The M3 Page
This one is also rampant with reproductions. In the past M3 knives were extremely hard to come by, prior to the release of thousands of them in the 1990's. These knives are very well marked and exhibit variations that all collectors adore. Simply put the M3 was made for the collector to chase. With that in mind we find the knives were reproduced around the world as well as in this country. Here are a few from overseas to look out for.
All the above are German made based on the M3 design and easy to spot
This one is a little closer to the typical M3 but marked to the French
Foreign Legion. Still easy to spot.
Now how about this marking... Close enough to catch the unknowing thinking
they just discovered a new variation. This one will sneak up and get you...
Here is the same knife as the above but it has been "aged" a bit
by darkening the handle. The blade was left alone as "mint" blades
make collectors forget there own phone numbers. Be careful.
Here we have the US SEMS marked M6 scabbard. We receive questions quite often
on this one. No it is not a US military marking from WW II that has long been
undiscovered! We have long believed they were made in Germany but the Italian
knives come with them. Confused... we are.
Here we have an M8A1 scabbard that was made in Japan to be sold
commercially. Easy to tell from the real thing, these only fool beginners.
This is one of our favorites, bet you didn't know Ka-Bar made an M3...
well they didn't. This one is pure fantasy. It uses one of the Ka-Bar 6 inch
hunting knife handles and a late model M7 type blade with the arc'ed back cut.
Ripe for the pickin's.
Here is another fantasy piece we like, uses the Mk2 handle, what is not to
like! The odd part of this one is the marking on the cross-guard, one we have
not seen before. Do you recognize it??
Our sincere thanks to Bill Cogger for the photo comparisons of the Camillus Reproduction M3 to an original Blade marked version. The surest way to tell is the two pins in the pommel of an original and the single pinned reproduction. We have seen reproductions with a second pin added but it is so far off center it looks pretty ridiculous and very noticeable. We hope to have the Guard marked version up next.
Again we want to thank Bill Cogger for the side by side photos of a WW II era Camillus Guard Marked M3 and a current reproduction Guard Marked M3. Again note the two pins versus one in the repro.
Here is a new one, easy to pick out when you know what to look for. This
has been aged
Here we have a K.I. that has the markings engraved.
Here we have a M3 Case sideways marking that appears to be engraved.
This is a pretty obvious reproduction piece
This is a welded blade made from a real M3 or two.
A few engraved M3's made to raise the prices. Inspect the markings closely then read what they happen to say. Don't get excited and make a mistake.
Modern blade, engraved guard marking, pommel retention...
Modern made Case M3 with a bad stamping. Big bucks spent.
Just a clone M3 made for the market, not really hard to tell the difference in this one from the real thing.
This is a really bad fake stamping on an M4 bayonet.
The new Boker M3 Reproduction
M3 Fantasy Knife
M3 Ontario with guard upside down
M3 Engraved marking
M3 Boker Engraved markings
Case marking individually stamped
A little aging applied, good for us is was a sloppy job.
Guttman Cutlery Co. M3 reproduction
Don't know where they are coming from...
Currently available from IMA .
This one was buffed up and passed off as real on eBay.
Letter opener.
Unknown Manufacturer
Poor job of a fake
Three Pin Pommel!
Not a prototype submitted to the Ordnance Department by Case!