SDC Posted October 31, 2017 Share #1 Posted October 31, 2017 I have a bright finish, black spacers, PAL RH-36. Would it be safe to assume this is WWII era production? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misfit 45 Posted October 31, 2017 Share #2 Posted October 31, 2017 I have been told this one is WWII vintage. We'll both find out for sure. Marv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sactroop Posted October 31, 2017 Share #3 Posted October 31, 2017 I was told ( ) that the early acquired PAL RH-36's were bright finished and the parkerized blades came later. A lot of people pass up genuine WW2 knives on the assumption that they need to be more tacticool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misfit 45 Posted October 31, 2017 Share #4 Posted October 31, 2017 Me too. Just never thought about red spacers VS black. Mean anything? Marv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sactroop Posted October 31, 2017 Share #5 Posted October 31, 2017 I know there are a lot of people who get excited about spacers on different knives. In some cases it seems to mean more than others. I haven't seen anything about spacers regarding PAL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SDC Posted October 31, 2017 Author Share #6 Posted October 31, 2017 FWIW ... I read through most of the RH-36 material here before posting and didn't see anything to indicate spacer color means much. Also couldn't establish if bright blades were made post war or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misfit 45 Posted October 31, 2017 Share #7 Posted October 31, 2017 Here's a great "back and forth" on this forum. http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/116065-pal-rh36-question/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorin6 Posted October 31, 2017 Share #8 Posted October 31, 2017 Gary Cunningham's (RIP) comment in the linked thread ". . . as far as I know, there is no way to tell post war from wartime." says it all. The spacers give no clues, the sheath gives no clues, and the bright vs parkerization gives no clues as to war time vs peace time use. They were bought by the military, issued by the military, and then surplussed by the military; they were were also sold post war for some time. Without provenance, we can assume but not prove wartime use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sactroop Posted October 31, 2017 Share #9 Posted October 31, 2017 Honestly this is often the case with many items. IMHO, unless there is indisputable provenance with the individual item, in so many cases if the item checks off as being correct for the time period than it is good enough for most. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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