can anyone tell me about this camillus?

[sidvicious]

I've looked up USN MARK 2 camillus knives online, and practically every example i find, the writing is on the hilt and not the blade, however on mine, the writing is on the blade itself. I've read that the originals had the writing on the blade, but that there were other reissues as well with writing on the blade.
can anyone identify this for me and tell me what i've got? and if it's a good find?

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/441/dsc02944kh.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/402/dsc02943m.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/707/dsc02928xr.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/842/dsc02929ny.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/268/dsc02937w.jpg/

 

[sac troop]

It’s the earlier WW2 Camillus. They had a variety of ways they were marked. For a reference of the differences I would recommend a copy of the book “Best of U.S. MILITARY KNIVES BAYONETS & MACHETES BY M.H. COLE, Edited by MICHAEL W. SILVEY”. The book hasn’t gone out of print yet so it’s still available for a reasonable price. Once books like this go out of print the price sky rockets. So forewarned is forearmed.

Some examples of U.S.N. marked knives. (Camillus made similar knives marked U.S.M.C.)

The Government didn’t make any new contracts for Mark 2 type knives after WW2 until 1960. Camillus’s next contract for Mark 2 knives started shortly thereafter. The Camillus knives correct for the early 60’s to sometime in 1974 were marked this way;

late in 1974 Camillus dropped the (N.Y.) from the second line of the printing. These knives are often called “Post Vietnam Knives”. While the historically minded would correctly point out that the War did not end until April 30th 1975. The U.S. was not sending much of anything regarding equipment and personal there for the last few years of the War.
The post WW2 knives were not marked with, (U.S.N.) or (U.S.M.C.). While these knives were still primarily used by the Navy and the Marine Corps they were, (post WW2) available for all branches of the service. It wasn’t unheard of for a member of the Army to carry one of these knives in Vietnam.

You will also see Mark 2 knives with the following mark on the blades ricasso.

This style stamp wasn’t used by Camillus during the time of the Government contracts for the Mark 2 knives. However it maybe a product that a service person was able to obtain through the PX system as a personal purchase item.

Just a thought this thread maybe better moved to the Camillus Collectors sub-forum for more expert replies?

 

[wildmanh]

The Camillus collectors forum: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/695-Camillus-Collector-s-Forum may also be able to give you more information.