I was cleaning out a drawer the other day and found this knife that I knew I had but wasn't sure where it was. I got this knife sometime around 1963 or so when the family was cleaning out my grandmother's house after she died. It had belonged to my uncle from what I recall but I am not sure when he got it. He was too young for WW2 but seem to remember being told he got it after the war -but, he also was in the Army in the early 50's. I then used it for several years in the 60s while in the Boy Scouts on camping trips.

From searching this topic I believe it to be a WW2 knife, correct? Other than that I know nothing about these so hope someone could enlighten me a bit as to use by any branches of service or operating theatre being more common than another and the approximate value. The markings are visible but had to clean that section of the blade to read them....- RH PAL 36. The PAL is circled and below that is Made In USA.

 

TLeo,

 

The PAL RH-36 was a secondary U.S. government issue knife in WWII. That doesn't mean it was a second-rate knife; it just was not standardized and it was issued when primary issue knives were not available. Two different models were made; one was manufactured with a bright blade and one with a parkerized blade. Your sheath is not the original sheath that came with it. Check out this thread for more information:

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...t=0&start=0