World War II Database

Country	United States
Type	Blade
Length	171 mm

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

The United States Army introduced the M3 fighting knives in Mar 1943 to replace the Mark 1 knucklebuster-dagger fighting knives that were made starting in 1918. The M3 design was simple and each knife used as little strategic material as possible. Aerial Cutlery Company, Camillus Cutlery Company, H. Boker & Company, Imperial Knife Company, Kinfolks Incorporated, PAL Cutlery Company, Robeson (ShurEdge) Cutlery Company, Utica Cutlery Company, W. R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company, and others. M3 knives were initially issued to troops, particularly of elite units such as paratroopers and Rangers, who previously were not issued standard bayonets; however, as greater quantities became available by late 1943, distribution became much wider within the United States Army, including the United States Army Air Forces. In Aug 1944, production of the M3 knives ceased, having been made obsolete by their successors, M4 bayonets, which became standardized in Jun 1944. A total of 2,590,247 M3 knives were produced between 1943 and 1944.

Source: Wikipedia

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