Mike with a USM3 knife

[jmshiprep]

Hi from Florida,

 

My dad got this knife from my uncle (USMC Pacific WWII) in the early 1960's. I find that there are several rare or unique features in this knife and scabbard. The guard is more-or-less straight, but has a bit of a dog-leg. The scabbard also has the guard flange straight (or straightened). The handle is a seven-groove variant, which doesn't seem to show very often. I have heard of PX knives which weren't really to issue specifications. I don't see how the guard could be straightened after manufacture, given that the butt seems original. Seems I'm limited to 3 photos, but I have several more if anybody's interested. Hoping that somebody will give a newbie a hand on this one.

[doyler]

Welcome aboard

 

That knife has been around and if it could talk.

 

To me it is a Blade marked M3 by Case that has had the bend in the guard straigtened...you can see a "wave" in the guard where it was bent at one time.

 

I have seen others that were straightened and some even broke the bent guard trying to straighten them.

 

Case did have an straight guard example but typically these were guard marked CASE M3 and not blade marked

[jmshiprep]

Thanks, Doyler.

 

I didn't figure it likely that the guard could be straightened (on an assembled knife), given that it is a pretty thick piece of pretty hard-looking metal. Now I'm scratching my head, wondering: why? Also the scabbard flange appears to have been straightened, too. Seems to me that's a lot of work for not much in return.

[doyler]

Another thing I noticed there wasn't a ordnance ball on the pommel