Unusual Mess Kit Knife?

[340MGBAT]

for $2 bucks I couldn't pass this up, it's a normal mess kit knife but the handle is black Bakelite which I have never seen, any info on this would be great.

Is it rare? Who used these? and anything else.

 

 

 

[Jack's Son]

This is a discription from this website......... http://36thair3ad.homestead.com/AuthenticityStandards.html

 

"Can, Meat, M-1926, M-1932, or M-1942 with Knife, Fork, and Spoon, M-1926: This is the GI "mess kit." Early versions were made of steel, galvanized steel, or aluminum. The M-1942 version was made of stainless steel. The M-1926 utensils were virtually identical to earlier versions, but they were stamped out of stainless steel, and featured a slot, or cut-out in the handles to allow them to be slipped over the mess kit handle for cleaning. The wartime knives had a thicker plastic, bakelite or aluminum handle. Newer versions are straight stamped stainless steel."

[B.A.R.gunner]

I believe the handles were made of plastic and not aluminum to save metal for other things that were more important during the war

[UPNATM]

I own a couple of the bakelite handled mess kit knives as well. I had always heard that early on in wwii they tried using bakelite for the handles but soon had to go to all aluminum due to the fact that the bakelite handled knives were prone to breaking.

[doyler]

Have seen 1941 and 1943 dated plastic handles.Some where I have a couple.

 

RD

[phantomfixer]

ever see a brown handled bakelite knife?

[phantomfixer]

found this and a 41 dated black one at the local AN store...good price so why not.. the brown one is one that I have not seen before...

[msgtq]

I have a bakelite mess knife I don't think they are rare as I see so many on eBay some say lf&c was the only maker but that's not true as I currently see other bakelite handled one's made by other known companies such as silco. Mine is unmarked but does have the u.s. on the handle.