Original Unissued U.S. WWII Navy USN Mark 1 PAL RH-35 Fighting Knife with USN MK1 Scabbard by B.M. Co

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a fantastic unissued "New Old Stock" condition example of the USN Mark 1 fighting knife, manufactured by the PAL Cutlery Company. It comes complete in the correct USN Mk1 Scabbard.

According to The Official Price Guide of Collector Knives by C Houston Price & Mark D Zaleysky, PAL was originally used as a trademark by the Utica Knife & Razor Company of Utica, NY from about 1924-1939. PAL marked knives of that era used blades imported from Germany, and the blades typically bore the word "Germany" as well. Another company using the name PAL was established in Chicago in 1934. This company was known as the Pal Blade Company of Chicago, and was started by Otto Kraus. In 1935 the two "PAL" companies merged into one, known simply as the PAL Blade Company, and opened a manufacturing facility in Plattsburg, NY. Around 1940 PAL purchased the cutlery division of the Remington Arms Company, including their existing stock of completed knives and knife parts.

While PAL was originally a manufacturer of pocketknives, after the Remington acquisition they expanded their range of products to include a variety of fixed blade knives as well. PAL received a number of US government knife contracts during World War II and produced thousands of combat knives during the war years, available in numerous different patterns. Pal went out of business in 1953.

The USN Mark 1 combat knife was produced by a variety of manufacturers during World War II and was issued to Navy personnel by the thousands. It had a 5 ¼" long blade and was patterned after typical hunting and side knives of the era. The subsequent Mark 2 knife had a longer 7" blade.

This particular example was manufactured by the PAL Cutlery Company and is clearly marked on the blades ricasso: RH (PAL) -35 / MADE IN U.S.A. on one side and U.S.N / MARK 1 on the other side. The knife is in good condition, still with the original arsenal grease on it. The finish on the blade is untouched, with just some oxidation on the factory ground edge. The hilt is composed of multiple thin leather washers, with the ones closest to the cross guard being of black, red, yellow and black plastic. This same multi-colored washer pattern occurs near the cast aluminum pommel cap as well. The grip is like new.

The scabbard is the early MK 1 version, very similar in construction to the M8 scabbard for the M3 fighting knife, with a thermoplastic impregnated cotton fabric body, metal throat, and canvas frog and securing strap. The scabbard is marked U.S.N. / MK. 1 on one side and NORD - 8114 B.M. CO 1/5 vp on the other.

Overall a fantastic unissued example of an iconic knife used in WWII. No collection of World War II US military knives is complete without a Mark 1, and this is the perfect opportunity to acquire one.

Dimensions:
Blade length: 5 1/4”
Blade Style: Clip-point "Bowie"
Overall length: 10 1/8”
Crossguard: 1 3/8”
Scabbard Length: 6" + Belt Frog