Cobra AH-1G Emergency Canopy Breakaway Knife
The AH-1G Cobra canopy breaker tool is a heavy, stubby emergency egress knife officially designated by part number 61D4383 (National Stock Number 1680-00-296-8156). It was designed to shatter thick Plexiglas cockpit canopies rather than slice through them if a pilot needed to punch out following a crash or roll-over.
Photo above from Cobra Modelers. Photo on right from Drendels Book.
Military Aircraft Canopy Breaker Escape Tool. Heavy duty knife/tool usually held in a bracket attached to the canopy, used to break out plastic or glass in order to escape from an aircraft cockpit. A locking pin is used to secure the tool in a bracket is included, but no mounting bracket. Used by all military services in many types of modern aircraft. Heavy weight machined steel brute of a tool, showing slight corrosion on the handle and blade. The tool is painted overall dull black.
Tool Purpose: Despite being called a knife, the thick-bladed, heavyweight steel tool was engineered primarily as a striking implement to shatter and punch through thick Plexiglas canopy panels for emergency egress following a crash or roll-over, rather than to slice out.
These are still in use on the AH-1 Cobra series helicopters.
Blade Length: 2.5"
Total Length: 8.75"