Trinity Posted February 15, 2016 Share #1 Posted February 15, 2016 I came across what I'm assuming is either an experimental or possibly even a theater-made knife or bayonet sheath that was made by the Mills Woven Cartridge Belt Company out of Worchester, Mass. The sheath is extremely well-made, incorporating three layers of sewn heavy duty leather. The throat of the sheath has a metal plate surrounding it that reads: "Made By Mills Woven Cartridge Belt Co. Worchester, Mass". There's a second plate that covers the back of the sheath's throat that reads the same thing but direction of text is reversed. The sheath also has another metal plate that extends about two inches into the throat of the sheath. This plate is marked "Patented" and has rows of nine separate dates ranging from 1904 up until 1915. These plates are the exact same plates that are found at the end of the Mills cartridge belts prior and during the WWI-era? Has anyone seen one of these sheaths and can give me some information on what type of bayonet it may have been made for? From throat to tip, the sheath measures 10 3/4". Total length is 16 3/8". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKIPH Posted February 15, 2016 Share #2 Posted February 15, 2016 Trinity- The length, and the way the throat looks, kind of looks as though it could be for an M1917 Trench Knife. Is the throat in a triangular shape, or wide? The 1904 & other Pre-WW1 dates could dampen that idea. SKIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trinity Posted February 16, 2016 Author Share #3 Posted February 16, 2016 Skip - the throat opening is relatively wide, being slightly more than a half inch from the back to the front of the throat. The opening is also oval shaped, with the front of the throat curved outward. The opening measures 1 1/2" across. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trinity Posted February 16, 2016 Author Share #4 Posted February 16, 2016 A picture of the scabbard's opening - measures more than a half inch wide and 1 1/2" across. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trinity Posted February 16, 2016 Author Share #5 Posted February 16, 2016 Frank Trzaska provided me with the following: "Great find. It is a Mills scabbard from their bandoleer system. I have looked for one of those for years and have never seen one in real life. It was never adopted by the US government to my knowledge but Mills did supply their systems to many other nations. There is also a web one for the system that I have never seen either. Most likely made for the Krag bayonet from the looks of it". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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