The UTON military knife is one of the best-known and most popular knives produced by Mikov. Its adoption into the arsenal of the then Czechoslovak People’s Army in the mid-1970s was the result of many years of development. During the development process, a knife designed for scouts was also tested; although it ultimately did not enter mass production, the UTON surpassed it in many respects in terms of function and design.
Only a few pieces from the original prototype series remain traceable today. The knife can be seen at the Museum of Knife-Making Tradition, which Mikov operates in Mikulášovice. The knife was intended primarily for reconnaissance and special forces units that needed robust, reliable, and multipurpose tools to carry out their missions in various situations. It was therefore designed to meet the demands of universal field use, including survival, first aid, and self-defense.
At first glance, it differs from the current UTON model in its plastic sheath and teardrop-shaped blade, which features an oval-shaped cutout. When the blade was attached to a special pin in the sheath, the soldier gained a pair of metal shears with which he could cut through obstacles such as barbed wire. The blade also featured special serrations that a scout could use to file down thick wires before cutting them. Furthermore, when additional tools—which are standard components of the current UTON as well, namely a file, a awl, and a saw—were added to the knife, the soldier carried a truly multifunctional tool that also met all the specifications of a military edged weapon.
There could have been a number of reasons why, despite all its positive aspects and indisputable quality, the knife ultimately did not enter mass production at Mikov, and the existing UTON vz. 75 was given preference. Unfortunately, we will likely never know the exact reasons today. However, when visiting the museum or looking at photographs of it, we can say with certainty that this is a great pity.
But we don’t have to limit ourselves to nostalgic reminiscing! Mikov is preparing a limited edition of this knife model for release this fall. It will be an exact and fully functional reproduction based on the original drawings, which will be especially appreciated by collectors of historical weapons.