ww2 jump knife markings

[Shakey]

hi there could anyone tell me  the correct manufacturing marks for a ww 2 jump knife with a  bone handle.Also did they come in 2 sizes

Thanks for any info best regards  steve

[dmar836]

Steve, Search "M-2" here and you will be rewarded with plenty of info. Here's one for starters but there are many more.

 

 

 

Dave

[Shakey]

thanks Dave I've been looking at these posts but I'm still a bit confused about the sizes of the bone handled ones

are there different ones of these or just the later metal ones,

 

[Allan H.]

Shakey,

 

DMAR836 provided you with a very comprehensive thread on the subject of WWII airborne switchblades. Much of the information that I shared in the original post was the result of decades of detailed study of what was in the hands of WWII paratrooper veterans, photographic evidence, and published material. I still stand behind my assertions that I have only ever found bone handled knives made by Schrade or Presto. They have all been the examples with a three inch blade. I have never found one of the larger pieces in the hands of a WWII paratrooper veteran. 

 

Allan

[dmar836]

Shakey also remember this design was patented in about 1908(IIRC) - maybe a bit later on the actual clip point design. I found the patent drawings when figuring out how to make one. Point being there were many out there that might vary in size but that are very similar in appearance and were sold in the civi community for decades. The knife collecting community loves them and that's without any paratrooper connection. I'm sure you've seen the Trigger Time page.

IMO, and I don't own any originals, it's pretty difficult to prove military use without solid provenance.

Best,

Dave

 

[Shakey]

Thanks a lot for  replying 

steve

[dmar836]

For clarification I tried to find the patent. It appears that, for this particular style, the patent was applied for in Aug or '42. The mechanism was in several prior patents all the way back to 1909. The one difference I noted was that the civi production model has an additional spring opposite from the auto lever side that places side pressure on the blade and locates in a detent when the blade is opened. I have not seen this feature in the wartime knives(online) but from experience this would prevent the knife from bouncing back and not locking when deployed. Otherwise it takes a certain learned "flick" and a feel to get it to lock out every time.

Sorry, just more than you wanted to know.

Dave

[Shakey]

cheers Dave the more you pass on to me the better position I am in to not be ripped off

Am I correct in saying there are 2 different size handles and blades,which is correct ww2

I know production items can often vary that's just factory life so I presume both could actual be ok

thanks again sorry if I get boring

steve

[dmar836]

I'll defer to Allan and other abn collectors. For me, I would only be comfortable with those marked "Geo. Schrade Knife Co. Inc. B'P'T, Conn./PRESTO Pat. Jan. 30-40 Made in U.S.A." but that's due to my lack of knowledge and those appear to be the ones most often with provenance.

Do know that if they are marked "Schrade Walden" that merger didn't happen until post WWII. There are a bunch out there that are claimed to be WWII when they aren't by that tick alone.

I would buy from a well-known collector(even at a premium) rather than a general dealer for this reason.

Best of luck!

Dave

 

[Shakey]

Thanks for all your help and advise I am going to use

all the best steve

[Shakey]

hi again, have found knife with the  presto pat Jan 30 40 but the other side says  geo shrade knife  co  bpt  conn.  

with the word knife added,to your advise is this  ww2

steve

[Shakey]

sorry got mixed up the the knife says  just what you put on both sides   , but have read the presto  shrade stamp without the word knife is the correct  example  ,,, 

what are your thoughts on this

steve

[Shakey]

anyone

[dmar836]

I didn't respond as I'm not an expert. Without provenance one cannot know if this was a WWII military used knife. 

As for the "knife" on the blade, could you post pics for members to comment?

Dave

[Shakey]

cheers my man, no pics I'm afraid it's not in my possession that's why I'm gathering as much info as I can before coughing  up the cash  so to speak 

The shrade  logo "the shade knife co" seems to fall in the right time period 1929 to 1956  but it looks like they produced so many different  but similar m2 type 

of  knives it's going to be a tough cookie to get a military version of it because of the  commercial types out there ,and a provenanced one is a virtuall   impossibility.

Don get me wrong I think the civvy  presto/shrades  look  a beautiful version still demanding  a good price and quite collectable , even  the the brown  composite  handled version

so it looks ' like I'll have to make a final decision  on what I want and what's available  when I go and see it again, but thanks to this forum and your helpful advice  I'm in a far

better position to do that  than just the seller's opinion of what he has on offer, honest or otherwise.

all the best  Steve            if you have any more helpful hints let me know thanks that would be great

 

 

  

[dmar836]

I'm sure you have read it but the short write up by Mark Bando down this page, along with studying the examples in the thread above, should get you going.

https://www.101airborneww2.com/equipment2.html

 

I would focus on memorizing the markings found on the knives received directly from vets. With so many variants, even some apparently civi types that purportedly ended up in combat, that would be the best way to learn what is proper.

JMO

Dave