M3 Trench Knife transition from blade marked to guard marked

[Misfit 45]

Hi Folks,

First of all I do not collect M3s. The one pictured (Utica guard marked) is the only one I have so I can show the transition from M3 knife to M4 bayonet.

One question I have is: when did they change from blade marked to guard marked? The reason I asked is that when I go through the M3s on ebay, it seems that the blade marked M3s are easier to find than the guard marked M3s. Not sure if that's the case in the real world.

 

The M3 was first issued in March 1943 (internet search). The M4 bayonet was adopted in May 1944 and the first contract was to Imperial on June 27, 1944 (bayonet points), so,

 

when did the manufacturing of the M3 fully stop? How long into M3 production did the guard marked M3s begin?

Thanks

Marv

 

 

[zzyzzogeton]

The following info was purloined from Mr Frank Trzaska's May 1996 OKCA issue.

 

The M3, as you noted, was first issued in March 1943. The last production run for the M3 was in August 1944. A total of 2,590,247 M3 trench knives were made.

 

The order of manufacture marking was :

blade marked w/ 1943

blade marked no date

guard marked

 

Production figures---

 

H. Boker and Sons. 31,300

Robeson Shuredge 36,575

Aerial Cutlery Mfg. 51,784

Pal Blade Co. 121,131

Kinfolks Ind. 135,548

W.R.Case & Sons 300,465

Camillus Cutlery Co. 402,909

Utica Cutlery Co. 656,520

Imperial Knife Co. 854,015

Total Production 2,590,247

 

 

---------------

 

I have never seen specific dates, even in Mr. T's writings. I might have missed it if it is in one I have found to read yet.

 

Most of the knives were the guard marked variety. The date was dropped from the knives because it was thought it added stress to the blades, which was causing field failures. Then they shifted to the guard for the same reason.

 

As the production run was only about 17 months, the first change probably occurred after the first few runs and then the second change after just a few more runs.

[SKIPH]

Marv- Just to throw a wrench into you question, think about the dual marked M3s, blade & guard. Anyway, as I recall, and I use Robeson as the example. They produced blade-dated, changed to blade marked until Dec 1943. Robeson never made guard marked. So probably around Jan 1944 could be the beginning of the guard marked. Have not found anything definite at this moment, Will check later on. Good question. SKIP

[zzyzzogeton]

Marv- Just to throw a wrench into you question, think about the dual marked M3s, blade & guard. Anyway, as I recall, and I use Robeson as the example. They produced blade-dated, changed to blade marked until Dec 1943. Robeson never made guard marked. So probably around Jan 1944 could be the beginning of the guard marked. Have not found anything definite at this moment, Will check later on. Good question. SKIP

 

Skip, that doesn't throw a wrench in the works - it provides a data point for when the transition to guard marked might have occurred. January 1944 for guard marked initial production is at least feasible.

 

Wayne

[Ant1942]

Definitely a helpful article on dating and seeing the production makers numbers on the M3. Will use this in the future for sure (if I see one pop up that is).