M2 Paratrooper Knife

Gentlemen: I need your help. Specifically, (1) the approximate value of an M2 knife in 95% condition with original lanyard and (2) the best place to sell it. I bought it over 40 years ago and it was new in the wrap. I lent it to my girlfriend at college and she let another girl use it to slice up an orange. Needless to say that was not a good thing as she did not wipe it down. So... it has one small pit patch on the obverse side and some frosting on the reverse. I eventfully forgave her after 42 years of marriage! Back to the knife. It has imitation black stag scales. The bail is present. The obverse ricasso has: Geo Schrade / Knife Co. Inc/ B'P'T Conn. The reverse ricasso has: PRESTO / PAT. JAN30-40 / MADE IS USA. The spring is robust and everything works as if it were new. I would post photos but my experience in photographing highly polished blades has not been good. Appreciate your help, Regards,

Have a look on the web what they are going for then go to classifieds on this site and place a WTS ad.

If you are talking about the orange handled button knife, there were multiple makers. Camillus, Schrade Walden, Loban Smyth. The Loban Smyth being the lowest quality in my opinion. They were accepted in 1957. New condition sell in the $100-$125 range. Used and weaker springs go down from there. There is also a WW2 brown handled example. They sell in the $250+ range.

These are banned on Ebay because they are switchblades. Gunbroker allows you to sell them. The classified here is another option. Make sure your buyer checks his local rules.

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Originally Posted by dt1950

It has imitation black stag scales.

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He says black, I think he means brown...they didn't even make them in "Black" did they?

Just amazing what you learn on this site both BAR Jim and F4 Jim. I've had a well used and abused red handled one in my bench tool box since Pontius was a pilot and never even thought about what it was - or even where it came from!

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

I've had a well used and abused red handled one

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One of these press button ones? That must have come from a US troop back when you were drinking Scotch like water and trading uniform bits for stuff...

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

He says black, I think he means brown...they didn't even make them in "Black" did they?

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If I remember correctly, the painted ones were black.
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Originally Posted by gsimmons

the painted ones were black.

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OK then, so these are the metal handle ones...those are one piece. The others that are like a bone or horn handle aren't painted...are they?

The picked bone handle was not painted.

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Originally Posted by gsimmons

The picked bone handle was not painted.

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Right...

From the M. H. Cole book number III.

Developed in late 1940 for parachute jumpers. Fifty were ordered from Schrade Cutlery Co. for testing. It was adopted in Dec 1940 as Knife, Pocket, M2.

Style#1 Stamped "Schrade Cut Co. Walden N.Y. Has genuine bone handles. Blade is 3 1/8", overall 7 14".

Style #2 & #3 Are exactly the same knife except #3 being a larger copy of #2. Both have metal handles painted black. #2 has a 3" blade 7 1/8" O.A. #3 has a 3 3/4" blade and is 8 3/4" O.A. Both are stamped Presto, made in USA obverse Geo. Schrade Bridgeport Conn.

Style #4 Stamped Pronto Colonial. Smooth black plastic handles. Blade 3" O.A. 7 1/8". This is probably not Gov issue as it appears light and flimsy.

Style #5 Black imitation bone handles. 3 1/8" blade 7 1/4" O.A. stamped Schrade Walden N.Y. U.S.A.

Style #6 MC-1 designed in 1957 adopted 1958. Bright orange plastic handles. 3 1/8" blade, second hook shroud cutting blade, 7 1/4" O.A. Marked Schrade Walden N.Y. U.S.A.

Style#6 MC-1 Bright orange plastic handles. Marked Camillus New York U.S.A.

Not from the Cole book. Third maker.

Style #6 MC-1 This knife was made from early 1987 to early 1988. The knife had a 3 1/8" clip point blade marked "LOGAN/SMYTH/VENICE, FL./ U. S. A." with an additional unmarked shroud line hook cutting blade. Bright orange plastic handles and a staple for a lanyard complete the knife. Overall length was 7 1/4".

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I had an orange handled one issued to me in 1958 when I went to flight school. unfortunately they took it back when I washed out. Later when I went to Jump School & after I never saw one.
Sarge