Case in point   perfect example of a description posted on the bay without any research at all:   "Randall WW2 Japanese Fighting Knife"   It's not a Randall, it's not from WW2, and it's a hunting knife. But it is marked "JAPAN"

Hello,   The U.S.S. Black Hawk (AD-9) that your sailor was attached to was a destroyer tender that spent most of her life with the U.S. Asiatic Fleet.  She was scrapped after the Second World War.   Your sailor also may have started out in U.S.S. Black Hawk and then transferred to another ship.   I can't make out the name on the belt, but if you want to send me the name I can see if I can find any references to him in any of the materials I have.   Take care,   Steve Bryson

Wait a sec, you droped a M1 helmets stuff and WW2 USMC camo stuff for VN gear, Im right or I missed a member name?   Cheers, Jerry

The picture is likely trying to depict the M1885 saber knot. The hole in the guard is to accommodate the attachment piece of this knot.   Or perhaps it's portraying the earlier M1860 saber knot, which could have still been in general issue in this period until stocks ran out.   Your "knot" is definitively NOT a US Army saber knot.

It's a translation error.  "Commercial" means "not made or contracted for by the government".  

Came wait this set that looks to have all plastic buttons. 

Has anyone ever seen one of these - looks to be an experimental BAR belt in nylon 1967 ? Was this part of the test sets sent to Vietnam.  I believe 550 sets were issued to the 101st and navy seals.    would be good to hear if anyone else has ever seen it one. 

Thank you for that information. I would need a professional to do the work since the tang needs a piece welded on to bring it back to the original length and shape. Plus I'm all thumbs. LOL

Check the ka bar website. You can buy a replacement kit.    ITEM 1217HC Handle Component Kit for Traditional KA-BAR (3) KA-BAR'S handle component kit consists of all the parts to rebuild your traditional KA-BAR handle, like the one on the world renowned USMC fighting/utility knife. Leather washers, spacers, hand guard, butt cap and pin included. A word of caution, these are raw materials. It still takes a little magic to get your refurbished handle to look like our famously oval-shaped one from the factory. You'll need equipment to compress the washers into place, shape them and color them. This task is not for the faint of heart, or the unskilled craftsman! $7.00 In Stock  

Thank you very much! I am so happy ☺️ Especially since this is my first pair of subdued sleeve rank insignia. All the other uniforms in my collection either have the specialist or collar rank :D