MD-USN utility knife

Joined
May 24, 2007
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59
Question for the pros--When did Camillus stop making the M.D.-U.S.N.knife? Got a bone stag with steel liners, but tang stamp is a 3 line indicating post 1946. Does NOT look like it's been repaired with a newer blade. Sorry, camera won't take close-ups.
 
Did that already. I thought steel liners meant WWII vintage but tang stamp looks to be post 1946, after the war. Or were steel liners also used after WWII for a while?
 
Question for the pros--When did Camillus stop making the M.D.-U.S.N.knife? Got a bone stag with steel liners, but tang stamp is a 3 line indicating post 1946. Does NOT look like it's been repaired with a newer blade. Sorry, camera won't take close-ups.

The description of your knife is consistent with WWII manufacture, even the 3-line maker mark. The notion that the 3-line maker mark indicates post-1946 manufacture has recently been called into question by myself and two significantly more knowledgeable and well-respected collectors (Frank Trzaska and Garry Cunningham).

You can read our conversation and review photos of other 3-line maker marked U.S.N. Camillus knives in this thread on the U.S. Militaria Forum - http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=83322

Tim
 
Thank you tsellati !! I did not know when the safety can opener was introduced. I also have a bone stag utility with brass liners, old style "u" can opener, NO sheild, and three line tang stamp. I'm guessing then by what your reference said, that would put it about late 1944-early 1945. Sound about right??
 
Thank you tsellati !! I did not know when the safety can opener was introduced. I also have a bone stag utility with brass liners, old style "u" can opener, NO sheild, and three line tang stamp. I'm guessing then by what your reference said, that would put it about late 1944-early 1945. Sound about right??

Yes, I would agree with a late '44 - early '45 manufacture date.

Tim
 
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