US Machette Questions

[SARGE]

Gents,

 

There are so many variations of the US Military machette I am confused and have questions.

 

I have a "U.S." marked Army machette made by True Temper in 1944 and I am not certain what the model is. It has khaki colored plastic grips secured with four brass rivets. I have also seen these with black plastic grips which I suppose were Navy issue? The blade is 18" with a darkened scale finish except for the sharpening. Is this the original finish or were some of these blades finished bright?

 

The scabbard is the OD laminated style with the standard wire hanger on the back of the throat. It is marked "B.M.Co." (for Beckwith Manufacturing Company) and "2" (size or model?) and "VP" (for Victory Plastics) and "1945" (for the date of manufacture). Is the "2" marking indicative of this being a Mark 2 machette? The obverse of the painted metal throat is marked with a large "U.S." but I have seen these scabbards with "USN" and "USMC" markings on the obverse throat. I suppose this "U.S." marking makes this an Army scabbard?

 

Thanks for looking.

 

 

[camillus]

Hi that is an M1942 machete, that late in the war they were the standard machete

[SARGE]

Hi that is an M1942 machete, that late in the war they were the standard machete

 

 

Thanks for the identification Camillus.

 

I have noticed that some of the Victory Plastics scabbards for these have the suspension hook plates attached at an angle to allow a cant to the scabbard. I wonder if these were specific requests by the USMC or USN?

[SKIPH]

I believe the cant was designed for easier withdrawal of the machete from the scabbard. Not sure when the modification was authorized, or by what service. But I know we were still using the Beckwith scabbards in the late 70s in my old unit in 5th SFGA. The machetes were Ontario, but do not recall if they were WW2 era or later. SKIP

[SARGE]

Thanks Skip. No reason not to continue to use these as the design is perfectly good. I find it interesting that the US military evolved from bolos to machettes over time and came up with so many different designs in between.

[camillus]

that design has been used since WWI, it is the same as the Collins #37. check Collins machetes and bowies by Henry

[thorin6]

Thanks Skip. No reason not to continue to use these as the design is perfectly good. I find it interesting that the US military evolved from bolos to machettes over time and came up with so many different designs in between.

 

I have bolos from pre-WWI to Vietnam, and I think there were machetes from WWI through Vietnam. So it seems that bolos and machetes were in use at the same times. I don't think that there was an evolution so much as the blades being used for different purposes. The bolos appear to be used for clearing small areas of heavy brush and small trees in a short period of time, while machetes are good for jungle trails and other circumstances requiring a light blade for extended periods of time. In emergency kits you find machetes, bolos (or bolo types), and bowie knives (V-44) so I would be interested in how the decision was made as to what blade went in what kit.