7 digit number inscribed on knife

[djknife13]

I bought an old Russell Navy knife with a name scratched in the wood handle and the number 6961365 scratched in the back scale. I first thought it was a soc sec number except was a few digits short, then I thought it was a Army service number but that also was the wrong amount of numbers. It's too many for a date. It's starting to drive me nuts. I looked up the guys name and got many hits. I'd love to know some history of this knife.

[Modern Slip Joints]

John's sweet heart's telephone number?

[C-WADE7]

Electricians license number? I know it’s not an TL-29 style but ???

[djknife13]

John's sweet heart's telephone number?

Interesting idea. Think I should call it and ask how John's doing?____Dave

[djknife13]

Electricians license number? I know it’s not an TL-29 style but ???

It would make a good wire stripping blade. This looks like the most likely idea so far._____Dave

[1967redrider]

Cool find, Dave. Could be a, "If found, please call . . . " /lost knife solution?

[knife7knut]

I was in the Navy from 1964 to 1967 and l had a 7 digit service number grouped 3 2 2. You might be able to trace it through one of the veterans organizations.

[bighomer]

Bank account

[djknife13]

I was in the Navy from 1964 to 1967 and l had a 7 digit service number grouped 3 2 2. You might be able to trace it through one of the veterans organizations.

This seems to be the most likely answer and one I would never have guessed. If I remember correctly, the Air Force used a different system and may have been our Soc Sec. number. I sure do love researching the history of old knives that I find. Several knives that I have with celluloid picture handles with names and dates have given me a lot of information on the knife's history dating back almost to 1900 and in two cases I've found grand kids of the name on the knife
and found out the grand kids knew people I know from when they were kids 50 years ago. Of the several thousand knives I own, I know most of the history of about a half dozen of them from the original owner to how the knife got to where I found it._____Dave

[RobesonsRme.com]

When did seven digit phone numbers start?

When I was a boy, the first three represented a word. Ours was 833 for VErnon-3.

The modern use of 696 as a prefix is associated with various area codes (e.g., 201-696 in New Jersey, 202-696 in Washington, D.C.), but this reflects post-North American Numbering Plan assignments and does not clarify its pre-area code meaning.

[knife7knut]

As l recall, after the Navy ran out of 7 digit service numbers, they used a letter prefix and 6 digits. Example: A00 00 00. I still think it is a USN service number.

[treefarmer]

I was in the Navy from 1964 to 1967 and l had a 7 digit service number grouped 3 2 2. You might be able to trace it through one of the veterans organizations.
I understand the social security number is the military ID.

Same with the Marine Corps, in 1964 I was given a 7 digit service number, 204XXXX. We knew anyone with a number beginning with a "1" was an old salt.
Treefarmer

[SwedgeHead]

This is pretty definitive, 6961365 is a panda kit.
He was probably sitting in a foxhole browsing Amazon and didn't want to lose the reference, thinking "ya know, I bet I'd look good as a panda".

Screenshot 2025-06-11 12.26.56 PM.png (42.52 KiB) Viewed 110 times

[djknife13]

This is pretty definitive, 6961365 is a panda kit.
He was probably sitting in a foxhole browsing Amazon and didn't want to lose the reference, thinking "ya know, I bet I'd look good as a panda".

Screenshot 2025-06-11 12.26.56 PM.png

OK, that's funny, not likely, but funny.____Dave

[knife7knut]

[/quote]

Same with the Marine Corps, in 1964 I was given a 7 digit service number, 204XXXX. We knew anyone with a number beginning with a "1" was an old salt.
Treefarmer
[/quote]
I believe the 1st digit of the service number back then identified what part of the country you were from; much the same as the first 3 digits of your SSN does. I could be mistaken but l think that was the original idea.

[djknife13]

I had to dig out some of my old military records because I seem to remember that our military identification number was our Soc. Sec. number and it was. ____Dave

[Reverand]

This is pretty definitive, 6961365 is a panda kit.
He was probably sitting in a foxhole browsing Amazon and didn't want to lose the reference, thinking "ya know, I bet I'd look good as a panda".

Screenshot 2025-06-11 12.26.56 PM.png