I posted this knife a while back. It was my first "KA-BAR" purchase.
Below my photos is a reference to another knife on a Military forum. That knife was 100% chrome plated.
If you look closely at the photos of my knife you can see where the blade has been ground and some chrome has remained between the cutting edge and fuller. Chrome is worn off the tip. Everywhere else there is chrome.
I think this may be a 1944 version.
Original post: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=111056
Hello Warren,
Camillus did indeed make a chrome plated model like yours during World War Two. It was a Camillus model 5684 Q19. The knives were made in 3/14/1944 and modeled after the then current Q3 offering having the thin pinned on butt. Other then the finish the knife was the identical twin of the Parkerized version. The additional steps were:
Blade
Glaze Blood Groove
Extra Good Hand Glaze including backs and ends
Machine Buff
Chrome Plate @ .07 each
Hand buff after plating
Butt
Glaze both sides
Buff (Hand)
Plate @ .01 each
Hand Buff after Plating
Guard
Grind and Glaze sides
Machine Buff
Hand Buff
Plate @ .01 each
Hand Buff
Hand assemble with 1 7/8 x .120 pin
The knives were samples made for use by the U.S. Navy Advanced Base unit.
Samples: 1 dozen Camillus Cutlery Corp
1/2 dozen New York
Total numbers made that we know of are 18. How many made in total I have never found the numbers.
They also made a 5684 Q20 that has not been written about before... Not that I can remember writing about anyway...
It was chrome plated as the above knife except it had an M3 type grip and an M3 butt with a single pin retainer.
Camillus made a large amount of prototypes and samples for the military during the war. The intent to use parts on several knives was attempt to speed production and save money, it was the military that did not cooperate, branch rivalry is distinctly possible. Even in the common all metal GP Pocket knife the Army wanted one different from the Marine Corps in more then just the grip stamping. They changed the blade layout.
With all that said there is no way of telling if your knife is original or made a few years ago, there is noting to distinguish it as a prototype as made by Camillus. I can tell you they are very uncommon to run across.
All the best
Frank Trzaska
Below my photos is a reference to another knife on a Military forum. That knife was 100% chrome plated.
If you look closely at the photos of my knife you can see where the blade has been ground and some chrome has remained between the cutting edge and fuller. Chrome is worn off the tip. Everywhere else there is chrome.
I think this may be a 1944 version.
Original post: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=111056
Hello Warren,
Camillus did indeed make a chrome plated model like yours during World War Two. It was a Camillus model 5684 Q19. The knives were made in 3/14/1944 and modeled after the then current Q3 offering having the thin pinned on butt. Other then the finish the knife was the identical twin of the Parkerized version. The additional steps were:
Blade
Glaze Blood Groove
Extra Good Hand Glaze including backs and ends
Machine Buff
Chrome Plate @ .07 each
Hand buff after plating
Butt
Glaze both sides
Buff (Hand)
Plate @ .01 each
Hand Buff after Plating
Guard
Grind and Glaze sides
Machine Buff
Hand Buff
Plate @ .01 each
Hand Buff
Hand assemble with 1 7/8 x .120 pin
The knives were samples made for use by the U.S. Navy Advanced Base unit.
Samples: 1 dozen Camillus Cutlery Corp
1/2 dozen New York
Total numbers made that we know of are 18. How many made in total I have never found the numbers.
They also made a 5684 Q20 that has not been written about before... Not that I can remember writing about anyway...
It was chrome plated as the above knife except it had an M3 type grip and an M3 butt with a single pin retainer.
Camillus made a large amount of prototypes and samples for the military during the war. The intent to use parts on several knives was attempt to speed production and save money, it was the military that did not cooperate, branch rivalry is distinctly possible. Even in the common all metal GP Pocket knife the Army wanted one different from the Marine Corps in more then just the grip stamping. They changed the blade layout.
With all that said there is no way of telling if your knife is original or made a few years ago, there is noting to distinguish it as a prototype as made by Camillus. I can tell you they are very uncommon to run across.
All the best
Frank Trzaska
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