Well I found this M-3 Knife on Ebay that was not listed right so less bidders.So I took a gamble and bid on it will not know if I did good until I get it.But if I did good I got it for 88.00 bucks.The scaboard had rust on it the knife looks like it is in good shape maybe.Here is the link.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...XGbTJflqmg%253D

Have any of you ever took a chance like this.The price on these knifes are crazy.Does this knife look OK the second photo in the ad is the best one hit the photo it gets larger.I have been wanting one of these for a while I am just cheap.

I'm new with the knives, but I think you did fine.

Good price for an M-3, the handle is in good shape and the blade has some ware.

The darkness of the picture tries to hide the ware, but it is still acceptable.

All in all, good deal for you!!

Do you know who made it? I can't make out any stampings and don't see any reference to it in the listing.

Do you know who made it? I can't make out any stampings and don't see any reference to it in the listing.

 

I just sent him a Email to see if there are any makers marks on it.He does have a money back policy if I don't like it.

River Rat 1- It appears you won an Imperial M3. From the pic you have what appears to be black spacers, if black you have either a blade-dated or at least a blade marked knife. Cool! If red-brown, it's a guard marked.You did very. Asfar as taking chances, I won this today. Same thing, took the chance got a good deal. Item # 160501340213. It's a PAL, guard marked, 6 groove handle. For $102 I don't think I lost anything. I've found PAL guard marked at least as scarce as RCC's. You never see them. I'm hoping it's guard has the "Utica" stamp on top. Two weeks ago I won this one, item#190458587177. Again pure luck. Sometimes you've gotta take the chance. SKIP

I really hope your right on any of those, Skip. In the late '80s or early '90s I bought a knockoff M3 with black spacers, knowing that was what it was as the price was right. I believe it was either blade marked US M3 or US M3 1943...can't remember which but no other markings. It had deep black bluing. M8 scabbard was with it. Not trying to rattle anyone and I'm hoping for the best, but that one looks just like it, from what little I can make out.

elbertson- REALLY GOOD POINT! Kiffe made tham at one time w/ spacers also. But, correct me if I'm wrong, but the back-cut was a straight 90 degree, this one has a slight curve. Just checked out my Imperial to verify. Hope I'm right. Hate to get River Rat 1 all excited. Have to look at the item again. THX SKIP

I can't tell much from the pics. The scabbard does appear to be an early M8. Got my fingers crossed for you . Post pics when it arrives. If it is an early M8 the sheath alone would be close to what you paid for the hole thing.

Good luck.

Got rid of mine about 15 yrs. ago...can't remember what the back-cut looked like anymore. The one in that listing looks pretty steep and deep, if you know what I mean... closer to 90 degrees and straighter than what seems right. Hope I'm wrong. When did they quit handing out instruction books with cameras? I believe someone needs to write one on how to photograph objects at fairly close range...

Got rid of mine about 15 yrs. ago...can't remember what the back-cut looked like anymore. The one in that listing looks pretty steep and deep, if you know what I mean... closer to 90 degrees and straighter than what seems right. Hope I'm wrong. When did they quit handing out instruction books with cameras? I believe someone needs to write one on how to photograph objects at fairly close range...

 

I was just thinking the same thing about the 90 degrees you mean on the blade.

elbertson-The photography though bad, could be a good thing. I now look at the other things the seller has up for auction. River Rat's dealer has nothing but coins listed. Pictures look OK. The guy I bought the PAL from sells china type stuff. Good pics of those. But, they probably don't sell many knives, and are just trying to maybe get rid of them. Who knows! Noticed real experienced knife dealers tend to have a reserve, not all , but quite a few. That may mean the difference between a good deal, or not. Or it more than likely boils down to luck. I like the idea of bids being few, and low with crumby pictures. But, look at the item real close. Just ramblin'! SKIP

Well the seller got back to me the cross guard is marked US M3 looks like I ate it.looks like it could be one of those 1980's remakes.Some times you win some and some times you loose some.

River Rat 1-Sorry! I was really hoping you had an Imperial. Don't give up yet! Maybe Imperial was ground off, leaving the USM3. Worst case scenario you have a functional example of an M3 you can use, plus an M8 scabbard. Saw someone yesterday buy a Camillus Repro, w/ M8A1 (late) for a "Buy Now" price of $350. Again sorry for getting you hopes up. SKIP

RR1,

 

Don't lose heart, yet. I took the seller's pictures and tweaked them. You can see the knife and scabbard a little better. Look for additional marks (manufacturer's name and an ordnance acceptance) on the knife when you get it. You can also click on the link below and compare authentic knives versus reproduction knives, and you can read one of Gary's articles on M8 scabbards on the second link. Let us know what you got when you receive it. Good luck!

 

http://www.usmilitaryknives.com/m3.htm

 

http://www.usmilitaryknives.com/bayo_points_6.htm

 

Gunbarrel- How did you change the clarity of that picture? Totally impressed? SKIP

Saw someone yesterday buy a Camillus Repro, w/ M8A1 (late) for a "Buy Now" price of $350. SKIP

 

Yeoooouuuch! Talk about takin' a hit :crying: !

 

Tim

Gunbarrel- How did you change the clarity of that picture? Totally impressed SKIP

 

Skip,

 

Thanks. I copied the eBay photos to my hard drive; then, I opened the files with MS Office Picture Manager. The first thing I did was to go under Picture and Crop all the useless parts of the photos. Then, I went under Picture and clicked on Auto Correct. Sometimes that's all it takes, but that fellow is such a terrible photographer (I thougth I was bad!) that it didn't do much good. So, I went to manual adjustments by clicking on Picture, followed by Brightness and Contrast and played with the settings until I got what you see. There are much better picture editor software packages, but you can do what I did with the basic MS Office picture program. Hope this helps!

Gunbarrel-Thank you. I might actually be able to do that. That PAL I bought this morning has a lousey pic also. But the guard marking is good. THX SKIP

Here is my attempt to clean up the photo. For those that are looking for a photo editing program, and like me don't want to spend a lot of money, may I suggest Photoscape ( http://www.photoscape.org/ps/main/download.php ). It is a free program to download, perfectly legal. I have used it for over a year and highly recommend it - easy to use and does a lot.

 

 

Note the similarity to the KIFFE M4 blade in the runout being some little distance up the blade and the almost 90 degree runout on the ending of the false edge. Very similar and I think there is some connection. The KIFFE blades were made in Japan, and there are similar ones marked SPORTSWORLD / JAPAN and SAB Co over JAPAN. So I suggest this M3 may have been made in Japan and may date even as early as the 1960s when the KIFFE ones were made.

 

Gary,

 

Thanks for the great tip on Photoscape! :thumbsup: As far as the similarity to the Kiffe M4 blade, sure enough--it's undeniable.

I have seven days to return it for my money back I guess I will return it since it sure looks like the one from Japan.I really want a real one.Going to a gun show tomorrow mite find one there.

I don't collect M3s, but the ebay knife has seven handle sections and the kiffe has six. Maybe means nothing. Also, the upper part of the handle is cracked and chipped.

Marv

Thanks for the heads up on this knife being a reproduction I was able to cancel the order.First time I ever did that on Ebay.I think one other time did I get took on fleabay and that was a Hamlilton 2974B Compering watch from WW2 that has home made gears I had to buy another junker to get parts off it to fix it.I guess two buys off of Ebay that sellers did not tell you the facts not bad for over the years and thanks again other wise I would of been stuck with this.