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Finally Got one For My Collection


otter42
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Got this along with a large patch collection tonight after work. The man's dad retired out as a Lt Col, and brought this home. His son told me that his dad took this and another one like it from a paratrooper in WWII. He said the other one was BLACK! Which meant it was mint and had no wear to it. The son lost it on a river patrol boat in Vietnam. I had a great talk with this man. I believe the sheath is a Australian made one for the aluminum fighting knife., but I may be wrong, I'm no expert. Rey you were correct in telling me to wait for what I really wanted, now I have one with a history and the man that brought it home!

 

 

 

 

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Patchcollector

That's a neat looking rig.Please pardon my ignorance as I'm not an expert on these,but is that knife a WW1 original? The blade looks almost brand new!

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I'm no expert either on these, I'm just going off that it came from a retired Lt Col's estate and the son sold it to me saying it has been in the collection, he did say there was another that he lost in 1968 that was still black which I assume was unissued because the they came black from what I have read, I would appreciate any other comments on the knife. The knife has been in the sheath for years, you can see the black wear marks. Thanks for looking and comments, Ken

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Patchcollector

I'm no expert either on these, I'm just going off that it came from a retired Lt Col's estate and the son sold it to me saying it has been in the collection, he did say there was another that he lost in 1968 that was still black which I assume was unissued because the they came black from what I have read, I would appreciate any other comments on the knife. The knife has been in the sheath for years, you can see the black wear marks. Thanks for looking and comments, Ken

 

 

Hi Ken,

I still have alot to learn about these,so I could be wrong,but yours looks like some I've seen that were sold during the 70's,or thereabouts.Those knives are now about 40 or so years old and will show some aging.I hope that I'm wrong.I'm sure that some of the more experienced knife collectors will chime in soon.

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militariaone

Greetings Otter42,

Check out post #3 here http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/197617-l-f-c-m1918-mk-i-typesvariants-as-seen-in-h-m-coles-book-iv-well-except-for-one/ your posted knife exhibits all, but one of the characteristics (the ordnance’s dedication/named personalization). It has a plated handle, a blued blade, and the same initials’ marked styled scabbard. I’d bet it’s from that same maker/source and just did not receive the “full” dedication treatment. Nice knife.

Regards,

Lance

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militariaone

YEAH! Thanks so much for the conformation Lance.

 

I'm just happy to see a nice honest variant!

 

Regards,

 

Lance

 

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Lance,

One thing with mine that made me think it wasn't the original sheath is the knife doesn't fit all the way down. The rounded guard holds it back from going all the way down, I think I read where guys would grind that section down. Any thoughts? Ken

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militariaone

Lance,

One thing with mine that made me think it wasn't the original sheath is the knife doesn't fit all the way down. The rounded guard holds it back from going all the way down, I think I read where guys would grind that section down. Any thoughts? Ken

 

Leather does tend to dry out and shrink. Mine does not possess an altered guard (either) and is a tight fit too (though my scabbard possesses a rougher appearing leather & a differing layout/arrangement of initials). You can view on your sheath as well where the knife's guard has worn against it (the black crease). It would seem someone would have gone through great effort to replicate the plating on the handle, the pattern of the sheath, and the blue-ing of the blade in order to "fake" this knife, so I believe while not a "text-book Cole's example", it's close enough for me to snag it if I saw it offered for sale. Wish I could be more definitive, but I only know what I've read/handled and sometimes "close enough" is as good as it gets. When another shows up in a week or two, then I'll be the goat.

 

Congrats,

 

Lance

 

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Lance,

Thanks so much for your time and information, I too think it's a good one, and the man I bought it from has had it for many years along with many other items his dad collected during his career in the Army.

Ken

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I agree with Lance.

 

He has a way better eye and feel for these than I do.

 

I think its a good piece.Just a varient.

 

Heres one I have in a hand nade scabbard.They took the metal sheath and used it for a liner in the leather scabbard.THis knife has both sides of the guard/flange ground off.

 

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An AuLion in a crude hand made scabbard that also has the metal sheath for a liner.

 

You can see where the guard has rubbed through the back strap of the scabbard from being carried.

 

The Marine that carried this must have really loved it.

 

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Ron,

That's a nice one, I like how they kept the original metal scabbard. Ken

 

 

Thanks Ken

 

Yours is a keeper.

 

Really like the way it was personalized and the plated handle is amazing.

 

A friend has one with a chrome or nickled handle.I recall it also has the vets serial numer.He bought it from a collector I know who sets up at a few local shows and was down sizing.

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My LF&C came in a scabbard similar to Otter42's, except the leather was tooled with some fancy design. The belt loop is very large, which accomodates the full size guard, and will fit about any belt. SKIP

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