Overview
Original Item: An excellent condition WWII Mark 3 U.S. fighting knife stamped, U.S. M-3 H. BOKER & Co. The blade has been refinished as well as it has a new handle made from aircraft materials during WWII. The handle has a steel guard and some sort of red composite material with 3 brass pins. Good condition considering it was altered. The original scabbard is marked, U.S. M8 B.M. CO and is in excellent condition.
The M3 fighting knife or M3 trench knife was an American military combat knife first issued in March 1943. The M3 was originally designated for issue to soldiers not otherwise equipped with a bayonet. However, it was particularly designed for use by elite or 'shock' forces in need of a close-combat knife such as airborne troops and Army Rangers, and these units received priority for the M3 at the start of production. As more M3 knives became available in 1943 and 1944, the knife was issued to other soldiers such as Army Air Corps crewmen and soldiers not otherwise equipped with a bayonet, including soldiers issued the M1 Carbine or submachine gun.
The M3 was manufactured by a number of U.S. knife and cutlery manufacturers during the war. Manufacturers known to have made the M3 under wartime contract include the Aerial Cutlery Co., W. R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co., Imperial Knife Co., PAL Cutlery Co., Camillus Cutlery Co., Robeson (ShurEdge) Cutlery Co., Kinfolks Inc.,... This is the rarest manufacturer of this knife during WWII producing only 31,300 of the 2,590,247 that were make.
