militaria360 Posted July 7, 2010 Share #1 Posted July 7, 2010 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? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted July 7, 2010 Share #2 Posted July 7, 2010 I believe those are Vietnam War era with plastic, not Bakelite grips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunbarrel Posted July 7, 2010 Share #3 Posted July 7, 2010 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: Maybe Gary, Charlie, or Frank will confirm. Regardless, you got a real nice one for a killer price. Congrats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKIPH Posted July 7, 2010 Share #4 Posted July 7, 2010 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunbarrel Posted July 8, 2010 Share #5 Posted July 8, 2010 Skip, You are most welcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
militaria360 Posted July 19, 2010 Author Share #6 Posted July 19, 2010 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbanminer Posted October 16, 2014 Share #7 Posted October 16, 2014 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbanminer Posted October 16, 2014 Share #8 Posted October 16, 2014 closeup of the mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunbarrel Posted October 18, 2014 Share #9 Posted October 18, 2014 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! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbanminer Posted October 21, 2014 Share #10 Posted October 21, 2014 Thanks GB. I have an inquiry in to OKC, and I will continue the thread where you suggest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now