Best Repro M3!

[KRIS FORD]

I want one and don't wanna spend big bucks, (YET anyways LOL) who's the top dog for these? Kind of liking the Ontario.is there a better one that is easily found? I guess US made would be a plus..as all of my other blades are.

 

I have a lonely BM Co. M8A1 waiting for one.

 

 

[KRIS FORD]

it looks like they've fixed the guard bend somewhat as well.but can't tell if it is blade or guard marked in this pic:

 

Parked blade is a plus too! I like the rugged black OKC 498 I have, it's so ugly it's beautiful to me!

[SKIPH]

Kris- The Ontarios are nice, have one, but the blades do not go into an M8 scabbard easily, or at all. Bought one years ago, tried out the M8, but blade was too thick, did not want to force it. I'd recommend a repro Camillus, they fit M8s, and were an original maker in WW2. Ontario did not manufacture M3s in WW2. As far as other repros, I have no clue since most don't stamp maker names. Years ago Eickhorn made a version, it had a plastic M7 type handle, w/ a heavy plastic pommel, and the bent guard was reversed, and on the bottom edge of the blade.Also the blade was plumb colored. Nice, functional knife. SKIP

[DRE66]

The repro Camillus is the best but the prices on those have gone up significantly. The downside to the Camillus is the finish on the handle and the single pinned pommel.

 

Funny that a wartime knife like the Mark 3 was better finished than a modern reproduction piece, should be the opposite IMO.

[sactroop]

Just ran across a post war blade marked Camillus that the seller is only asking $2500 for. It does come with a WW2 BM Co. sheath thou.

 

Kris it really depends on what seems best to you. IMA has sold a fairly nice looking copy that is blade marked U.S. M3 1943, with no makers mark. The older ones I've seen looked pretty nice. Haven't seen one recently. It would be hard for me to recommend something I haven't seen first hand.

[McDermut99]

Great info so far. Does anyone have any observations about the Boker M3?

 

https://www.amazon.com/Boker-02BO1943-Trench-Knife-Carbon/dp/B001CXJEYW/ref=pd_bxgy_236_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B001CXJEYW&pd_rd_r=8DXAJADDSAF1WW2VFXAV&pd_rd_w=PZjVR&pd_rd_wg=aLyln&psc=1&refRID=8DXAJADDSAF1WW2VFXAV

 

https://www.boker.de/en/fixed-blade-knives/boker-plus/tactical-knives/m3-trench-knife-02bo1943

 

Edit: They also sell a V-42 knife apparently:

 

https://www.amazon.com/02BO1942-Replica-Devils-Brigade-Straight/dp/B005ATMZD6/ref=pd_sbs_200_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B005ATMZD6&pd_rd_r=N0S1MVJ9ZXCHYDBBJBMX&pd_rd_w=xorLJ&pd_rd_wg=Xrrjt&psc=1&refRID=N0S1MVJ9ZXCHYDBBJBMX

 

https://www.bokerusa.com/fixed-blade-knives/boker-plus/tactical-knives/v-42-devil-s-brigade-02bo1942

[KRIS FORD]

Great info so far. Does anyone have any observations about the Boker M3?

 

https://www.amazon.com/Boker-02BO1943-Trench-Knife-Carbon/dp/B001CXJEYW/ref=pd_bxgy_236_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B001CXJEYW&pd_rd_r=8DXAJADDSAF1WW2VFXAV&pd_rd_w=PZjVR&pd_rd_wg=aLyln&psc=1&refRID=8DXAJADDSAF1WW2VFXAV

 

https://www.boker.de/en/fixed-blade-knives/boker-plus/tactical-knives/m3-trench-knife-02bo1943

 

Edit: They also sell a V-42 knife apparently:

 

https://www.amazon.com/02BO1942-Replica-Devils-Brigade-Straight/dp/B005ATMZD6/ref=pd_sbs_200_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B005ATMZD6&pd_rd_r=N0S1MVJ9ZXCHYDBBJBMX&pd_rd_w=xorLJ&pd_rd_wg=Xrrjt&psc=1&refRID=N0S1MVJ9ZXCHYDBBJBMX

 

https://www.bokerusa.com/fixed-blade-knives/boker-plus/tactical-knives/v-42-devil-s-brigade-02bo1942

 

Boker is MADE IN CHINA., if that matters..to me, for a knife,it does, but would be perfet for re-enactors or to display..use, not so sure. Looks good though.

 

Funny pic..

 

..you DO NOT index a knife like this!! Well, unless you want to jam or even break your thumb when you hit something hard like bone..(just saying.. )

[KRIS FORD]

Oh, and my M8A1 is actually an M8!! BUT has been modified with the wire hanger. Not sure if that make a difference for the OKC fitment or not..but glad to know that! Then I'd have to get one of those nice M6 repros LOL! But an M3 HAS to go in my M8.

 

I might have an ace in the hole with one..will let you know what may happen!

[Charlie Flick]

The Camillus is an excellent choice, being an original M3 maker. However, as you know Camillus is out of business and gone. You would have to find one on the secondary market.

 

I owned a repro Camillus M3 for many years. See pics below. Bought it new back in the '90s. I mated it up with a nice, repro M6 style sheath, which looked a whole lot better than the cheesy sheath that Camillus supplied. Alas, after trying unsuccessfully to sell it for several years (including here on the Forum),in some disgust I finally ended up selling it about 6 months ago at a gun show for $50, pretty much a giveaway price. DRE66 indicated above that the prices on them have gone up. Unfortunately, that was not my experience.

 

 

 

 

 

Regards,

Charlie

[sactroop]

Boker M3 may be made in China. But if the steel is SK-5 it would have been shipped from Japan. We should remind ourselves that just because there is a reproduction sheath that looks like the genuine M8/M8A1 sheath doesn't guarantee that the repro-knife with fit in an original sheath. One would hope so, but you won't know until you try.

I have to agree Charlie, if I was in the market for a piece like the one pictured above with that quality sheath, I would have valued it higher than what you had to sell it for. Hope the buyer respects it for what it is. The market place can be very fickle.