BKW

Wow, nice! I want one of those someday.

Brian, clean knife!

I believe the concensus among the knife guru's is that the black plastic or imitation bone handles are post WWII.Of the original contracted M2's during WWII the handles are brown bone handle.If I recall correctly there is an article on these on militaryknives.com, by Traska and others.I say this because I am not sure if you were under the impression if this knife is WWII you did not state that either way but a very nice post example!

apparently the characteristic of the post WWII black handle M-2 is that "Schrade Walden" is spelled out and the WWII ones have abbreviated manufacturer markings.For a long time these black handle knives were sellingvery good but once the cat got out the price fell and many were stuck with over priced post/civilian (?) copies, some were lucking in finding out early and dumped there stock of these black handled knives and turned a good profit from the unknowning buyers.So not a genuine

WWII paratrooper item

 

here is a picture from Bando's web page of a WWII M-2

I'll have to get out some brown paint and post it on e-pay! (Just kidding!)

Thanks for the info. Long story, but I traded an M2, .50 cal. MG for it.

BKW

You traded a machine gun for a pocket knife!!??

I can't read the markings on the Tang of the knife but if it is marked Geo. Schrade Knife Co BPT CONN and presto on the other side it could very well be a WW2 issue jump knife. I have seen this type knife in the hands of WW2 Vets from the 11th Abn Div. The Ft Campbell Chapter of the 101st Abn Association also had a couple on display in their Clubhouse that were donated by former 11th Abn Div Vets.

The black plastic ones are usually marked Schrade Walden and are almost always in mint condition...

 

While there's no doubt about the WW2 use and issue of the brown bone handle Presto ones, these black handled ones are always discussed.

Some say that these were only made and issued postwar, some say they were made in 1945 and issued late in WW2.

Cole decribes them in one his books with a late war stocknumber, I believe...

 

I think it's fair to say that if these were made before the end of WW2, they would have been issued in very limited quantities only....

 

For tis reason I have always kept mine, together with two brown handled types...

 

Whatever the actual date of manufacture, they are still great knives and American icons!

 

Johan

I should add that the Presto knives that I mentioned in my other post had a 1940 Patent date.

You traded a machine gun for a pocket knife!!??

 

Well, sorta, yes, I did. Quite a number of years ago, I purchased (at a WW II vet's estate auction) a WW II practice anti-tank mine and a de-mil M2 MG for $5. It was a de-mil receiver only, no other parts were even at the sale. I ended up trading it for this M2 knife that worked in my collection better at the time. Would I do the same trade today? Not sure, the de-mil would take a lot of work and parts to make it even 10 foot rule exhibitable. I don’t have the parts or the skills to do it, the guy I traded it to, did.

While I teased you about this trade, it is not quite what you may have envisioned, now that you know the rest of the story!

And, yes, I still have the anti-tank mine and it is worth more than the $5 I paid at the time.

It is a Schrade Walden knife, mint NOS condition, with the original tissue paper wrap and thong. No-doubt, sold government surplus and never issued.

Thanks for all the info guys,

Sorry for the tease,

BKW

Whew! Now I can sleep at night!

 

Thanks for the explanation!

Whew! Now I can sleep at night!

 

Thanks for the explanation!

Me too, although I did trade a knife for an Uzi Carbine and I slept fine then.

 

My Dad turned in his M2 after the war in Europe was over. He said he just was not thinking and put it in a 5 gallon bucket with the others. He could have just picked up a handful and nobody would have cared. They were leaving Europe to be home for a few days before the massive airborne invasion of Japan that did not occur because the bomb worked. He said somewhere there is a bag with his carbine bayonet and some other knives but we have never found it.

 

What does one of the bone handled ones sell for in good used condition? He and I both would like to have one. We would even settle for one of the new replicas if I ever find on at a show where they do not think it's a real one.

What does one of the bone handled ones sell for in good used condition? He and I both would like to have one. We would even settle for one of the new replicas if I ever find on at a show where they do not think it's a real one.

 

For that matter what does an Orange handled Camillius sell for these days?

 

T

I realize that there seems to be quite a bit of discussion about these knives and there proper time frame. Frank Trzaska and Mike Silvey both wrote articles on them for Knife World. Mike's was in the June 1995 issue and Frank's in February 1999. Both articles are reprinted in Military Knives, A Reference Book which is an absolute necessity in any US military knife collectors library.

 

If you don't have the book, you can get a copy from Frank at: http://www.usmilitaryknives.com/reference_guide.htm. Inexpensive and packed full of good information.

 

Now as to Schrade Walden. Both of the referenced articles state, as do many websites and other knife books, that the Schrade Walden company came into existence in 1946. No knife marked Schrade Walden is WW2 issue, if jigged black plastic handles and so marked they are late 1940s and into 1950s production until the MC-1 orange handle replaced it in 1958.

 

An article on the history of the Schrade family of companies is found at: http://www.collectors-of-schrades-r.us/articles/409-01.pdf

 

Also remember that the PRESTO knife by Geo Schrade was also a commercial item for a time. There are ones found with bone handles but no bail, which should be considered commercial unless proved otherwise. Military specifications called for the bail and any knife without should be looked at with at least some skepticism.

Gary & others, How about the black painted metal handled knives like this marked "Geo Schrade, Bridgeport" on one side and "presto made in USA" on the other? I picked this up last weekend at a small antique store in Illinois and I think I got it for an okay price ($200) if it is truly a WW2 paratrooper issued item. Although the total knife shows obvious signs of wear and use, the switchblade action and lock perform as they should. I put a little REM oil in the action and the action really snaps now. Thanks for your comments. Kim

Gary & others, How about the black painted metal handled knives like this marked "Geo Schrade, Bridgeport" on one side and "presto made in USA" on the other? I picked this up last weekend at a small antique store in Illinois and I think I got it for an okay price ($200) if it is truly a WW2 paratrooper issued item. Although the total knife shows obvious signs of wear and use, the switchblade action and lock perform as they should. I put a little REM oil in the action and the action really snaps now. Thanks for your comments. Kim

 

Quoting Frank: "After the US entry into the war, handle materials were changed due to the scarcity of jigged bone. Handles were changed to sheet metal during the mid years and finally to plastic when available."

 

Quoting Mike: "The bone handles, while quite handsome, gave way to more practical war time expediencies and knives were soon seen with pressed steel or black plastic handles. Pressed steel handle knives were made by Geo. Schrade in the same sizes as his bone handle knives. The steel handles, imprinted like bone, were painted black except for the bolster area which was left natural."

 

Note that these WW2 knives were marked Geo. Schrade, NOT Schrade Walden.

Thanks Gary! Kim

This thread really got me interested in the M2 knives. I had the high bid on this one. It's my first.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=330333048741

 

Not in the best shape but not to bad. For $166 including shipping I think I did OK. Any thoughts? Bill

Bill,

 

You did good!

 

Congrats!

Here is my one and only.

 

Bill,

 

You did good!

 

Congrats!

 

Thanks Gunbarrel. I was a little worried. But if you say it's good - I feel great. Bill

Gary & others, How about the black painted metal handled knives like this marked "Geo Schrade, Bridgeport" on one side and "presto made in USA" on the other? I picked this up last weekend at a small antique store in Illinois and I think I got it for an okay price ($200) if it is truly a WW2 paratrooper issued item. Although the total knife shows obvious signs of wear and use, the switchblade action and lock perform as they should. I put a little REM oil in the action and the action really snaps now. Thanks for your comments. Kim

Once again I am being educated.....I think I have one of these in my junk knife box! I will have to go and dig it out to see if I still have it, or sold it at a garage sale....... (I have had several of these over the years) Just goes to show, you cant know everything!

plant4, Let us know what you find and DO post a photo! Kim

Hi All

 

Sorry to bring up a old thread, hope you don't mind. But for those of you who have a copy of " the world war 2 gi, us uniforms 1941-1942 in colour" will know that on page 113 there is a photo of a presto m2 knife. Know what i want to know is, is this a ww2 knife or not?

 

many thanks

Buster

Hi All

 

Sorry to bring up a old thread, hope you don't mind. But for those of you who have a copy of " the world war 2 gi, us uniforms 1941-1942 in colour" will know that on page 113 there is a photo of a presto m2 knife. Know what i want to know is, is this a ww2 knife or not?

 

many thanks

Buster

 

Buster- you do realize that the photos are of reenactors wearing WWII uniforms and carrying WWII equipment, right?

Allan

Buster- you do realize that the photos are of reenactors wearing WWII uniforms and carrying WWII equipment, right?

Allan

 

Hi Allan

 

Yes i realise that they are Reenactors dressed in and using ww2 equipment, but what i meant by my question was is the knife a ww2 spec one or post war, also is it a military issued one or a civilian knife?

 

sorry for any confusion.

 

many thanks