USGI M3 or a just a repro ?

Dear Collectors,
is this edged weapon a real USGI M3 ever used by US Army or is it just a repro or a possible fake ?
There are no markings on its blade or on its hilt.
It came with an original US M8A1 scabbard.

Thank You in advance.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../11/7opv-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../11/zbf2-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../11/l0d9-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../11/7jvh-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../11/3lfo-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../11/dhhs-1.jpg

Outside my area of expertise by a large margin but I would think with no markings, it is not US issue.

Handle looks like it was loosely designed on the bayonet style handle. Never seen one like it before.

You' re right, Aragorn243.
An Italian bud gave a quick look and searched in his books, he told me it should be a German combat knife, Herbertz NATO Military Mod. 1003 ...

That's the way Eickhorn fastens their handles. It's just based on a number of successful parts, assembled into a serviceable weapon. Real, just not an M3...

I found this thread
Need help! Please help identify, possibly german combat knife
and the bayonet-style combat knife seems to be the same I have bought ...

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ifypossi-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ifypossi-1.jpg

US M7-LE - Eickhorn Solingen Limited Here's their M7, which resembles the construction, and if you look at their daggers you'll find one similar. I still think maybe a discontinued model. Maybe a quick message to them would sort this out...

Thank you, browningautorifle.
Good idea, I just sent them an email.

---------- Post added at 11:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:28 PM ----------

This model should be probably new version
Recon Force - Eickhorn Solingen Limited

I wonder. I'm sure I saw this other one in the past from them. Wonder why no one else has jumped in here? Others must have seen these...

the M3 was made with leather grips , its a repop ,

Quote:

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Originally Posted by A square 10

the M3 was made with leather grips

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That part we got...now we're just wondering if it was by Eikhorn. Check the link, you'll see what were looking at.

the serations are missing ....but its very similar i see

Eickhorn-Solingen red my query email but they did nt answer yet ...

Finally we came to a solution !
I had posted here BladeForums.com
and makandr, a Russian expert of European blades stated it is a Eickhorn M3 commercial version dated 1970

Thanks again to all the participants to this thread.

Great...that's about what we figured then. Outdated pattern and dropped probably because it didn't market particularly well, or was part of an order that's long since past.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

Great...that's about what we figured then. Outdated pattern and dropped probably because it didn't market particularly well, or was part of an order that's long since past.

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True. You pointed me to Eickhorn, the correct brand of the blade.
Thank you again, browningautorifle.

BTW
Heickhorn-Solingen did not answer yet to my email. I wonder if they will ever do that.

The official answer from Heickhorn-Solingen.

Quote:

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Dear Fabrizio,
that is the M3 combat knife ,but the year I can not tell you.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen / Best regards
Markus K.
Vertriebsleiter/Sales Manager

Eickhorn-Solingen Ltd.
Kolumbusstr. 6 - D-42655 Solingen Germany

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Great...very distinct maybe on that...

Indeed.

I have one ! I bought it from then Sherwood International now they are called Northridge . I bought it back in the early 80s at their store in Northridge Calif. . They are a German made M-3 made by Eikorn ( sp ?) they had a line Bayonets also. That was a neat store back then before the internet came out . I remember almost buying a Russian AK Mag pouch for a 100.00 bucks !
I still have mine on a Harness somewhere in some pile of Web Gear . That is still a neat store as those who frequent Calif. Gun Shows will tell you. They always have a neat selection of WWII parts.

Hi kosmolinekid,
Thanks for posting.
Can you please remember the exact scabbard it came with ?
I bought it with an USGI M8A1 scabbard but I ordered at ebay.com a M8A1 scabbard with "Germany" markings, I wonder if it is the proper one ...

I know Northridge, I bought some items from them at ebay.com

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...w60_3JPG-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo..._3JPGrtn-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...3JPGrtnc-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...3JPGrtnc-1.jpg

German Eickhorn U s M8 M8A1 Scabbard Sheath for U s WWII 1980s Bayonet | eBay

:thup:

Yes I remember as I still have the knife in fact I'm holding it now . It is in the first photo you have shown. It is of Black Plastic with a square hole in the bottom. It is not the OD M8A1 these I think were for their M-16 bayonets .

Thanks again, kosmolinekid. :thup:
I owe you a beer https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...smallgif-1.jpghttps://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...smallgif-1.jpg