Eric, these are auction photos of one I had not seen, and I dun bought the thing, just because neat, and I like the handle. The seller states guard/leather/pommel still tight, I guess enough contact still in middle of guard against ricasso.
I know Silvey has round ungrooved UDT knives pictured, but this oval Fairbairn Sykes commando style a new one on me. If a rehandle, somebody still went through a lot of trouble and good shoeleather. And appears old enough to be ooold, without being wartime, so, I did not care. Some bigwig at Kabar personal knife?
Heck, I like it, even if an outright forgery, knowing what such a handle would cost. And entire rig appears serviceable, as-is (my main criteria for any old junk).
Sheath certainly no Pacific ground combat vet, but slathered handle suggests exposure to water/salt a given, in an exercise in bad guessing. Or, a general officer or captain on a carrier with a shoe repair shop? Or, a commercial knife sold right after the war? Nobody can guess worse than me.
What is your take on this one?