Blade Dated M3 fighting knife

[Gary Cain]

This is probably the rarest M3 I have. I bought this from a 17th AB Div soldier and he carried on Operation Varsity.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Gary, thanks for posting this one and all the other fantastic knives too. What I really like is the fact you know the background behind who the original owners were. This to me is very important and makes them even more desirable.

I used to own one very similar to this many years ago. Sadly it is long gone now.

Am I correct in thinking they stopped stamping the blades like this at some point due to potentially weakening the blade, or is that an "old wives tale"?

Cheers, Ade.

[Gary Cain]

Hi Ade,

I am pretty sure that it was just simple economics that made them delete the blade markings. It just made the knives a heck of a lot cheaper to crank them out when the blades didn't need to be marked. Some people have said it was due to opperational security but in light of the fact that the US was allready cancelling contracts in 1943 I kind of doubt it.


Cheers
Gary

Hi Gary, thanks for posting this one and all the other fantastic knives too. What I really like is the fact you know the background behind who the original owners were. This to me is very important and makes them even more desirable.

I used to own one very similar to this many years ago. Sadly it is long gone now.

Am I correct in thinking they stopped stamping the blades like this at some point due to potentially weakening the blade, or is that an "old wives tale"?

Cheers, Ade.

[Walkwolf]

Nice Knife ! !


( There was also a controversy about the blades having two dates....

The early blades were marked thus: " US M3 ( Maker ) 1943 "

"M3" literally means: "Model - 1943 " so there was really no need to repeat it.
The blade dated versions were only in production for one or two months. )






Regards,



Steve.

[Chopperman]

Nice one
My blade is not dated but the sheath is dated 1944. The dated
blade M3s are a good score when you can find them.