{"product_id":"original-u-s-wwii-m3-blade-marked-fighting-knife-by-imperial-with-1943-dated-m6-leather-scabbard-by-milsco","title":"Original U.S. WWII M3 Blade Marked Fighting Knife by Imperial with 1943 Dated M6 Leather Scabbard by MILSCO","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice original WWII U.S. M3 fighting knife manufactured by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eImperial Knife Co.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, paired with an original \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1943 dated M6 leather scabbard\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMilwaukee Saddlery Co., or MILSCO\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eImperial was one of several American manufacturers contracted to produce M3 fighting knives during WWII and also manufactured other edged weapons for the U.S. military.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is an early blade marked example. The blade is stamped: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUS M3 IMPERIAL\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis marking style identifies an early production variant. The very earliest M3 knives were blade marked with both the maker and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1943\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e date. The date was later omitted, as on this example, before markings were ultimately moved from the blade to the crossguard on later production.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe spear point blade measures approximately \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e6 3\/4 inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and remains in very good condition, retaining most of its original finish. There is some staining and normal service wear, but no major damage is evident.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe stacked leather grip remains in very good condition with attractive age and honest service wear. The pommel retains the U.S. Ordnance \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFlaming Bomb\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e proof mark.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe accompanying original leather scabbard is marked:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eU.S. M6\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMILSCO\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1943\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe M6 was the original leather scabbard developed for the M3 knife and was soon superseded in service by the fiberglass M8 and later M8A1 scabbards.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis example retains its belt attachment and shows a very attractive aged leather appearance. There is some cracking and localized dry rot, particularly near the throat, and the securing strap is somewhat delicate from age. Despite the wear, the scabbard remains a desirable and correct early companion to the knife.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe M3 fighting knife, also known as the M3 trench knife, was first issued in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMarch 1943\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. It was intended primarily for soldiers who were not otherwise equipped with a bayonet, but priority was initially given to troops requiring a dedicated close combat weapon, including airborne forces and Army Rangers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAs production increased, M3 knives were also issued to Army Air Forces personnel and to soldiers armed with weapons such as the M1 Carbine and submachine guns.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe M3 was developed in part as a replacement for the WWI era Mark I trench knife and was designed to conserve strategic materials while remaining effective as a fighting weapon. Its narrow dagger style blade and stacked leather grip made it well suited to thrusting use, although the design was less effective when pressed into ordinary utility work such as opening crates or ration tins.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eManufacturers known to have produced the M3 under wartime contracts included \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAerial Cutlery Co., W.R. Case \u0026amp; Sons, Imperial Knife Co., PAL Cutlery Co., Camillus Cutlery Co., Robeson Cutlery Co., Kinfolks Inc., Utica Cutlery Co., and H. Boker \u0026amp; Co.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe M3 had a relatively short production life. By 1944, the Army was developing the M4 bayonet for the M1 Carbine, which incorporated the same basic blade and stacked leather grip concept. The M4 could serve both as a bayonet and as a fighting knife, making the separate M3 increasingly unnecessary.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eProduction of the M3 ended in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAugust 1944\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, by which time approximately \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2,590,247\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e had been manufactured. Although its own service life was brief, the M3 blade pattern remained highly influential and continued in later U.S. military bayonets including the M4, M5, M6, and M7.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA particularly appealing early M3 combination with desirable \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eImperial blade markings\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, substantial original blade finish, a strong stacked leather grip, and a correct \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1943 dated MILSCO M6 leather scabbard\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBlade Length: 6 3\/4 inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOverall Length: 11 3\/4 inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCrossguard: 2 1\/4 inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eScabbard Length: 13 1\/4 inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44905075081285,"sku":"ONSV26NCS014","price":1095.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/E7A3B5A8-54B6-44FD-9A90-171D363AA2E0.jpg?v=1777454894","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-wwii-m3-blade-marked-fighting-knife-by-imperial-with-1943-dated-m6-leather-scabbard-by-milsco","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}