Be mindful. The McCord and Schlueter heat lot codes are not the same.

Yah, the gutter was the giveaway to me, it was likely heavily sharpened and the tip was cut down a bit trying to keep the same type of shape though.

This original art (from above link) had the following on the reverse. Not sure when it was added. Wanted to keep images on the forum. 

I actually have an original model 1872 crossed saber insignia. No company/troop letter or numeric designation, just the sabers. If you’re interested, let me know. 

I think I've found a match (at least the only one that I could locate in the records). I believe your man to be Dominick G. Pennella (1923-2008), and, according to his obituary, he was an "Army Medic with the 28th Division in the Normandy and Ardennes-Alsace Campaigns." His name can be found in that same record as Alfred Clever.   No problem!

I could be jumping the gun on the headband and nape being being repro? Could have been installed and hardly worn... hit by a bullet and put up? All guesses of course. I zoomed in on the image of the scrape on the liner. From the one pic... I dont see any signs of sand paper or filing....  

The gutter is about the right length for a Ka-Bar.  The handle is also about the right length, but curved down some.  

If you look at photos of the KW rear seam post you will notice the first group of guys out of Japan in the 187th going to Korea did not have jump liners. They used cloth to secure their helmets. They also had painted helmets. That ended real quick because those were targets. The 187th was the only group to drop in. They also dropped their howitzers.

I have an example of one of those, a late summer early fall manganese back seam, there interesting… so if you ever need a pic of mint one hit me up!

You got that right!