Picked all these up today from 3 different people at fairly reasonable prices. Thought the Hula Girl scabbard was too much to pass up and worked out a deal for $110. I'm wishfully thinking this was on a Corpsman's hip at one time.

 

The other 2 USN knives were grouped together for a sale price of only $40, and the USMC pocketknife was negotiated to $19 from $25 so I feel I did OK today. And at a gun show! Amazing and I was happy to find them and add to the collection.

 

What do you all think? These are the 1st USN blades I've added to my mostly USMC collection. Did I do OK?

 

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great find and at good prices congratulations

the mark on the Robeson is "ShurEdge No. 20" on one side and "USN MK1" on the other side. The scabbard is an obvious reproduction.

 

the other one in the MK 2 scabbard has a wooden pommel (not sure if a field replacement or original pommel?) and is only marked "USN" - I do not think it is supposed to go in this scabbard.

 

Thanks Camillus!

 

Here are the marks I talked about above. Would welcome any comments on what I have here and the approx ages or version or anything else anyone can tell me as I am learning about these USN blades!

 

and the reverse of the Hula girl scabbard says: "NORD - 6581" "B.M. Co." then a line over a number "7" and then "vp"

 

the reverse of the black scabbard says "NORD - 8114" "B.M. Co." then a number 1 above a line, over a number "7" and then "vp"

 

- what does that all mean?

 

thanks

Nice pick-ups! I saw the Hula Girl knife at the Raleigh Gun Show last weekend (or one exactly like it). I can't recall which dealer had it.

neat Tim - I'm surprised it was not grabbed up at the Raleigh show...missed that one unfort.

I believe it was Gary Cunningham who posted the MK1 & MK2 scabbard info a while back. Let's see if I can get it right. NORD= Naval Order. NORD 6581 dated June 1944, for approximately 280,000 scabbards, NORD 8114 dated March 1945 for approx. 672,000 scabbards. BM CO=Beckwith Manufacturing Co., vp=Victory Plastics, --- -1 -- = lot numbers. I think I got it all right. SKIP 7 7

thanks Skip for that, NORD = Naval Order, makes sense.... I just googled it and found this chart which shows the hula girl scabbard was 1944-45, hopefully she was applied thereabouts

 

Code:

Contract # Contract $ Est. Quant Dates of Delivery

NORD 4723 $521,000 600,000 11/43 7/44 Mark 1 / Mark 2

NORD 6581 $240,000 275,000 7/44 2/45 Mark 2

NORD 6804 $79,000 95,000 6/44 4/45 Mark 1

NORD 8114 $592,000 675,000 3/45 8/45 Mark 1 / Mark 2

NORD 8676 $125,000 150,000 3/45 12/45

The markings of B.M. Co. and the stylized V P logo indicate the Beckwith Mfg Co. a division of Victory Plastics made this scabard.

comparison of 2 USMC pocketknives - the bottom unmarked knife is the one I got today and the top is a Kingston made example from my collection.

 

 

 

 

Don't know anything about knives but I love the Hula Girl!!! Congrats.

 

Ed

That M2 is beautiful and the personalized scabbard is a big plus.

NORD is actually an abbreviation for Navy Bureau of Ordnance not Navy Order, ORD is short for Ordnance.

. Also there is a very good chance the hula girl is a recent creation as well, these pop up regularly on MK plastic and leather sheaths. Hula girl sheaths have been posted from time to time here and also I have seen them on tables with in the gun show circuit.

Dustin-Thanks for the correction on NORD. As far as the Hula girl, you bring up a good point. Maybe someone is trying to enhance the knife value w/ a painting. Only time will tell, have seen them on leather scabbards too. SKIP

Dustin post pics of the ones you've seen or are on the Forum elsewhere cause I could not find any. Mine has a lot of patina if you examine it so I'm holding out hope.

There are a few members here that have them so maybe they will post theirs. If I recall there was even talk about whom and/or what area these are coming out of. As Skip pointed out the bulk seem to be on leather sheaths. Sorry I haven't kept any pics or know where the topic is at I just know they exist and are highly questionable to be authentic.

You got the MK-2 for $110 with the knife itself in really excellent shape and if my values are correct the $110 is a fair value for the knife alone so wouldn't you think that a unique hand painted sheath double the value easily? if authentic.

Not really, market is down and it is not named. Plus it is just a navy knife not a USMC or raider or anything exotic. Looks original and old to me. Gun show not militaria show remember. Need more evidence in pics as to others like mine before I say it is a fake. As I mentioned, the patina looks quite old and authentic. Let's see the evidence...

Okay, I was just pointing it out for caution.

Can someone point out this info on the Forum or web about enhanced scabbards please as I cannot locate it.

That scabbard is off the charts! Excellent pick up and well worth the cash...Goes great with the HBT and 5th MARDIV forest green! Can't say as I've seen another like it. That sailor either had too much time on his hands during shore leave or paid a good deal to get someone else to paint it!

 

Will

Take the scabbard to an art museum and ask them if they can tell if painting is original