WW2 Robeson Mk2 knife question

[alpha33]

Counting the Robeson USMC Mk2 as one, I think there were 3 different types of USN Mk2's. Can anyone verify how many types of USN Mk2s' Robeson made during WW2? I'm only concerned with the WW2 Robeson Mk2 knives. Thanks

 

[Choctaw Dan]

Robeson Shuredge/Robeson Cutlery Company made Mark II's for the Navy, marked USN. They made Mark II's for the Marine Corps, marked USMC. That was all of their Mark II's, other than for variations in the locations of the markings. The early ones were marked on the blade, while the later ones were marked on the guard.

BTW, The Robeson USMC-marked Mark II is the rarest of all WWII Mark II's.

There were four WWII Mark II manufacturers, and all of them made both the USN- and the USMC-marked ones. They were Camillus Cutlery, the Ka-Bar Division of Union Cutlery, Pal Blade Company, and Robeson Shuredge. Camillus and Ka-Bar made the greatest number of them, followed by Pal, and Robeson made the fewest.

 

[alpha33]

Counting the Robeson USMC Mk2 as one, I think there were 3 different types of USN Mk2's. Can anyone verify how many types of USN Mk2s' Robeson made during WW2? I'm only concerned with the WW2 Robeson Mk2 knives. Thanks

First, Thanks Choctaw Dan.
Second, This is what I think I know....
1st variation/type- "USMC" blade marked, w/red & black spacers on either end of grip.,
2nd variation/type- "USN" blade marked, w/red & black spacer on the cross guard end of grip.,
3rd variation/type- "USN MARK 2" blade marked w/no red or black spacers on either end of grip.,
4th variation/type- "USN Mk2 and RCC marked cross guard.,
I guess what I should have asked was, " are there any other variations of the USN Mk2 besides these four ?

 

[Choctaw Dan]

I'm more of a generalist; I never got that far down into the details. My USMC-marked one has the red & black spacers. So did the only other one I've ever held in my hands.

Generally speaking, those with the colored spacers are early-manufacture. The unique thing about Robeson Mark II's is the noticeably thinner handle, particularly on the later ones. They can easily be identified by that trait.

 

[alpha33]

"I'm more of a generalist; I never got that far down into the details. My USMC-marked one has the red & black spacers. So did the only other one I've ever held in my hands."

According to my list posted above, I have a type 1 and a type 2, both with nice original sheaths. I'm working on the other two types now.
My USMC Mk2 has a four groove handle. I've only ever seen two others with four grooves. Every other Mk2 (of any manufacture) I've seen has five. Could you post a pic or two of the entire knife and sheath? Varieties Varieties Varieties. Thanks again, Alpha33 out.........................

 

[Choctaw Dan]

Oh, and the other thing is that the early Robesons were blued.

 

[alpha33]

Just curious how much interest there is here on this forum for WW2 fighting knives ie., the Mk2 knife and sheath varieties? I have several (Robeson USMC, Robeson USN and Pal RH 37) and can't seem to find a good place to settle down.

 

[Choctaw Dan]

A alpha33 I have a great interest in them. My father brought some knives home from the ETO in 1945, and gave several to me. That sparked my interest, so I began collecting mostly US military WWII knives around the age of 13 or so. I began seriously collecting in the late 1980's and have a fairly decent collection. Oddly, Mark II's were never at the top of my list, although I do have a couple of the more rare ones and some "oddball" ones as well.

Here's a first-production-run Camillus USN-marked Mark II, with the so-called "screw pommel." I'll not bore you with a story that you already know.





Here are a couple of "odd-ball" Mark II's. First, a blade-marked USMC Camillus with a Pal RH-36 handle:





Next, a "SOG Knife" that's actually a Camillus Mark II:

 

[alpha33]

Nice pieces. I working on getting either my "PC" or my phone to co-operate with pictures. Jeesh

 

[knarfeng]

Nice pieces. I working on getting either my "PC" or my phone to co-operate with pictures. Jeesh

As a registered user, you can post pictures using a picture hosting site. I use Imgur, but there are others. Once you have uploaded a picture to the hosting site, copy the web address of the picture. Note: picture web addresses must end in .jpg or .gif

Then go to your post and click the image tool on the toolbar next to the smiley tool. Click the link icon in the popup. (Looks like a chain.) Paste the picture address into the window. Then click the INSERT button.

 

[rddp]

Old fixed blade .....U.S WW2 Utica M3 with M8 scabbard by B.M. Co , GI issue canteen and Musette bag my Father carried from Utah Beach through France - Belgium and into Germany . Third Army 752 FA Batt.