A scarce unmarked (sterile) M3 knife with original M6 scabbard which is also unmarked. Knife is of the early blade marked style with black spacers and peened pommel. Scabbard is an M6 Barwood which is also unmarked. The blade doesn’t show any trace of having been parkerized and machining marks are visible, there is evidence of an old sharpening which is most notable at tip. Grip has 8 grooves and is in very nice condition. Scabbard is pliable and in very good condition just showing expected age. The soldier that carried this knife decided to fold the belt attachment loop down and use a piece of leather shoelace to hold it in place.
In the comprehensive study of M3 knives “US and Allied Military Knives M3’s & M4’s” by Walters, the author states that these are a wartime product made for a specific reason, possibly OSS use. He also states that “Sterile black spacer Imperial M3’s are rarely seen.”
