US Military M3 Trench Knife

Posted by: Eric

US Military M3 Trench Knife - 04/28/18 08:35 PM

The M3 Trench Knife will always be one of my favorites. Here is one I picked up this weekend. This one dates to around 1944.
Posted by: Lofty

Re: US Military M3 Trench Knife - 04/28/18 11:32 PM

Rememberance of things past. That one just needs a little oil. Guess that is out, once it called a collectible. When I was in, we still had those floating around in units, some near as nice. They held up to throwing practice while kabars broke. The M7 from the 70s such as Imperial were toughest of all, after guards altered to guard rather than barrel looped, and buttplate swapped for latch plate.

Every time I see one, I think Airborne and D-Day.
Posted by: Eric

Re: US Military M3 Trench Knife - 04/29/18 07:01 AM

First ones issued to Airborne during WWII had a leather sheath and the blade was dated 1943.
Posted by: Eric

Re: US Military M3 Trench Knife - 04/29/18 07:07 AM

Here are a few more Iconic US WWII Edged Weapons. M3, Ka-Bar and Western L-48.
Posted by: oldguy

Re: US Military M3 Trench Knife - 04/30/18 06:53 PM

I need one of those to go with my 1943 Inland carbines. oldguy
Posted by: Lofty

Re: US Military M3 Trench Knife - 04/30/18 09:15 PM

Originally Posted By: Eric
First ones issued to Airborne during WWII had a leather sheath and the blade was dated 1943.


Yep, and none of ours had anything but the fiber sheaths, same as bayonet, and likely not original. But, who knows, nobody cared about old junk handed down from the hoard of Big G to Big G (otherwise known as the supply Sargeant) over the years. We simply would barter for what we wanted for playtime. I still want the guided tour of the museum when it opens. I have an overpowering urge to call in an arty strike on an EE-8 or TA-312/PT from a fwd observation post, of which you likely have one each from each theater of operations...the posts.

Gave my one L-48 to a kid nearly 20yrs ago. He likely still is having fun with it. Think I even gave away my M7 a few years back.

Beautiful collection of classics, like looking around while waiting for the ramp to drop. Best I still have is one of my kabars not all used up, no real expert on what were work tools, but will dig it up while assuming it a typical 60's-70's Camillus, to which I was partial, they broke easier but had wicked points and true slasher edges.
Posted by: Eric

Re: US Military M3 Trench Knife - 05/01/18 09:15 AM

I had a fondness for anything US Military issued. More pics.

The last pic is of an 8" bladed Case made Ka-Bar prototype sold at the 1982 Case Auction.
Posted by: Eric

Re: US Military M3 Trench Knife - 05/01/18 09:39 AM

If Case's model design had won a contract, we would have seen Ka-Bar with an 8" blade as well as the 7" blade.
Posted by: Lofty

Re: US Military M3 Trench Knife - 05/01/18 02:09 PM

My lone survivor of all the scads appropriated for training purposes. Had several put aside, but them eventually used up. Considering my initial enlistment, what was in the pipeline, etc would guess this a 60s-70s made knife. If anyone thinks getting these from Big G back then was easy, consider the US Army did not even issue knives at all, at the time. You had to know someone who was trading for cases of the things. And what I had to trade for cases of same. What we were doing back then makes the Iran/Contra affair seem bush-league.



Posted by: Eric

Re: US Military M3 Trench Knife - 05/01/18 03:14 PM

Lofty, You have a Vietnam Era Camillus and the correct dark brown sheath. My newer Ka-Bar user is one I have had since the mid-1980's. A useful blade indeed.
Posted by: Lofty

Re: US Military M3 Trench Knife - 05/02/18 11:29 AM

Had one of them, too, essentially same time period, and a far nicer knife than any issue stuff of the time (Camillus and then Ontario, as I recall). Gave it away to some kid, too. The Camillus older stuff from that above pictured period had crooked grind lines, blotchy parkerize, but really wicked thin edges.

The actual KaBar was used a great deal (by then, HAD to dye it black) , and did not seem near as weak a knife. The later Ontario issue knives extremely thick edged and tipped, really TOO thick, but frequently broke inside handle at tang from being too hard.

But, anyhow, thanks for posting all the great old knives. These are the ones which were carried by 99% of all servicemen, and quite a tribute collection.

PS.....(psst, tickets to your museum when it opens, don't forget.)