gap Posted November 27, 2020 Share #1 Posted November 27, 2020 Got this from a WW2 vets estate. Appears to have black bakelite spacers and 8 groove handle, so I'm assuming its an early Imperial? the ordnance bomb was obliterated, but I don't see any traces of a date or manufacturer name on the blade or crossguard. Blade measures 6.5 inches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKIPH Posted November 27, 2020 Share #2 Posted November 27, 2020 gap- As you stated, it is an early Imperial with black spacers. We can only guess why the stamps were obliterated, especially on earlier versions. Could have been made from left over parts post war, or sold as PX items, with leather sheaths. Who knows? Since Imperial made around half of all M3s during the war they had a lot of parts to work with. Here is one of mine w/ black spacers, crossed out stamps, and commercial sheath. SKIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaBomb Posted November 27, 2020 Share #3 Posted November 27, 2020 Mine is blade marked and dated, then ground off with some sort of swirly marks. Pommel was never stamped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gap Posted November 28, 2020 Author Share #4 Posted November 28, 2020 We have the same scabbard, only my leather is more worn/darker and the fastener strap/snap assembly is missing. You can see the two holes where the staple that held it on used to be. The handle is in good shape and the knife is tight. I'm wondering whether it would it be worthwhile to have it polished and reparked with a dark magnesium finish? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKIPH Posted November 28, 2020 Share #5 Posted November 28, 2020 I wouldn't mess with it. Polishing or reparkerizing would change the knife's historical heritage. You did say you got it from the vets family. SKIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gap Posted November 28, 2020 Author Share #6 Posted November 28, 2020 Good point, will leave it be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmperorWangDong Posted November 28, 2020 Share #7 Posted November 28, 2020 Interesting to see what the stamping process did to the metallurgy of the blade! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKIPH Posted November 28, 2020 Share #8 Posted November 28, 2020 I have never seen that before. Makes me question that it could be cracked/flawed somehow in the stamping process, which is why blade stamping was stopped anyway, due to weakening the blades. Interesting! SKIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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