rcmodel
Member in memoriam
After the M-1917 Bolo was declared obsolete early in WWII, the M-1942 18” Machete replaced it.
The one at the top is a USN MKI 24” machete. Also more commonly seen with a 26” blade.
It was made by Legitimus Collins, Co. and has a green horn handle.
(Green horn was obtained from Germany & South America.)
As such, only the earliest Collins military machetes will be found with green horn handles.
The middle one is a U.S. M-1942 18” Machete.
It is blade marked LEGITIMUS COLLINS & Co. 1945.
It has a black plastic handle and came to me in a O.D. green canvas sheath marked U.S. HOYT 1944.
The bottom one is a Vietnam era U.S. Ontario Knife Co. marked blade.
The self-sharpening soft plastic scabbard is marked OKAW – 1967.
M-1942 machete & scabbard:
M-1942 blade & sheath markings:
Vietnam era machete blade mark:
Sharpener in carry position:
Sharpener swung against blade:
Throughout WWII machetes were made by Legitimus Collins, Queen City, Diston, True Temper, Clyde, Ontario, and Marsden, Sydney Australia, and possibly other companies.
Handles are found made from green horn, green plastic, black plastic, mottled brown plastic, and green painted hardwood.
They were issued and used by all branches of service and even included in the larger survival kits.
Note: On the surface, a 24” or 26” machete might seem like a good idea.
But in actual practice I find them unwieldy and tiring to use very long.
And they don’t really cut brush & such as well as the shorter 18” model, for me at least.
The 18” model is much easier for the common man to swing all day.
But I suppose it could have something to do with the fact I can't do one arm push-up's till they tell me to stop anymore either!
rc
The one at the top is a USN MKI 24” machete. Also more commonly seen with a 26” blade.
It was made by Legitimus Collins, Co. and has a green horn handle.
(Green horn was obtained from Germany & South America.)
As such, only the earliest Collins military machetes will be found with green horn handles.
The middle one is a U.S. M-1942 18” Machete.
It is blade marked LEGITIMUS COLLINS & Co. 1945.
It has a black plastic handle and came to me in a O.D. green canvas sheath marked U.S. HOYT 1944.
The bottom one is a Vietnam era U.S. Ontario Knife Co. marked blade.
The self-sharpening soft plastic scabbard is marked OKAW – 1967.
M-1942 machete & scabbard:
M-1942 blade & sheath markings:
Vietnam era machete blade mark:
Sharpener in carry position:
Sharpener swung against blade:
Throughout WWII machetes were made by Legitimus Collins, Queen City, Diston, True Temper, Clyde, Ontario, and Marsden, Sydney Australia, and possibly other companies.
Handles are found made from green horn, green plastic, black plastic, mottled brown plastic, and green painted hardwood.
They were issued and used by all branches of service and even included in the larger survival kits.
Note: On the surface, a 24” or 26” machete might seem like a good idea.
But in actual practice I find them unwieldy and tiring to use very long.
And they don’t really cut brush & such as well as the shorter 18” model, for me at least.
The 18” model is much easier for the common man to swing all day.
But I suppose it could have something to do with the fact I can't do one arm push-up's till they tell me to stop anymore either!
rc
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