Grab an Original M3 Trench Knife for Your Collection
The M3 trench knife is an edged tool manufactured by several companies and used by military personnel in various global conflicts throughout history. If you're looking to add a US M3 knife to your collection of cutlery, you can check out the new and secondhand options for sale at low-cost prices on eBay. Understanding some of the differences between M3 knife models can help you find the ones you might like.
How are M3 fighting knife blades treated?The M3 knife design is intended to service personnel who might not otherwise have a traditional bayonet. It is also a tool for those who need a weapon for close combat. Most manufacturers that made these knives for war efforts would treat the blades in various ways to offer protection and resilience to the steel. Here are a couple of the most common blade treatments you will see on an original M3 trench knife for sale on eBay:
- Parkerized - This method is intended to increase the corrosion resistance of an M3 fighting knife by using phosphate conversion to add a layer of chemicals to the surface of the blade.
- Blued - This treatment takes its name from the dark blue or black appearance of the M3 knife blade after an oxidization process.
Many of the M3 knives you see for sale on eBay come with additional items that you might find convenient or useful. Here are just some of the potential accessories you can get with your knife:
- Loop attachment - Some M3 knives have khaki loop attachments that you can use to help secure the tools parallel to your leg when it is sheathed.
- Wire hook - Although the M3 fighting knife is designed to stand on its own as a tool, many models have wire hooks that can turn them into bayonet attachments as well.
Since its original production in 1943 and throughout 1944, at least 11 companies have manufactured their own versions of the M3 fighting knife. Most knife models from any company adhere to the same design elements for the sake of simplicity. You can get unused and secondhand US M3 knives from different manufacturers of your choice. Some of the main companies to put out one of these knives are Case, PAL Cutlery, Ontario Knife Company, and Camillus. The various companies that produced these knives would stamp the blades or handles with their logos, and you may wish to purchase several M3 models from different companies at one inexpensive price.