What might a WW2 trench knife be worth? You fellas who know more about the bayonets/knives of that era can tell me just what it is if you will. I have not seen it in person but it is local and will checking on it this afternoon. There is some provenance with it but I don't have the details yet.
It always looks darkest.....just before it goes totally black.
COG# 11M1P
It's pretty similar to the M1 carbine bayonet and takes the same scabbard. Documentation is everything on these items and of course greatly increases value. Post WW2 M1 carbine bayonets (no scabbard)
were recently sold for around $65. by CMP. They are out now. This could be worth much more.
Last edited by Buckshot; 03-18-2012 at 10:27 AM.
Occam's razor, the simplest explanation will be the most plausible
Isn't that a USN knife? They had a knife like that and it was very popular with all services.
We thought about it for a long time, "Endeavor to persevere." And when we had thought about it long enough, we declared war on the Union
I looks like an M3 Trench Knife; in bad shape, with a bit of the blade missing. The handle, if leather, looks bad as well. Look for any tang stamps like a maker's name.
Often a good knife blade's handle would be replaced by a theater made handle, like these:
Integrity is doing what you say you are going to do...
You have an M3 'fighting knife'. They came with either a leather or fiberglass scabbard. Made during WWII by several makers, the most prominent of which was Camillus (who continued to make the knife right up until they went out of business about 10 years ago). Boker is the only manufacturer I'm aware of that makes the knife today and they retail for about $80.00. I recently sold my last new in rapper Camillus with leather scabbard for $85.00 (I bought 50 of these knives about 10 years ago @ $18.00 ea from a Camillus liquidator).
The people that really get into these are all about maker, condition and history (a Case for instance is valued higher than a Utica, and it's a jackpot to find an early M6 sheath -- rarer than the knives). The M8 scabbards are quite cheap and plentiful.
Yours appears to be missing the guard and doesn't appear to be in a very high condition. Without documentation supporting a service history it 'is what it is'. I saw a pile of these at the tanner gunshow in Denver yesterday @ from $20 to $35, needing scabbards and the leather washer handles redone.
"There are three reasons to own a gun: To protect yourself and your family, to hunt dangerous and delicious animals, and to keep the King of England out of your face." — Krusty the Clown
Marbles.. cool knife period, where did you get it Chief?
We thought about it for a long time, "Endeavor to persevere." And when we had thought about it long enough, we declared war on the Union
This was a "pig-in-a-poke". I went to meet the guy and the leather washer handle is all but gone. There is a lanyard ring on the handle. No guards on it. Seems Granpa used it to butcher hogs after he brought it home from the war. I did end up bringing it home since the guy and his family showed up in a beat up, smoking Honda, full of kids. We talked of a trade but he needed cash (before I saw it). I gave him his asking price figuring the kids might be hungry or something. I paid $40 but would have given him the money had I saw him at the store with those kids. You win some, you lose some, then sometimes you just give one away.
It always looks darkest.....just before it goes totally black.
COG# 11M1P
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