MINT**UN-ISSUED**NEW TO COLLECTORS MARKET IN STORAGE SINCE 1960\'s / 70\'s**WW2 Early US M3 Fighting Knife Blade Manufacturer Marked Imperial (Knife Company Providence Rhode Island), M8 Scabbard With Integral Frog By BM Co (Beckwith Mfg Co) & Thigh Cord. Knives

**MINT**UN-ISSUED**NEW TO COLLECTORS MARKET IN STORAGE SINCE 1960's / 70's**WW2 Early US M3 Fighting Knife Blade Manufacturer Marked Imperial (Knife Company Providence Rhode Island), M8 Scabbard With Integral Frog By BM Co (Beckwith Mfg Co) & Thigh Cord. - 21385:15

A near mint, un-issued, original WW2 early US M3 fighting knife and M8 scabbard with integral frog. This knife is one of several WW2 blades we recently acquired that are new to the market having been in storage wrapped in Newspaper since the 1960's & 70's when they originally came into the possession of a market trader. It has an undamaged 6 ¾” parkerised blade. The blade is crisply marked 'USM3 IMPERIAL' (early M3 knives had manufacturer and model designation stamped on the blades. Later variants have those markings on the cross guard as it was believed stamping the blades risked weakening the steel, see page 21 of The US M-3 Trench Knife of WW2 by Coniglio & Laden). The leather ringed handle is clean and un-damaged. It has a steel cross guard and pommel. The pommel is crisply stamped with the Frankford arsenal ignited grenade mark. The knife is complete with its original green plastic M8 scabbard with integral green webbing frog which has a single retaining strap and press stud fastener. The rear of the belt loop has an ink stamp unknown (illustrated). The throat mount of the scabbard is stamped 'USM8' & by the manufacturer 'BM Co' (Beckwith Manufacturing Company). The tip of the scabbard is fitted with original coiled leather thigh cord. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 21385:15 (American Knives & Knife Bayonets Box)

£375.00