US
M3 Trench Knife or Fighting Knife (WW2)
Made only in 1943 and
1944, the M3 was designed for issue to troops not
otherwise equiped with a bayonet – as a close combat knife. It was
designed for rapid production with a narrow blued or parkerised 6.75"
spear-point blade (dagger) with a sharpened 3.5" secondary
edge.
In 1944, after the M1
CARBINE was modified to take a knife-type bayonet, the blade and
handle design of the M3 were incorporated into a new bayonet –
the US Bayonet M4.
M3 knives were
made by at least nine different makers in USA and it was designed to
replace the WW1 Mk1 Trench Knife. It was evaluated against the
Marine Corps 1219C2. Fighting Utility Knife - but the M3s
lower production costs persuaded the Smaller War Parts Corporation
Board to approve the cheaper M3
for quantity production.- It also replaced the OSS
Dagger in 1944.
Although
well made and balanced (it made a good throwing knife) – the M3 was
found to be not ideal for its designed 'close combat' use and was
less able to stand-up to rough military use like opening cans and
digging fox-holes. It was felt to be poor when used in a back-handed
slash and the 3.5" edge was not easy to sharpen.- The
Carbine-Bayonet
M4
replaced the M3 in August 1944 - making it the shortest production
record of any US Military knife – but 2,590,247 were recorded as
made.
M4 knife-bayonet on M1 CARBINE
The
M3 blade design continued in service as the M4, M5, M6, & M7
bayonets.
OSS
Dagger (Fairburn-Sykes)
The
F-S Fighting Knife became famous in WW2 when issued to the
British Commandos – It had a 6.5"(first pattern) or 7"(second
pattern) narrow blade designed to easily penetrate a ribcage.
Unfortunately, the OSS (Office of Strategic Services - later the CIA) manufacturing bid was one fifteenth the cost of the British Wilkinson-Sword price and the 20,000 built for the OSS in Connecticut were inferior, improperly tempered, and poorly made.
Unfortunately, the OSS (Office of Strategic Services - later the CIA) manufacturing bid was one fifteenth the cost of the British Wilkinson-Sword price and the 20,000 built for the OSS in Connecticut were inferior, improperly tempered, and poorly made.
- Nothing but the best for our boys eh?
After researching & writing 1,036 blogs I've got something NEW to try .. I've signed-up to Patreon. - In over five years I've not made one cent from this .. NOW you can send me a wee support $ - starting from $1. to get all this stuff from New Zealand - over a year that's nearly the price of one Shooting magazine. - Am I worth it?
https://www.patreon.com/user?u=16618870
No comments:
Post a Comment