The toughest A-2 knives to identify are those that got sent back to the factory for refinish and had the Screw type handle fasteners removed, got freshly coated then hole type fasteners in place of the screw type.
This has also happened with INFI knives, but the hole type handle fasteners are already used to identify INFI knives.
While all Battle Mistresses are INFI the others can be suspect if the history of ownership is not known.
The Quilted handles if original are a good sign, but never got put on the Straight Badger to my recollection.
For the rest, either a good history or sent to the factory for re-sharpening is the best way to make sure.
There are A-2 knives of which there is no doubt that they are A-2, Blued handle backs and some Logos, Bird beaks for example.
When I was a dealer I was told by Dave Roberson(VP Sales) that there were Smooth Bolt INFI knives.
There are lots of Slotted screw INFI knives, I think more slotted knives than Hole type fasteners in the Straight Handled knives of the time.
