Description
Original WW2 era US Navy issue Mark I Utility knife with the war-expedient wood pommel and non-parkerized “bright finish” blade. The knife comes with the correct early war leather scabbard with an interesting “throat protection” metal insert. Ricasso is very lightly stamped USN (letters are barely visible); this specimen was likely manufactured by Robeson Cutlery mid-war, as evident by the non-metal pommel. This exact type is illustrated on pages 9-11 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 more scarce “wood pommel” type was issued with the hardwood pommel due to the wartime ban on the use of the strategic metals for the “non-essential” products. MK1 knives are relatively common, but the “wood pommel” type is hard to find in better good grades. 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.
This Mark I is about 9-1/2″ / 24.2 cm overall; the blade is about 5″ / 12.7 cm. The blade has been gently re-sharpened; the edge is razor-sharp still; the tip is intact. Some light surface rust or the blade and hand guard (cleanable); the edge and blade spine are excellent with no nicks or dings. Stacked leather washers and iron guard handle; hardwood pommel is unusually nice for the type without the typical ding marks or chips. The handle is tight with no play, all parts are solid. Leather washers are in great condition without the typical “saltwater rot” so many of the WW2 era USN knives are suffering from. Ricasso is faintly stamped U.S.N. on one side. Original early war all-leather scabbard with an interesting “throat protection” field modification. The leather is soft and supple still; typical green oxidation around brass rivets is noted for accuracy; original keeper is a bit dry but intact. This scabbard is used but it is in 100% serviceable condition still.
This attractive WW2 USN MK1 Fighting Knife wood pommel Mark I utility 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 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.
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