A recent surprise came my way when a gentleman contacted me about a knife that had belonged to his step-father. Turns out his step-father, Dr. Carl Patrick Laughlin, was at the heart of the Mercury Space Program. Upon further conversation, it became apparent the doctor played a large role in America's manned space program in the developmental stages of NASA. Dr. Laughlin was the lead medical officer for John Glenn's orbital flight after which he wrote the paper "Physiological Responses of the Astronaut". Laughlin was Glenn's personal physician as well.
The Astro knife belonging to Laughlin is what I believe could be one of ten ordered by Gordon Cooper (Gaddis) for the astronauts. Seven were named to the astronauts, two were unnamed, and the last knife of the order went to a Dr. Bill Douglas. The step-son told me that Dr. Laughlin was asked by Cooper if he wanted one of the knives and Laughlin basically said "Sure". According to Gaddis, Bo was desperately trying to fill the order so did he run out of time and throw a couple Solingen blades in with the order?
Overall the knife is in excellent used condition with some scratching and possibly some light sharpening, but a fantastic example. The step-son told me Laughlin used the knife, and did so in some training exercises he remembers being told. I surmise they could have been survival exercises with the astronauts. He also mentioned the knife was carried in a pack. Was this one of the astronaut survival packs? This would lend itself to the condition of the Lift-a-Dot sheath which is in near mint condition save for a few scuffs.
The knife is etched in block letters Randall Made Knives on one line above and below, Orlando, Florida.
This Astro is the most historicaly significant example I know of outside of Cooper's knife residing in the Randall Museum and the Grissom knife I believe at Kennedy Space Center. There is also a nice letter from Dr. Laughlin's widow giving a brief commentary on her husband's involvement with NASA and the Mercury program as well as Identlfying the knife that belonged to her late husband.
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