{"product_id":"original-u-s-wwii-unissued-airborne-schrade-presto-m2-knife-with-plastic-handle-on-display-board","title":"Original U.S. WWII Unissued Airborne Schrade \"Presto\" M2 Knife with Plastic Handle on Display Board","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is an excellent unissued example of a rare Mid-War issue M2 Paratrooper pocket knife with plastic imitation \"jigged bone\" grip scales. These are very difficult to find in any condition, as they were quickly replaced with the metal scaled version. Finding one in this incredible unissued condition, still with the wrapper and a length of stitched parachute cord to fasten it, is almost unheard of these days.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis example looks to have been a display board sample from when unissued surplus knives were not a hard thing to come by. The top of the red engraved red board reads:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ccenter\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e- U.S. MILITARY -\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMARK \"2\" PARATROOPER'S KNIFE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBY SCHRADE CUT. CO.\u003cbr\u003eOFFICIALLY ADOPTED DEC. 1940 AS THE\u003cbr\u003ePOCKET KNIFE OF THE \u003cstrong\u003e\"PARATROOPER\"\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIN ORIGINAL WRAPPING\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eRARE\u003c\/span\u003e $25.00 \u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eFIND\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/center\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnfortunately due to inflation, we cannot honor the price listed on the board. It does look like a new price had been glued over it at one time as well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe knife is wired to the board, so only part of the blade marking can be seen, but it looks to be:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ccenter\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePRESTO\u003cbr\u003ePAT. JAN. 30-40\u003cbr\u003eMADE IN U.S.A.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/center\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe other side is normally marked:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ccenter\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGEO. SCHRADE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKNIFE CO. INC\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eB'PORT, CT.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/center\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese blade markings definitely identify it as a WWII version, and it bears the desirable black plastic \"jigged bone\" handles. This example measures 7 5\/16\" when open, with the blade measuring 3 1\/4.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA great unissued example, still attached to a custom display board!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBlade length: 3 1\/4”\u003cbr\u003eBlade Style: Clip Point Knife\u003cbr\u003eOverall length closed: 4 1\/16”\u003cbr\u003eOverall length open: 7 3\/8\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWorn in the breast pocket of the Paratrooper M2 Jump Jacket these knives were intended for paratroopers to cut there parachute cords and anything else if they got entangled during a jump. Exceedingly rare and hard to find. For further research checkout this\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.usmilitariaforum.com\/forums\/index.php?\/topic\/259640-wwii-airborne-switchblades\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e forum post\u003c\/a\u003e about these knives and how to tell WWII knives from post war (this example is 100% WWII).\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39461580505157,"sku":"ONSV21SOS295","price":695.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/products\/ONSV21SOS295__01.jpg?v=1628788886","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-wwii-unissued-airborne-schrade-presto-m2-knife-with-plastic-handle-on-display-board","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}