WW2 era Case Cutlery blade-marked M3 fighting knife, original 1943 Milsco M6 leather scabbard; rare early issue type

Original WW2 era M3 Fighting Knife/Trench Knife manufactured by W.R Case Cutlery & Sons in Bradford, PA – one of the larger war-time makers of edged weapons for the US government. This is a scarce early blade-marked specimen with blued blade and a rare original M6 scabbard. Out of the total of 2.5 million M3s made, Case produced about 300,000 M3s of all types by the time its production ended in August 1944. Only a small fraction of the early-production M3s were blade-marked. Attached is the photo of the US 101^st Airborne paratrooper in Normandy sometime after the D-day guarding German POWs – the trooper is wearing not one, but two (!!) M3 fighting knives in M6 scabbards (original photo is the courtesy of Wikipedia and is not included with the knife). I have several rare original WW2 era American paratroopers and the German Luftwaffe knives available in my store; please take a look.

This blued/marked blade Case M3 specimen is in excellent overall condition for the type. Original leather washers handle with 8 grooves; iron cross guard and hammer-like iron pommel. Leather washers are in great shape; all handle parts are tight with no play. This M3 is 11-1/2″ / 29.3 cm overall; blued blade is 6-3/4″ / 17.2 cm long. The blade is marked U.S. M3 CASE on one side. The edge has been gently re-sharpened, it is very sharp still, the tip is intact. One small edge bump on the upper edge is noted for accuracy; no other detractions. The pommel is stamped with the “flaming bomb” US arsenal acceptance mark.

This scarce early M3 comes with the equally-rare early-war M6 leather scabbard made in early 1943 by Milwaukee Saddlery Company (Milsco).  Milsco produced 140,494 M6 scabbards in 1943, of which just 38,300 were shipped to Case during the M3/M6 production. This scabbard is only slightly used and it is in much better-than average condition. The only reportable issue is that the very top part, including the wire belt hanger has been cut-off. Other than that this scabbard is in great shape – all original stitching and rivets are intact; steel plates are tight and secure; high quality leather is soft and supple still.

The “anti-puncture” steel plates were designed to prevent accidental leg cuts to a wearer during parachute jumps, crouching, etc. There are 8 “staples” on the scabbard’s mouth; all are intact; the throat is stamped U.S. M6 / MILSCO / 1943 / “flaming bomb”. The back side of the belt hanger is signed H-8430 – possibly a unit/detachment number (??). The M6 sheath was costly to produce and it did not fare well under the stress of combat. Metal parts were prone to corrosion and leather would rot in contact with seawater. The M6 was produced for just 8 months in 1943; it was quickly replaced by a cheaper and more durable M8 composition scabbard. Finding an original 1943-dated M3/M6 set that survived the war in good condition is getting harder and harder every year – don’t miss your chance!

This WW2 Case blade-marked M3 fighting knife/M6 Milsco scabbard desirable set is guaranteed original or your money back. This rare and attractive WW2 Case blade-marked M3 fighting knife / M6 Milsco scabbard are in 100% original “as is” condition. These are the actual photos; Garand clips are not included with the knife 😉 I have a few more vintage US-made knives, as well as WW2 era combat knives and bayonets, scarce WW1 and WW2 fighting daggers and trench knives from other countries available for sale – please take a look in our Militaria section.