Made in USA Army Utility knives

[Rifleman]

According to Mike Silvey's book the bone handled utility knives marked Made in USA are WWII vintage.What about this one that has black plastic handles?Post war?The plastic has shrunk a lot over the years.

[elbertson]

If I'm not mistaken, I believe that style of can opener pretty much became obsolete in 1945. That isn't to say no one used that style after that, but I doubt it dates to too much later than that.

[Miller Bro's]

It is war time production, there was a shortage of bone during the war years and plastic was used.

Also as Elbertson mentioned, they switched to the safety style opener in 1946

I have one of these that has bone on one side and black plastic on the other side, it came this way and was not replaced. I guess they used up every last piece of bone before they switched to plastic

[Rifleman]

Thanks folks.Then I guess these would be WWII production also?They have plastic handles.I have several that have bone scales.Blades marked Imperial.