I bought a Boker blade marked M3 that came in the mail, in this leather.

 

I thought it might be for a reproduction/collectors edition Marine Raider knife, as it has the tapered shape.

But, to be honest I'm at a bit of a loss.

 

The web fastener and button fastener are both gloss black (enamel) painted.

The studs are chrome.

9 prongs on the comb.

the last knife left a Fairbairn/V42 style press mark in the leather.

It's really nice leather, not the type usually used in reproduction knives.

But that obviously means nothing.

 

Any help would be appreciated.

 

Thanks.

 

 

 

 

It’s an M6 scabbard of some sort. The manufacturer markers would be visible in the area shown in that 2nd picture. If you look pretty hard is anything stamped like…

 

U.S. M6

MILSCO

1943

 

Just an example of what might be stamped there to help ID it. 
 

I’m far from being an expert though. 

I almost certainly see a “19” so hopefully you can make out more.

 

Hope that helps!

 

 

I used my magnifying glass and I see nothing there, Ryan - certainly down to my poor photography and storage scratches on the leather.

 

I did however recall I actually own a beat up old Marine Raider knife - which of course dropped into the scabbard like it was custom fit.

As you can see the wear from the guard and checkering matches perfectly.

The strap even fits the skinny handle.

*It's also 10 prongs on the comb, not nine.

 

So the question is, whether it's an original Raider sheath or a post war reproduction, of which I know there are many?

(Or, was it just used to keep one stored.)

 

Shown next to some other WW2 leather in last photo.

 

 

Thanks for the other pics as well!
 

Does your M3 handle snap in too? Or is the strap that much smaller?

54 minutes ago, Ryan Reese said:

It’s an M6 scabbard of some sort. The manufacturer markers would be visible in the area shown in that 2nd picture. If you look pretty hard is anything stamped like…

 

U.S. M6

MILSCO

1943

 

Just an example of what might be stamped there to help ID it. 
 

I’m far from being an expert though. 

That’s not an M6

19 minutes ago, Ryan Reese said:

Thanks for the other pics as well!
 

Does your M3 handle snap in too? Or is the strap that much smaller?

 

It would be super snug, I don't ever force them unless there's clearly

slack.

Had a few bad experiences early on, with torn straps (one bad one on an expensive MG34 action-cover) eek!

 

-

 

I agree with you, Blacksmith.

The question for me is it an original raider or a reproduction?

 

6 minutes ago, Blacksmith said:

That’s not an M6

I was wrong in that one. I was comparing it to some of the Viner Bros. M6’s with those larger rivets on the bottom portion. 
 

The top 4 rivets or studs and the taper are clearly different though. 
 

As for authenticity, I have nothing. 

Not sure if this picture helps but check it out

They do look like chrome rivets in that picture, though a little smaller than mine, I didn't know they used them in WWII, but looking through some of my collecting books, seems they did.

 

Thanks great image.

Hello - In studying it, there are some things I like, and some things that make me wonder.

 

And I will couch this by saying that these sheaths are so rare, that I'm not sure anybody is an expert on them.

 

That said, here are my observations:

 

• Keeper is not what I would expect - specifically the thickness, and the tooling on it (the worked line).  Now, it could be all original, it could be a later replacement on an original sheath, or it could mean something else altogether.
• Slots for putting a belt through the sheath seem to be cut out wider than I'm used to seeing.  Most of the Raider sheaths I've seen were merely slit for belt wear, and - over time - those slits made a little space.
• The rounded brads are gigantic; however, I like how they've aged 
• I do like the copper-colored rivets up by the belt hook, and at the throat of the sheath - and the age is what I'd expect, greenish patina, with verdigris on the backsides, from interacting with the leather
• Signs of honest wear, with imprints from a Raider knife handle in it; but, the split hide back is still really 'fuzzy'

 

Overall, I like it more than I don't, with some of the above maybe owed to maker variations?  Did different makers provide these?  I don't even know.  

 

 

 

 

It at least looks very similar to the correct sheath for a Raider's stiletto.  Two things that don't line up well with the pictures of two known good sheaths is the size of the chrome rivets are noticeably bigger on this one in the OP, and the keeper strap looks different enough to wonder if it isn't a replacement.

Sorry I'm not much help.

There IS a fake/reproduction by HG Long, there are several variations, I think mine is one of those, bummer, but moving along!

 

 

Here are some originals I found:

 

I should have noticed it earlier, but I don't belief any WW2 era sheaths had galvanized tip plates that I can recall.

I like the wear pattern and stains in the leather.  It could possibly haven been used with a raider stiletto, especially looking at the imprint from the checkered grip.

 

Maybe the sheath was repaired and old rivets knocked out and replaced with larger silver colored rivets.
 

Here is a picture of one I have… photo is a bit dark but you can see the rivets are smaller and also shows similar imprint in the leather.

1 hour ago, digi-shots said:

I like the wear pattern and stains in the leather.  It could possibly haven been used with a raider stiletto, especially looking at the imprint from the checkered grip.

 

Maybe the sheath was repaired and old rivets knocked out and replaced with larger silver colored rivets.
 

Here is a picture of one I have… photo is a bit dark but you can see the rivets are smaller and also shows similar imprint in the leather.

 

Yours is a lovely original, sir, I am pretty sure mine is a few decades too young to be an original.

 

My sheath is most likely one of the HG Long reproductions, that at one time held one of their reproduction stilettos, hence the appropriate wear.

 

I still acquired a Boker M3 from this deal, so, rolling along. I will use the sheath as a nice place holder for my original, tho beat up and formerly sheathless, Raider Stiletto.

 

*3 tells I noticed: i.) Large rivets, ii.) no metal eyelet for thong, iii.) 2 pressed horizontal marks on the keeper.

I knew I had some photo's of original raider sheaths I saved for reference. these are used sheaths with some good details in the photo's .  One with the steel tip guard and one without.  This seems like a good place to post these.

 

 

 

Here are the images of the Raider sheath without the tip plate.

 

On 4/13/2022 at 6:18 PM, Ryan Reese said:

It’s an M6 scabbard of some sort. The manufacturer markers would be visible in the area shown in that 2nd picture. If you look pretty hard is anything stamped like…

 

U.S. M6

MILSCO

1943

 

Just an example of what might be stamped there to help ID it. 
 

I’m far from being an expert though. 

I’m no expert either, but I have owned five authentic WW2 USMC Raider Stilettos over the years with correct original sheaths with metal reinforcement. They all share the following common characteristics:

 

1. None have any maker’s mark or anything else stamped on the leather.

2. They all have plain leather keeper strips but with a decorated snap.

3. They all have 10 staples at the mouth of the scabbard to protect the leather lip.

4. They all have the smaller rivets as mentioned by others.

5. They all have a metal grommet at the bottom for the leather lace to go through.

6. They all have metal plates at the bottom and all metal parts throughout have a nice patina with no shiny silver elements.

 

 

21 minutes ago, Dsizzle said:

 

Conclusion:

OP has a nice sheath that is well-made, but it does not have the usual elements of the ones issued with the Raider Stilettos that I have seen or as published in at least one authoritative reference. Although the WW2 Raider versions I have seen are all of the later metal reenforced models, earlier types do exist as demonstrated by other posters. There could have been models issued with big shiny rivets or a repaired keeper like the OP has asked about. 

However, I do like the other smaller non-shiny rivets, the number and placement of all rivets and staples, lack of stamped leather markings, overall cut and apparent age, metal belt hangers, and symmetrical belt slits without rounded starter holes. All of these elements are difficult to reproduce and I am left wondering if some M3 knives may have come with this type of sheath or if it is a later, but still authentic version. It is much better made than most reproductions out there IMHO.