Help identifying U.S. marked knife
Hi, I am stumped with this knife, I cannot find anything to compare it to. It is a 6 5/8 inch long knife with a 3 1/2 inch blade, an aluminum handle with a square/rectangular-ish hilt and engraved dragon on the grip, and is marked U.S. with a possible obscured date to the lower right of the U.S. mark. There is no inspection mark or any marks on the handle. My question: is this a US armed forces knife and if so, from what era?
7 comments
krazzykats
·1 year agoPossibly a Theater Knife.
Theater Knife for sale | eBay
During WWII and after, machinists got bored and would use scrap metals to form different things. Some were gifts, and some the guys would sell.
It's an interesting history to read up on.
There’s no certain way to confirm if a theater knife was genuinely used in WWII.
Is it authentic? No one can say for sure.
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greenlakesales
·1 year agoI have seen that mark on Military issued dinnerware. My guess would be that the handle was made by a bored soldier or sailor with a blade borrowed from the mess hall. Maybe a Machinist Mate on a shop. The handle looks machined.
newatlantean
OP1 year agoThank you to all for your replies, yes it makes great sense that this is probably a navy mess knife blade with a custom handle. I had thought it could be a letter opener, but the blade was stout and sharp. The handle is like nothing I have ever seen before. I love historical stuff like this, even if it is low value. Thanks to all for taking the time.
fire4jewel
·1 year agois it 2 pieces, as the blade being one piece and the handle another? If it is 2 pieces, maybe a Military knife blade with a Homemade handle.
Long tours on ships, back in the day could lead to boredom, so maybe someone got creative......maybe??
annadryl
·1 year agoIt looks too short to be useful except for maybe as a table or kitchen paring knife.
roccotacodad54
·1 year agoI don't believe it's military issue. May a private purchase by a soldier.
Blade length for a fixed blade is awfully short and overall fit and finish is pretty rough to be military issue.
striper5162
·1 year agoLooks like a theater made knife probably made in a machine shop on board a Navy ship…