Robeson RCCO M3 Trench Knife Help

[learning]

Hi to all and thanks in advance for any help you can give me.

 

I was able to learn that this is Robeson M3 trench/fighting knife on the forums here and it was an excellent article. As a newbie on military items I am hoping to learn all that I can.

Since there were only about 31,000 that were made by Robeson, I am wondering about how many can be left and what condition are they in? In regard to its condition I realize that mint is always the most desirable but how does one determine it considering how many were made to begin with. Or is that even a consideration?

As someone who is not knowledgeable in military items, my opinion would be that this would be collectible but perhaps that is not correct thinking on my part?

About the sheath that it was found it, I know it's not correct to the blade. I wasn't able to find out what type of sheath this belonged to or even if it was a military knife. Does someone have any ideas on this?

Hoping that I haven't embarrassed myself but I learned that there is no such thing as a 'dumb' question. Well I'm okay if maybe a few of you are shaking your heads reading this post

Again, thank you for your time and any help.

[sactroop]

Condition is condition and quantity made is it's own factor. One doesn't have any influence on the other. The two together along with many other factors will effect the going price for an item.

The blade would match up to either an M6 leather sheath or the early, (short webbing,no 1910 hanger), M8 plastic scabbard.

[SKIPH]

Learning- You have a well used, but doesn't appear abused RCC blade marked M3. Congrats! They are fairly rare. The blade-dated are very rare. Check the top guard, wear your thumb would touch. You will see a nice large Ordinance stamp. Tha, and the small amount of RCCs made contribute to it's collector desirability. You don't have an M6 or early M8 scabbard, but you do have the sheath for a MK2 combat knife (ie Ka-Bar, Camillus, PAL, RCC), with an M1910 belt hook (appears not sewn). Any RCC, in almost any condition is desired. Hang on to it! You have the second most difficult version to find. SKIP

[1563621]

What is the first most difficult to find?

[Elton]

I do not know which one is hardest but I have a double tang H Boker, only 31,300 M3 bokers were made, I don't know how many double tang models were made. If anyone has the number of double tang knives made I would really like to know.

Thanks.

[byf41]

I dont know the numbers but the double tang Boker is easily the rarest M3 IMO .

[learning]

Learning- You have a well used, but doesn't appear abused RCC blade marked M3. Congrats! They are fairly rare. The blade-dated are very rare. Check the top guard, wear your thumb would touch. You will see a nice large Ordinance stamp. Tha, and the small amount of RCCs made contribute to it's collector desirability. You don't have an M6 or early M8 scabbard, but you do have the sheath for a MK2 combat knife (ie Ka-Bar, Camillus, PAL, RCC), with an M1910 belt hook (appears not sewn). Any RCC, in almost any condition is desired. Hang on to it! You have the second most difficult version to find. SKIP

 

SKIP~Many thanks for giving me the knowledge about this M3. As you suggested I checked under the thumb rest and there is a large 'ordinance' stamp, looks like crossed canons with a circle.

Thanks also for the info on the sheath~no idea how the M3 landed in it.

 

This made sound a bit odd but for some reason it doesn't feel right to me that I am the one to have found it when so many others are much more deserving of the honor.

[SKIPH]

1563621- Most difficult to locate is the RCC blade-dated M3. There are more V42s come up for sale than it. Seems like only 2-3 per year, V42s that many per month. There's a V42 on Ebay right now. Elton is about right on the double tang Bokers, they're about a tie w/ the RCC blade marked, for availability. But, it seems like when you're looking for a particular variation, they just aren't around, and when you find it, you lack the funds, or someone else snatches it up. SKIP

[learning]

I feel that this is a great piece of history and belongs with a person who can fully appreciate it and be happy having it. There are so many people here who have great collections and have spent many years learning and collecting. My true passion is in collecting other types of items and it is just by chance I came across my first military find.

I am thinking about putting it up for sale and wonder if anyone in the forums would be interested in it before I find another way to put it out there.

 

Any thoughts?