The Bowie model

[steve99f]

The knife pictured below is not in hand. Can anyone give me an idea of the decade when it was made. I've searched a little and can't even say when they were introduced. The only marks on it that can be seen are the Case XX on the blade itself. TIA.

[zzyzzogeton]

Without detailed examination, it appears to be a rehandled WW2-era Case clone of the Collins #18 Pequeno Machete.

These knives were in the bailout bags of AAC and USN aircraft before and during the early stages of WW2. Collins couldn't make enough and authorized Case, Western and Kinfolks to make them.

These knives are falsely called V44s. The V44 was a fixed blade round-nosed machete made by Case as replacements for the Collins #18. V44 was a Case label on internal documentation. Cole incorrectly attributed the label to the Bowie style blades.

The sheath APPEARS to be a 1967 - 1977 dangler sheath made for the Western W49. A backside picture MIGHT help in narrowing that time frame. It may also NOT be a Western sheath but a copy-cat version.

[Gunsil]

Hi Steve, Wayne pretty much nailed it, re-handled Case WW2 era bail out knife in newer Western sheath.

[steve99f]

Wayne and Gene,

Thank you! I hadn't realized these went back to WW II and before. For the knife to be correct, what would the handle materials be, the black wood or polymer you see on newer ones from Case?

[zzyzzogeton]

The original handles were solid, 1 piece, black bakelite with 3 steel rivets.

The handles were molded with the tang slot and rivet holes pre-formed. The handles were slipped over the tang and the rivets installed. I don't know whether there was any glue involved during the handle assembly.

[steve99f]

Much appreciated Wayne, thank you.