M3 Trench Knife - authentic or imposter?

[DBURDBUSH45]

Currently negotiating a price on this Utica blade marked M3, would appreciate thoughts any thoughts and knowledge as to how this “appears!” Thanks to all for any assistance!

[dmar836]

I'm sure the experts will say. Cole says the early blades were stamped as this but later just the guards as the one I've shown. Mine appears to be a later Utica and was parkerized. Perhaps the earlier knives were painted black? Yours doesn't appear parkerized under the paint but maybe it is and it was painted later? Cole doesn't mention painted versions of any maker in my edition. Mine doesn't really show the grinding marks but has the same radius down by the guard. The stamp on yours is very sharp as are the grinding marks. The ord bomb stamp is correctly oriented for Utica. The leather looks nice with low use.

I do know I had a repro that was pretty nice in the 90s but can't remember what maker they cloned. It was parkerized. Wish I had kept it.

Hoping to hear if this is early and if they were painted.

[MattS]

Listing this under "edged weapons" would improve it's visibility. 

Original 43-44 blade markings for comparison, this one appears to match.

[dmar836]

Does this look etched rather than stamped?

It has a few variances IMO. I would ask for ID in the knife forum section.

[DBURDBUSH45]

The fine gentleman over in “edged weapons” were quite helpful and appears to have passed their test of knowledge.