 and other series already correspond to the final technology in blade production (i.e. forgings).
Numbers of series 0001 - 0004 were stamped on the right side of the blade at the blade root, numbers 0004 - 0007 were stamped on the right side of the blade at the blade spine. Not to be confused with the knives currently produced commercially by Mikov, these are numbered on the left side of the blade. They usually have the number 0007 stamped on them, which is stamped there only to make the knife look like the military version and thus sell better.
There are various variations and minor modifications that will please any collector (e.g. different types of sheaths differing in rivets, color; cross-stamped number instead of longitudinal; souvenir specimens from missions, modifications for castle guards, etc.). Currently, civilian versions (without the stamped number), military imitations (with the number 0007), a diving version, or a version with a blackened blade are also produced.
Source:
www.knife.cz
www.mikov.cz
www.militaria.wz.cz
An assault knife vz. 75. Střelecký magazín, vol. 2002, no. 6
Plaček, R. UTON vz. 75. Střelecká revue, vol. 2002, no. 9
Packan, P. Variants of vz. 75 assault knives. Střelecký magazin, vol. 2002, no. 12
Del 21-22. Assault knife vz. 75. Ministry of National Defence. Prague, 1977
Morávek, K.: Czechoslovak Cold Weapons 1918 - 1945. ARS-ARM. Prague, 1995
In the mid-1970s, the Ministry of National Defence decided to replace the no longer satisfactory attack knife vz. V07, and therefore technical-tactical requirements (TP-VD-648-76 of 15 December 1976) were created, which the new knife should meet. The development of the new knife was carried out at the Military Research Institute 010 Slavičín in cooperation with the Mikov n. p.
The attack knife vz. 75 passed demanding company and military tests and was introduced into the armament of the CSLA. A number of national enterprises participated in the production, besides n. p. Mikov, n. p. Gumokov (handle), n. p. Kozak (sheath), n. p. Ajax (file and saw). The army was supplied with the vz. 75 assault knives in a cardboard box, in which 10 knives and one sheathing stone were packed.
The vz. 75 assault knife (ÚN-75) was introduced to the CSLA as an individual's personal weapon. It was intended for reconnaissance, airborne, airborne and other special units for self-defense and for noiseless incapacitation of the enemy. Airborne and airborne units were to use the knife to troubleshoot parachute malfunctions during parachutes.
The vz. 75 assault knife consists of:
- a knife,
- a sheath,
- a safety cord,
- a file,
- and a saw with a screwdriver.
The leather scabbard of the vz. 75 assault knife underwent minor changes during serial production, which mainly concerned the use of rivets to strengthen the stitching of the scabbard. At the beginning of production in 1976, smaller rivets were used, but these rivets appeared to be breaking out, and were therefore replaced by larger rivets in approximately 1977-1978. Several types of leather sheaths according to the type of rivets used:
- with small iron rivets with a hemispherical head and iron washer (r. v. 1976),
- with small brass rivets with a hemispherical head and iron washer (r. v. 1976),
- with small brass flat-headed rivets with flat head (r. v. 1976),
- with small brass rivets with rounded head, the lower part has a hole in the middle (r. v. 1977),
- with large brass rivets with a hole in the middle, these rivets are more prominent (r. v. 1977, 1978, 1979),
- with large brass rivets with a hole in the middle, these rivets are flatter than the previous type, they are probably more pressed (r.v. 1983).
In addition to the change in the use of rivets, the lacquer used on the top of the safety strap print was also changed during the production of the leather sheath of the vz. 75 attack knife. Usually the lacquer on the print was black, it could be dark brown, there is also a type with a thicker layer of paint used and a type with a weak layer of paint that quickly flaked off during use.
A common question is: What do the numbers on the blades of UTON knives mean? The four-digit number on military-style blades does not indicate the serial number of the piece or assignment to any of the branches of the CSLA/Army, as some might assume. It is a serial number, which also hides the manufacturing method of the blades. The blades were first cut out of sheet metal, later they were forged.
0001 - production series not yet fully corresponding to the range of technical conditions. The blade was hot forged. About 500 pieces produced.
0002 - blade made by cutting from solid material, machined only by grinding after hardening and cold straightening. Made 1680 pcs.
0003 - blade made by cutting from solid material, machined by sharpening and blades cooled by air in straightening agent. 4500 pieces were produced.
0004 and other series already correspond to the final technology in blade production (i.e. forgings).
Numbers of series 0001 - 0004 were stamped on the right side of the blade at the blade root, numbers 0004 - 0007 were stamped on the right side of the blade at the blade spine. Not to be confused with the knives currently produced commercially by Mikov, these are numbered on the left side of the blade. They usually have the number 0007 stamped on them, which is stamped there only to make the knife look like the military version and thus sell better.
There are various variations and minor modifications that will please any collector (e.g. different types of sheaths differing in rivets, color; cross-stamped number instead of longitudinal; souvenir specimens from missions, modifications for castle guards, etc.). Currently, civilian versions (without the stamped number), military imitations (with the number 0007), a diving version, or a version with a blackened blade are also produced.
| TTD: | |
|---|---|
| Knife with sheath: | - length: | 270 mm | - width: | 60 mm | - weight: | 380 g | - blade length: | 248 mm | - blade length: | 248 mm | - blade thickness: | 3,7 mm |
| - blade width: | 25 mm |
| - weight: | 200 g | - steel | ČSN 17029 - DIN 1.4034 - AISI 420 |
| Filer and saw blade: | |
| - length: | 130 mm | - width: | 13 mm | - thickness: | 3 mm | - functional length: | 83 mm |
| - weight of file/saw: | 35 g/30 g |
| - length | about 2000 mm |
Source:
www.knife.cz
www.mikov.cz
www.militaria.wz.cz
An assault knife vz. 75. Střelecký magazín, vol. 2002, no. 6
Plaček, R. UTON vz. 75. Střelecká revue, vol. 2002, no. 9
Packan, P. Variants of vz. 75 assault knives. Střelecký magazin, vol. 2002, no. 12
Del 21-22. Assault knife vz. 75. Ministry of National Defence. Prague, 1977
Morávek, K.: Czechoslovak Cold Weapons 1918 - 1945. ARS-ARM. Prague, 1995
