UTON vz.75
Military Original vs. Civilian UTON: How to Tell
Five reliable signs that let you tell a military-issue UTON vz.75 original from the civilian version Mikov made for the civilian market.
The UTON vz.75 was made as a military assault knife for the Czechoslovak People's Army, but Mikov sold it for the civilian market as well — as a sport or hunting dagger. Both versions look similar at first glance, yet the collector value of a military original is many times higher. The following five signs let you tell them apart reliably.
⚡ Quick test at a glance
The fastest way to spot a military original: it has glossy smooth rubber on the handle and a series number on the right side of the blade. If that matches, you very likely have a military piece.
Comparison: military original vs. civilian version
| Sign | Military original | Civilian (Mikov) |
|---|---|---|
| Blade marking | Series number on the right side of the blade. | Number on the left side + logos and inscriptions (Mikov in oval, STAINLESS, fencer emblem, lion). |
| Handle | Glossy smooth rubber. | Matte textured rubber, or hard plastic. |
| Top edge (bevel) | The bevel tapers off gradually and fades out. | Ends at a slight angle — noticeably more pronounced at first glance. |
| Tool hole in the handle | Open, with a metal insert inside into which the tools fit precisely. | Open but with a plastic sleeve inside — tools held only by rubber and a pin. Early pieces had the hole plugged and were sold as hunting daggers. |
| Sheath | With a pocket for tools (saw, file). | Plain leather without a pocket (Venado type), or fabric. |
Military original UTON vz.75
Civilian UTON version by Mikov
⚠️ Watch out — a tricky case
Even an experienced collector can be fooled at first glance by hard glossy rubber. In that case, immediately check the series number on both sides of the blade. If the number is missing, the knife can still be identified calmly from the logos and markings (Mikov in oval, fencer, lion).
Related identification
Not sure?
Do you own a UTON and aren't sure whether it's a military original or a civilian version? I'll be glad to help you identify it.
