Nord Sheaths for Mark II / BM CO. Victory Plastics

[Zemapeli]

These scabbards are so well made and durable, so often when you find them, they are oxidized. It is hard to find a mint NORD scabbard for a Mark II. They were paired with knives as they were issued, or floated through PX's in WWII. They are more robust, hold up to moisture and tropical conditions, and hold less acidic salt than leather.
Would anyone else like to see NORD scabbards remade? Maybe with a stainless steel for the metal collar, and a fiberglass reinforced polymer of some kind for the plastic?? I think these would make a great addition to the Kabar line. I wonder if the original casts and molds for the NORD sheaths are still out there floating around somewhere. Does anyone else like this style of sheath and would you buy a remake? I doubt this would ever happen.

The plastic sheaths, frequently called "NORD" sheaths from the NORD stamped on the steel throats (and was short for Naval Ordinance) were manufactured by Beckwith Manufacturing (the BM on the throat). The same process applied - all sheaths were sent to the Supply Centers and married up with the knives at shipping time. Although really the knives were in one container and the sheaths in another, to be issued as a set or individually as required.

Here is some history of Victory Plastics and Beckwith Manufacturing:
http://www.usmilitaryknives.com/bayo_points_6.htm

**[EDITING]

 

[sac troop]

IMHO a reproduction of the MKII sheath with the name KA-BAR stamped on the metal throat would be a cool item. I think there is a good reason we haven't seen this happen in the last 30 years though. I'm afraid it's not "tacti-cool" enough for many potential buyers for a manufacturer to commit it tooling up to make these. Certainly there are several off-shore sources for reproductions of the similar M8/M8A1 sheath, (which won't fit this pattern knife). So maybe there's still a reason to keep hope alive.
The last contract date I've found for this sheath was March of 1945, the original companies are long gone, I doubt that the original tooling still exists. Relatively speaking it's easier today to get tooling up, but still it's not free. Modern plastics used for injection molding are superior to the "tenite" resin used during WW2.
If someday these do become available I'll put my 70's vintage 1217 in one.

 

[Ruari]

I would definitely snap up a couple of these sheaths.

 

[GIRLYmann]

yes it would be very nice to be able to purchase a new replica to fit the F/U.
imo, i somehow think that a standard 'plastic" sheath of this sort
is way cooler and durable than anything in leather.
its too bad that no one has taken up the torch
in recreating this legacy scabbards.
i have a feeling it's become sort of a missed opportunity
to tool up and sell aftermarket generic scabbards
for the thousands if not millions of these generic knives.
Pretty grim and sad come to think of it...

 

[codycash]

I had a nice collection of surplus ones long ago, may still be in a box somewhere. They work well

 

[eveled]

This is a really great thread on these sheaths. I wanted to add this to keep the history all in one place. M8 Scabards marked PWH, are Vietnam era. Philadelphia Working Home for the blind. I'm left wondering if they had the equipment that was mothballed after WW2, and where it went from there.

 

[GIRLYmann]

Thanks for posting. Nice article.

 

[sac troop]

For those that don't know, the M8/M8A1 sheaths are made for the WW2 M3 trench knife and a series of bayonets starting with the M4 and ending with the M7. They should not be confused with the MKII or MK1 scabbards also of WW2. MKII and MK1's were only made during WW2, and the three aren't interchangeable.