*USA, WW2, M3 Fighting Knife by Camillus with Original U.S. M8 Scabbard (B.M.Co.)*
A fully original Second World War U.S. M3 Fighting Knife manufactured by Camillus, marked on the crossguard “U.S. M3 / CAMILLUS”. The knife retains its correct factory-profile 6.75-inch spear-point blade with a well-preserved Parkerized finish showing only light age toning. The stacked leather washer grip remains complete with its lathe-turned grooves, and the steel pommel is securely pinned, bearing a visible flaming bomb ordnance stamp. The crossguard is tight and clearly marked.
The knife is housed in its wartime U.S. M8 scabbard produced by B.M.Co. (Beckwith Manufacturing Co.), the early pattern without the later M8A1 wire hanger. The fibre body carries the correct Victory Plastics mould and cavity stamp “VP / 28”, with its original olive-drab coating, and retains its original canvas web frog and functional retaining strap. Together, knife and scabbard form a complete and untouched wartime pairing.
Approx. Measurements: Blade - 16.2 cm. Overall - 28.6 cm.
Historical Note:
Introduced in March 1943 as a dedicated close-combat weapon for U.S. forces not equipped with bayonets—particularly airborne, Rangers, armoured crews, engineers, and assault troops—the M3 was produced for just seventeen months, from March 1943 to August 1944, making it one of the shortest-run U.S. edged weapons of the Second World War. Camillus was one of the principal wartime contractors, manufacturing approximately 402,909 knives.
The earliest M3s were blade-marked, but this was quickly abandoned due to stress failures, and production shifted to crossguard marking, as seen on this example—the standard Camillus format for most of the 1943–44 output. The M3 served widely in the Mediterranean and European theatres and continued in use post-war until stocks were exhausted.
The accompanying U.S. M8 scabbard was introduced in 1943 to replace the fragile M6 leather type. Early M8 scabbards, such as this one without the later wire belt hook, were issued throughout the main wartime period and are correct companions to mid-production M3 knives.
*Condition*
The knife shows clear and honest wartime use throughout. The blade retains its correct factory spear-point profile with a crisp, original Camillus grind and a strong surviving Parkerized finish. Only light age toning and minor superficial marks are present. The crossguard remains firmly fitted with the “U.S. M3 / CAMILLUS” marking still legible despite wear. The stacked leather grip is complete but heavily compressed and worn, with age-related shrinkage and gaps between some washers, giving it the characteristic appearance of a long-carried field example. The pinned steel pommel is secure and bears a visible flaming bomb ordnance stamp. The accompanying U.S. M8 scabbard is structurally sound, with the fibre body retaining its original olive-drab finish and showing service abrasions and handling wear. The canvas web frog exhibits pronounced staining, fraying, and rust to the hardware, yet remains intact, and the press-stud is still functional. Overall, this is a thoroughly authentic, strongly patinated M3 set with the unmistakable character of genuine wartime carry. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
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