U.S. Late WWII ‘M3’ Fighting Knife and Scabbard. 20160. Knives

The M3 trench knife or M3 fighting knife was an American military combat knife first issued in March 1943. The M3 was originally designated for issue to soldiers not otherwise equipped with a bayonet. However, it was particularly designed for use by forces in need of a close combat knife, such as Airborne Units and Army Rangers, so these units received priority for the M3 at the start of production. As more M3 knives became available in 1943 and 1944, the knife was issued to other soldiers such as Army Air Corps crewmen and soldiers not otherwise equipped with a bayonet, including soldiers issued the M1 carbine or a submachine gun such as the M3 ‘Grease gun’. This is a nice cross guard marked ‘M3’ knife by ‘Imperial’. It has a virtually un-marked leather washer grip with plastic spacers top and bottom, denoting a late war issue. The clean 17 cm blade retains most of its parkerised finish, and the pommel has the flaming grenade stamped to the top. The scabbard is the early U.S. ‘M8’ by ‘B.M.Co’ (Beckwith manufacturing). A very nice late war combination in very good condition. The price includes UK delivery. 20160.