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How to date an OKC machete?


militaria360
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militaria360

I bought an Ontario Knife Company machete at a garage sale for $3, I know it’s an old one because it has bakelight grips I was wondering how can I tell how old it is?

 

handlev.jpg

 

overal.jpg

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I agree with Bob. I believe that your handle is plastic; not bakelite, and that your new machete is from the Vietnam War era. If I remember correctly, the Ontario WWII machetes were marked M-1942, or were dated. Regardless, it's definitely not a new one. I'll quote http://www.mooremilitaria.com/reference.htm

 

Machete: How do you know when a machete was made? The easiest way for Ontario Knife Co. Machetes (the most prevalent manufacturer), is the location of the stampings on the bade. Holding the machete in your hand with the blade tip facing up, all have "US" stamped straight across. Vietnam Era Machetes then have the "Ontario" stampings running perpendicular to the "US" while current manufacture have the "US" and "Ontario" running parallel.

 

Here are the markings from a current manufacture Ontario machete:

 

post-70-1278496574.jpg

 

Maybe Gary, Charlie, or Frank will confirm. Regardless, you got a real nice one for a killer price. Congrats!

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Gunbarrel- Thanks for that explanation of the markings. I just checked out my issued one, in a Marmac 1968 scabbard, and compared it to the late Ontario. Never paid attention before. THX SKIP

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  • 2 weeks later...
militaria360

Thanks guys for the info.

 

 

It has some kind of fibers in the composition; they look like little splinters of wood, and they give it a bit of texture to the otherwise smooth handles.

I thought that made it bakelite, but then again I’m not much of an expert on old plastics.

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  • 4 years later...

Hi Guys,

 

Following up on this thread, I just picked up this Ontario machete with 'Vietnam era' markings, but it has a sawback, which I've read elsewhere is a 'relatively new design.' Any idea when Ontario stopped using this marking?

 

Thanks!

urbanminer

 

post-15963-0-90111000-1413495467.jpg

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Urbanminer,

 

I do not know, but OKC Customer Service may be able to tell you. Please, contact them and let us know what they say.

 

In the meantime, would you post your questions and pictures here:

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=62047

 

It would be great to keep all this information together for future reference.

 

Thank you--from a Florida Phosphate Miner!

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