Ordinance Stamp on Camillus M3 (2-pin)

[Crooked_Lumpy]

Hey guys, I literally just joined 2 minutes ago, and have not had a chance to sift through all of the threads here to see if this has already been covered somewhere...

I have a guard stamped camillus and it looks correct to me for the most part except for the ordinance stamp, which looks very deep and not very detailed to me. Are there legitimate M3's with stamps like this? any information would be greatly appreciated.

-- Lumpy

 

[Crooked_Lumpy]

It doesnt look like the picture worked, here is a link to it:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/64316895@N05/

-- Lumpy

 

[Crooked_Lumpy]

Also, Did the pins go through both sides, or should they only be visible from one?


-- Lumpy

 

[sac troop]

The pins go thru and are visible from both sides. Ordinance stamps do vary. More pictures of the knife may help.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/970451-Camillus-Military-blades

 

[CAMCO]

The original M3's made by Camillus during WWII have 2 pins through the butt cap. Reproduction M3's made during the 1990's have only 1 pin.

Tom Williams

 

[Crooked_Lumpy]

Thanks for the info, and that is a nice collection you have there sac troop.

Here are some more photos:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/64316895@N05/


-- Lumpy

 

[sac troop]

Thanks Lumpy,
I don't consider myself an expert in IDing M3's, it's one of those that I tend to look three times and then wonder if this is the really good fake I can't spot. That being said everything in your pictures tells me that it looks correct. The location and size of the stamping of Camillus on the guard is another area that is different in the later made Camillus M3.
Heres a link to a page that shows lots of M3 reproductions for comparison.
http://usmilitaryknives.com/m3.htm

I also really like the period correct M8 scabbard with the early short webbing.