Item:
ONSV9612

Original WWII U.S. Collins & Co. Legitimus No. 1250 "Bush Knife" Machete with British Scabbard - both dated 1943

Item Description

Original Items: Only one available. Made by Collins & Co. of Hartford, Conn, this is a LEGITIMUS model No 1250 Machete, which Canadian forces refer to as a "Bush Knife." The Machete has an overall length of 19 1/2 inches, with a impressive 14 3/4" "swell point" machete blade. The design is very similar to the British issue made by J.B. Brooks company, and we believe these were imported from Collins to meet wartime supply shortfalls from the overburdened British cutlery industry. The scabbard is British issue, and "Broad Arrow" marked.

The blade is about 3 inches wide at the swell point. The ricasso is nicely marked:

(Collins Emblem)
LEGITIMUS
COLLINS & CO.
MADE IN U.S.A.
No 1250
1943

The blade is in very good condition, thought it does show some use and staining. It has been sharpened several times, so this was a machete that did not spent its life in the scabbard. There are also some nicks and dents on the edge, and some overall light staining from age. The bakelite handle is in very good shape, with no chips, cracks, or other major issues.

The machete comes with a very good condition fiber scabbard with a rawhide throat and leather belt loop with a retaining strap. The back of the belt loop is marked J.B. BROOKS & CO. LTD / 1943, and is a known maker of the issue scabbards for these machetes when used in British service. Brooks also made their own machetes, much in the same style, and most likely these machetes were imported from Collins to meet wartime demand. We have seen many examples of these machetes in Brooks scabbards on the market in the past.

It does show light wear on the body, but the leather belt loop is still firmly attached. It has however shrunk a bit, and the securing strap no longer goes quite around the handle. This may also be because the Brooks scabbards were not modified to fit the Collins machete handle properly.

An very nice WWII dated Collins Legitimus machete, complete with its original British issue scabbard, ready to display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 14 3/4"
Blade Style: Machete
Overall length: 19 1/2“
Scabbard Length: 16" + belt loop

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