USAFRescue,        I am not sure you intended to, but the two pictures you have posted are of two different knives.  The knife in the 2nd picture showing the lack of epoxy, has a handle and blade from after the early 1980's.  The attached picture with the blue background is of a 1971 MKII.  All Gray Armorhide knives have a handle guard that tapers slightly narrower  at the furthest point away from the blade (red arrow).  Hopefully all can see this taper.  The guard in your pic has the same width overall, being wider than the original handles.  This handle was never a Gray Armorhide handle.  The second problem is that the blade in the same picture is a blade from after the early 80's.  The side of the blade where it meets the handle is flat, where early knives were rounded (blue arrow).  The area where the blade grind starts it's taper into the sharp edge (yellow arrow), to where the blade enters the handle, is greater than this on the Fake SIGMA knife.        With your clear image of the markings on the Fake SIGMA knife, they were engraved, as opposed to the originals that were acid etched.  There were so many issues with most of the Gerber Mark II knives that were on that auction.  Someone sure put a lot of time and effort into making these knives look like the more expensive and desirable MKII knives.  I hope the new owners know that these knives are not original. 

Here is my Anaconda knife. Love these. If you ever get a chance to be in western Montana go to the town of Anaconda where the copper mine was. Amazing mountain railroad town that was a stopping point for troops heading to California 

I saw one like it over a year ago and posted it on The Society of American Bayonets facebook page.  No one could identify it.  Sorry. What is unusual is that it has a straight cross guard as was used in WWII.  Marv

Illinigander,         I remember a small group in a field study which benefited from Ed Olmstead's research.  His knowledge was always appreciated.  He inspired others to systematically gather details that would repay many extended studies. In one session he explained the chemical changes of a powder charge transforming to gas during a burn.  We could not participate in the discussion because it demanded an advanced understanding of chemistry however, the conversion was fascinating.  Ed showed us a frame-by-frame photo sequence of the muzzle flash and named the changes in the gas.  Yikes!        When the artillery at Gettysburg was cataloged I remember curator Michael Vice and Jerry Coates making the rounds. The trunnions on the 1841 twelve pounder (photo above) show the evidence of paint removed to reveal the date and foundry, part of the process.        About Colonel John Hardin, I have photos of the Buena Vista battlefield occupied by his 1st Illinois, also photos of the ground where his regiment advanced. The associated story has all the action of old style hand-to-hand combat. I will present more on Col. Hardin. 

. British Prolific rare Jeep collector died yesterday    A well known British military Jeep collector Fred Smith died yesterday aged in his 90's , He owned many of the most rare Jeep examples and was a very kind and helpful enthusiast to beginners or other major Jeep collectors.   https://www.ewillys.com/2009/03/16/fred-smith-rare-jeep-collector/   http://www.jeepfabrikken.no/SpecialJeeps.htm     Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, May 25  2O25.    ….

. Another Tent Pin garden find . . . . . . . . . . . .    Well I almost stepped over this and missed it,  as it had lost it's original look and shape, this is the second one this week.         Norman D. Landing, Forum Normandy Correspondent, May 25  2O25.    ….

When I was a kid first collecting, I had a couple duffle bags dumped at my feet by vietnam vets. I think one had a helmet in it.

Whenever transferring from unit to unit in a Permanent Change of Station (PCS), I was always required to turn in all my issued equipment.

In spring of 86 we turned in our M1 helmets and exchanged for the new Kevlars. I turned in an old M1 I had, and I kept my issue M1. This thing was brand new when it was issued to me in 1982 Ingersol shell I think. Low dome. I used to sit on it sometimes and used it to wash up and shave in. Never cooked anything in my steel. It ruins them.  

I bought a whole binder full of paperwork on the vet  and some TR stuff at this sale also.