Today, we'll introduce a type of "most expensive" knife, whose cost per gram rivals that of gold—space knives used by astronauts. While their manufacturing cost isn't high, the exorbitant transportation costs make them exceptionally pricey. According to U.S. sources, transporting 450 grams of goods to space costs approximately $43,000. In contrast, China's publicly disclosed data indicates that transporting one kilogram of goods to space costs around 300,000 RMB (roughly $47,000). Therefore, roughly estimating the cost of transporting knives to space, is nearly equivalent to the price of gold of equal weight. Calling them the most expensive knives is not an exaggeration. Today, let's first take a look at the knives used by Chinese astronauts, and later, we'll briefly examine those used by American and Russian astronauts.




Why do astronauts carry knives into space?  In reality, the main purpose is for use on Earth, learned from past experiences. On March 18, 1965, when the Soviet Union's Voskhod 2 spacecraft returned to Earth, it deviated 360 kilometers from the planned location. Weak and stranded, the cosmonauts endured a day in the howling and roaring primitive forest before rescue personnel arrived. Since then, survival knives have become standard equipment for astronauts.




The knives used by Chinese astronauts are primarily for wilderness survival, commonly known as astronaut survival knives. If astronauts do not land in the predetermined location upon returning to Earth, they must use these knives for wilderness survival until ground support personnel rescue them.




Therefore, astronaut survival knives have strong performance, and astronauts undergo extensive wilderness survival training. In the training materials of Chinese astronauts, we can see various uses of astronaut survival knives, such as cutting parachute cords to make tents, chopping branches for firewood, hunting animals, and self-defense.



↑ Type 99 Pilot Survival Knife


The Chinese astronaut survival knife is an improved version based on the Type 99 pilot survival knife, using the same blade design.




The blade is made of special high-carbon steel, surface-chromed for a nearly mirror-like effect, which can be used as an emergency mirror.




The tip of the knife features a spear-shaped head, and the back side is also relatively sharp, providing strong puncture performance.





The blade has a groove, and the back of the knife has sharp, alternating back teeth. According to design specifications, the astronaut survival knife must be able to pierce a 1mm thick steel plate, quickly chop a 15mm thick or saw through a 50mm thick branch.




The half-tang blade handle has a steel guard and a wooden handle, engraved with a five-pointed star.




A leather sheath with the imprint of a five-pointed star and a "survival knife" is included.





The survival knife is usually stored at the bottom of the astronaut's survival bag (blue circle in the image above) and carried by the astronaut upon return.


Main data:

Blade length: 211 mm

Overall length: 333 mm

Total weight: 249 grams


Now, let's take a look at the knives used by American astronauts.




The earliest knife used by American astronauts was a pilot rescue jump knife from Camillus, primarily used to cut parachute cords. Although not designed for astronauts, it was brought into space by American astronauts aboard the Mercury spacecraft in 1961.




A more famous astronaut knife is the custom combat knife from Randall. On January 27, 1968, American astronaut Virgil Grissom died in the Apollo 1 spacecraft during a routine test, and he carried the Randall combat knife.




The handle of the knife is hollow, allowing for the storage of small survival tools, and the handle end of the parachute rope is also tied with a Phillips screwdriver.

As time progressed, NASA gradually realized the importance of specialized astronaut knives. They approached the Case Company to produce an astronaut survival knife.




The Case Company developed an astronaut machete based on the U.S. military machete, named the M1 Astronaut Survival Knife.



↑ American astronaut Harrison Schmitt used the M1 survival knife for survival training in the Panama jungle.


The choice of a machete shape was because, at the time, the return areas for American astronauts were generally in the Caribbean. After numerous experiments, NASA determined that the machete was the most suitable form for surviving in the hot tropical jungles of the Caribbean.




↑ The first astronaut to set foot on the moon, American astronaut Armstrong, showcased his M1 survival knife.


Initially, the M1 survival knife used a resin handle. However, after the fire on Apollo 1, where all items inside the spacecraft needed to undergo combustion tests, it was changed to an aluminum handle. Due to the excessively high transportation costs, it also came with a lightweight sheath.




The M1 survival knife has always been a standard issue for NASA astronauts. Later, the handle material was changed to flame-resistant composite material.





In 1978, NASA purchased 50 Swiss Army knives from Victorinox for various tasks, such as spacecraft and space station maintenance.




In addition to survival and utility knives, NASA also provides astronauts with space EDC knives. NASA specifically customized a tactical folding knife from Emerson, which Emerson interestingly named SPECWAR, short for Special Warfare, in reference to Star Wars. The main difference from a regular tactical folding knife is the cutting hook on the T-shaped blade tip, mainly used for cutting open food packaging and as an emergency tool to cut through space suits.


From these knives in this article, it can be seen that astronaut knives are equipped based on their actual needs, and there is no comparability in terms of materials and forms. The most important thing is that they can complete their corresponding tasks. If one had to choose, I believe most people would opt for the former Soviet machete with a gun stock, a survival pistol with a caliber not inferior to the Barrett, capable of physically transcending all carbon-based life forms with a single pull, making polar bear barbecues a breeze.