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Camillus U.S.N. Mk2 Fighting Knife

ByAnyMeansNecessary

ByAnyMeansNecessary

Joined
Aug 12, 2023
Messages
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I'm not a militaria or knife expert so please bear with me.

Feel free to steer me in the right direction if anything I say isn't correct and fill in the gaps with what I may be missing/leaving out.

It is my understanding that Camillus made an extremely large quantity of fighting knives for the US Navy and the Marine Corps during WWII. Even more so than Ka-Bar.

So many that the US Navy ended the contract after WWII and did not contract the production of any knives for approximately 20 years or so.

Does that mean that Sailors and Marines were issued these WWII era knives during Vietnam?

And if so, if you run across one in a pawn shop, eBay, gun show, etc. is there a way to distinguish whether the knife was issued and used during the Vietnam era or WWII era.

I've seen some that have the unstamped leather sheath and I've seen some with the polymer type sheath, both were purported to be Vietnam era issue.

The ones I've seen have no markings on the blade itself or ricasso but do have "U.S.N. Mark2" above the blade on the right side of the guard and "Camillus N.Y." under the blade on the bottom of the guard.

Just curious, other than provenance, is there a way to distinguish between a WWII issued knife and a Vietnam issued knife?

Thanks in advance.

Also for full disclosure I may post this elsewhere to get maximum feedback. Maybe a militaria forum or something.
 
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In the 1960s, these knives were offered as mail order for $5 or so in gun magazines . . .and hard to believe now, firearms too.

I had several of th Mk-2 and one very long WW-I bayonet. I lusted after a Winchester trench gun and an Egyptian military Remington Roling Block, but at age 14, just couldn't pull together the $25 or so.
 
The "fighting" or "Combat" knives are neat to own for sure.

I am on the look out for WW-II era "engineers" knives and the latter model "Demo" as issued to the Marines. These are the Boy Scout type pocket utility , generally with blade punch can opener and cap lift/screw driver. The "engineer" models have jigged bone handles while the "demo" are all metal. Any one knife may be well over 90 years old now. Looking for USMC issued knives.

One aspect of these pocketknives that I find attractive is their connection with my father's war. Another is the attention to this minor logistics detail that they represent . . .someone somewhere thought to supply our warfighters (and those who support them) with this little pocket tool to be used in the myriad acts of every day living while at war.

Millions were made so they can still be had. I could have one of each variant this week if I would just spend the money. But I won't. I'll keep my eyes out for the right knife in good enough condition for the right price.
 
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