Recent find Camillus, Pal or who MK I look-alike knife with bakelite pommel

[Allen0820]

Hi, I've been a long time "lurker" on and off the forum and as an old guy just found the energy to "sign up."  😀 Bought a few knives out of the woodwork and this piece is one of them.  No maker name, just the stamping "MILITARY" on one side of the ricasso.  Looks like it could have been made by several companies but... who?  Nicely made comes in what looks like a cheap vintage - very dry - commercial sheath.  First thought is "who's faking these so nicely?"  Second thought is if it's a "new" or "repro" knife, how come I haven't seen others like it?

 

 I do have some thoughts about it, and could speculate all day long what it MIGHT BE but hoping someone out there can offer their thoughts or knowledge.

[Knucklehead]

I've been looking for one similar for quite some time

[Rhscott]

Nicely built knife regardless of who, what, when..etc…

[Allen0820]

Exactly :-)  I didn't want to effect comments, but one speculation is that this is a  early postwar "prototype."  But if other examples are known, then probably not.  Hope someone actually knnws :-)

[Allen0820]

Also: I didn't image the scabbard it came in, but it's not a "military" utilitarian piece.  It is - IMHO - a "cheap" commercial piece with an attempt at embossed decor.

[Choctaw Dan]

The shape of the pommel, and the retaining nut, caused me to first think "Camillus".  The second, almost-immediately-after, thought was "Kinfolks" due to the workmanship. It is almost certainly late-war or immediate-post-war.

 

That's the best I can do, sorry.

[sactroop]

I wouldn't be surprised if the nut found on this knife wasn't made by the Marble's  Company.  They supplied those nuts to multiple knife manufactures during the War including Camillus, among others.

[Allen0820]

Appreciate the shared opinions!  My own intuitions were very close to what all three of you shared, but I'm not experienced enough to feel confident in i.d. though the configuration overall suggested to me "Camillus."  I don't have Choctaw's expertise (thanks again), but my best guess is he called it right about late war or just post.  

 

To add more confusion, I'll cite a gentleman on the net who is selling the remains of the Camillus knives after the sell off auction.  He cites one or more of his knives as a "prototype."  My best guess is he's right; and suggests this one too may be a prototype.  "MILITARY" stamped because they wanted to supply one knife to all military contracts? But then Knucklehead (thank you ☺️) shared his really neat drawing of a really similar knife; with the suggestion other examples were also known.  So who knows?  One of the unsolvable WWII conundrums?

 

Thanks again to all for your generous sharing!