RARE**MATCHING DATES**WW2 1943 U.S. Army 1st Pattern Camillus USA Blade Marked M3 Trench Fighting Knife & Correct WW2 1943 M6 Leather Scabbard By MILSCO (Milwaukee Saddlery Company). ED 3032 Knive

**RARE**MATCHING DATES**WW2 1943 U.S. Army 1st Pattern Camillus USA Blade Marked M3 Trench Fighting Knife & Correct WW2 1943 M6 Leather Scabbard By MILSCO (Milwaukee Saddlery Company). ED 3032 ED 3032

The M3 Trench Fighting Knife was introduced in 1943. Early production knives were produced with model, manufacturer marked blades (see pages 95 to 97 of US Military Knives By Cole). Knives with blades marked in that manner were only produced for 2 months before manufacture changed to marking the cross guards rather than the blade to prevent causing weakness to the blades. M3 knives were produced by a number of American Manufacturers. In 1943, rare to find M6 Leather scabbards were produced for the M3 fighting knife. This is an original, American M3 Fighting knife by Camillus with rare original M6 scabbard (page 96 item No 6 of Cole’s book illustrates a Camillus M3 blade marking with 1943 date the same as our example). It has steel cross guard & pommel. The pommel has the Frankford arsenal ignited grenade stamp. The handle with correct compressed leather washers is undamaged and has just light service wear. Its 6” blade is undamaged. The blade has the rare to find early marking 'US M3 Camillus 1943’. The knife is complete with its original rare brown leather M6 Scabbard. The scabbard is undamaged and all of its rivets & stitching are intact. It has a single belt loop with wire belt bar & retaining strap with press stud fastener. The throat has the correct row of 8 reinforcing steel ‘laces’. The lower section of the scabbard has the correct riveted steel plates to the front and back. The bottom of the sheath is holed for thigh cord with reinforcing ring and fitted with original coiled leather cord. The front of the scabbard is impressed by the manufacturer MILSCO (Milwaukee Saddlery Company) and 'US M6’ together with 1943 date and Frankford arsenal ignited grenade mark. The price for this rare M3 Trench Knife with correct matching date M6 scabbard includes UK delivery. ED 3032 (American knives box)

£1195