VO-7
VO-7 with Aluminum Handle
VO-7 with aluminum handle for ČSLA chemical warfare troops — aluminum chosen for decontamination ease. How to identify an original from a copy.
Fotogalerie
VO-7 with Aluminum Handle
This variant of the VO-7 knife was intended for members of the chemical warfare troops. The blade, guard and locking nut are the same as on the wooden-handle version. The only difference is in the handle, which is made from aluminum and painted green. Aluminum was chosen for ease of decontamination and its low weight.
How to Identify an Original from a Copy
Warning — this variant is frequently copied, mainly in Poland, from where copies are imported. The photographs intentionally show the handle in detail with worn green paint so you can notice the imperfections characteristic of originals.
The original handle was cast. The surface has various imperfections and pores. On the guard side the surface is not perfectly flat — there are visible burrs, protrusions and grinding marks.
A copy is immediately striking for how beautiful it looks. The handle is not a casting but is machined on a milling machine — its surface is perfectly smooth without imperfections and the paint looks brand new. Copies are also often sold sealed in plastic wrap with the story that it is an unused original in original packaging. Beware of this.
