Description
Original WW2 era Mark I Utility knife manufactured by PAL Cutlery with the war-expedient wood pommel and parkerized finish blade. The knife comes with the correct early-war USN-marked leather scabbard. Not the type to miss a good business opportunity, PAL Cutlery had purchased the cutlery division of Remington Arms in 1940. After PAL moved the old Remington equipment and knife stock to Holyoke, MA, they began manufacturing knives for the US military using the left-over stock parts with the Remington emblem (RH stands for Remington Hunter). This exact type is illustrated on pages 9 and 11 in KNIVES OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY WORLD WAR II book by Michael W. Silvey – a well-established expert an author of many books on the subject of US military edged weapons (see the pages’ scans attached). The scarcer “wood pommel” type was issued with the hardwood pommel due to the wartime ban on the use of the strategic metals like aluminum for the “non-essential” products.
MK1 knives are relatively common, but the “wood pommel” type is hard to find in better good grades, especially with the early-issue leather scabbard included. The majority of these utility knives were used as intended during the war, so most got worked to death, were lost, or simply fell apart from the abuse and contact with the seawater. Not surprisingly, the wood-pommeled knives proved not as durable in the field as the “standard” MKI production types with metal pommels; finding a well-preserved mid-war MK1 specimen is not so easy nowadays. I have a better-preserved “wood pommel” PAL MK1 specimen available in my store, please take a look.
This Mark I is about 9-7/8″ / 25 cm overall; the blade is about 5-1/8″ / 13 cm. The blade has been re-sharpened; it is very sharp still; the tip is intact. A small chip and a thin crack on the side of the wood pommel are noted for accuracy; the edge and blade spine are in great shape with no nicks or dings. Stacked leather washers handle; hardwood pommel is unusually nice for the type without the typical ding marks. The handle is tight with, the pommel has a tiny bit of a play. Leather washers are in great condition without the typical “saltwater rot” so many of the WW2 era USN knives are suffering from. Ricasso is stamped RH-35 PAL MADE IN U.S.A. on one side, USN on the other. Original early war all-leather scabbard is marked U.S.N. on the throat. The leather is soft and supple still; all original stitching, rivets, and the keeper are intact. The back side of the belt hanger is signed H.L. WAGNER; the back panel is faintly scratched NEW GUINEA. This scabbard is in better-than-average condition for the type; it’s in 100% serviceable condition still.
This scarce wood pommel WW2 PAL MK1 fighting knife has not been cleaned or tampered with in any way, it’s in 100% original “as is” condition. These are the actual photos; spent brass is not included with the knife 😉 I have a few more vintage American and European 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.
Argocoins accepts all major credit cards as forms of payments for knives and edged weapons. Please email me at [email protected] if you would like to make a credit card purchase over the phone. Old-fashioned checks and money orders will work just as well; please take a look at the Payments section within our Terms and Conditions for mailing instructions and additional details. Follow me on Facebook @argoman400BC to keep an eye on the latest additions and promotions.
FREE USPS PRIORITY MAIL SHIPPING WITHIN THE U.S. FOR THIS ITEM
International shipping for this item will be $39.95 and up to most countries on our “ship-to” list.
