Noticed some M3 knives with a somewhat relatively deep scratch (scratches) running parallel to the ridge.

 

Anyone know if this is common? and is it the scabbard that causes it ? (all i can think of)

 

Pic below.

 

Cheers

Yes, the two spring steel plates made to secure the blade in the scabbard make these marks.

From Gary Cunningham's Bayonet Point's 6, (shows an M8A1 but an M8 scabbard is similar):

 

"To show some of the internal details, I disassembled a junk condition M8A1 scabbard and illustrate it here. The top of the photo shows the relationship of the body, insert with the two spring steel plates, and throat. Below that are closeups of the spring plates and the injection molded insert. The M3 and USN Mark 1 scabbards do not have the spring plates, but all the others do, including the M3s modified to M7."

Thanks for the clarification, Mike

 

Some I've seen have been pretty deep, but alas now i know why.

 

Appreciated

Back in the late sixies when I really started collecting US military knives, surplus catalogs advertised  the bayonets as being sold with "self sharpening" scabbards. These were the M3, M7, and M8 series of fiber scabbards. The more you placed the blade in the sheath, the sharper they got. "Nope", not designed for that. Strictly designed to hold the blade in the scabbard, and eliminate rattle. Yes, the scabbards produced a lot of wear  on the flat side of the blades. That is normal.  SKIP

Thanks Skip, 

 

Does shine a light on some dated versions with these marks, the ones now paired with M6 sheaths

 

I know folk pair these together and mix and match but when you find one with these scratches it certainly tells you it was once sat in a M8, so the M6 it is sat in now is not original to the blade.

 

I guess it would bug some collectors, others not so much.

 

 

 

 

Forgot about those little metal teeth on M6 sheaths, thinking they will also scuff/scratch the blade over time.

As mentioned, the M6 scabbard will also leave marks on a blade. 

The M6 doesn't wear the blade the same way as an M8.  SKIP

An "unmarked" dated blade in the correct make of M6 sheath, still dose not indicate with surety that the two were originally issued together. Only special provenance can do that. One of the few blade dated M3s I have, came in a late minty M8A1 and another had no sheath at all. I have no qualms, trying to match them with an appropriate M6. One can only guess as to what previous owners, be they military or civilian, have paired these 80 year old knives with.

barryeye- makes a good point. I have  mint Case, Camillus, and Kinfolks guard marked M3s, that all came in mint M6 scabbards. Conclusion being they were repacked at some point for post war military aid programs.  Also got with those was a PAL blade marked, with M6, and an Aerial blade marked in an M8.  The first M3 I ever saw, in 1968, was a dated Utica in an M8, had been a friends Dad's in WW2.  Mix & match scabbards & blades have been going on since WW2.  SKIP

Hi Barry

 

Aye, agree.

 

Sometimes you see rough looking M3s with minty looking M6 sheaths and vice versa, it begs questions. As you say, without provenance then there is no way of knowing for sure.

 

I've just bought a dated M3 with scuff marks that link it with a M8 scabbard, hence the curiosity, though it comes with the M6 sheath.

 

As i said above, it s not something that bugs me, id of probably been happier if it was still with an M8, may even buy one.

 

I read at the end of the war that knives got swapped about etc, no way of knowing. No way of knowing whether a soldier didn't like the m8 and swapped for a M6, etc etc,  one of those things.

 

 

The main reason the M6 Is so scarce Is because It did not hold up well In jungle conditions which Is why the very quick transition to the M8 . I think It had about a 5 month production run or something like that If I recall correctly . Thats why It Is not uncommon to see a dated knife matched with the M8 as the original M6 may have failed or possibly It was originally Issued with the M8 . With the short production run of the M3 theoretically It Is possible to see a guard marked knife originally Issued In a M6 sheath but not likely . Of course as Skip pointed out with repacking etc. the knife/sheath could have been switched around before or after Issue .

I avoid putting blades into scabbard for this and other reasons.

 

hyrax222

hyrax222, i concur with your statement, none of my collectible knives older, newer, whatever, remain “unsheathed” at all times. On the occasion that I happen to sell something, the knife and sheath are individually wrapped and packed just for that reason! 

The m3 has arrived. Imperial, with black spacers unlike the last episode.

Took a few pictures, one of the scuff which likely means it was in the M8 at one time. The Viner sheath shows some age and cracking but its not actually that bad in hand. wording not so easy to see 

 

 

Both dirty and need a clean, some surface crud and light rust that needs sorting out. Oiled the blade for the time being.

 

Blade measures 6.5 inches.

 

Nice find Sean. I have an American Friend who believes that Imperial made the best looking M3s. I tend to agree. Fact of life that an M3 blade with patches of its original finish missing will never look as "tidy" as one with no finish remaining, but I feel that true collectors value and appreciate the obvious signs of history. If you require advice on cleaning up your new knife and scabbard, why not start a new thread. There are lads on here with a wealth of experience and knowledge. Welcome to the slippery slope of M3s. 

Thanks Barry

 

I think its these black spacers that stand out on the Imperials, or the brown, just that bit different.

 

I agree what your saying about the remaining finish making it look untidy, as always images seem to highlight everything, in hand its its a lot better. Looks to have been sharpened with a rough sharpening stone which hasn't helped and there are various little stains here and there. The leather is bone dry.

 

Good idea about another thread. I like to keep stuff original so be good to hear folks thoughts.

 

Cheers