PAL US WW2 USN Military Mark 1 RH 35 Fighting Knife w/ Leather Scabbard

[Kimzilla]

Hi All,

I'm far from a knife expert and I recently purchased this knife at auction and something just doesn't seem right about it to me. I'm hoping someone on here can make a determination if this knife is authentic, because I bid on it based on that. The blade seems to be painted with a dull gray paint and the markings are barely visible because of the paint, but I can make out USN on the one side and the other side does appear to have RH and what might be a 3 and a 5. I cannot figure out for the life of me why anyone would paint the blade and I'm not sure if I should try to get the paint off

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!!!

Kim

[eveled]

It’s been rehandled. The colored spacers are missing, the guard looks too thick. Is it aluminum? It should be steel. The sheath is not original
Here are pictures of my Dad’s knife I had on my phone.

[Kimzilla]

Thanks so much! That's what the husband thought too, but he's not exactly an expert either, so....

That's kind of a bummer, I was hoping the handle was just in EXCELLENT condition for its age, oh well.

Any idea why someone would paint the blade or any suggestions about trying to remove it? Or should I just leave it alone?

Thanks again!

[eveled]

The blade coating may be original. I have a NOS one I will check it.

IMG_20161022_143612779_zpsjz2sfezt.jpeg (52.42 KiB) Viewed 391 times

Under the wrapper it was covered in tar, I believe there is a gray phosphate? Coating under the tar. I will check my other ones.

[Kimzilla]

The blade coating may be original. I have a NOS one I will check it.

IMG_20161022_143612779_zpsjz2sfezt.jpeg

Under the wrapper it was covered in tar, I believe there is a gray phosphate? Coating under the tar. I will check my other ones.

It’s been rehandled. The colored spacers are missing, the guard looks too thick. Is it aluminum? It should be steel. The sheath is not original

IMG_3020.jpegIMG_3019.jpeg

The 18 y/o son called out the sheath, but I didn't mind that so much. I think the guard might be steel, because it is magnetic. I also see from your photos that yours is stamped MARK 1, whereas mine does not. So based on all of that, I think it's safe to say this is not authentic at all. I should've researched more on it but the seller didn't provide any close up photos anyway.

Thanks for your help. If that's your MARK 1 congratulations!!!

You're responding so fast I can't keep up! Every time I respond to you I see a new picture you put up I really appreciate your help. So maybe I shouldn't throw in the towel on this one just yet?

[Kimzilla]

It’s been rehandled. The colored spacers are missing, the guard looks too thick. Is it aluminum? It should be steel. The sheath is not original

IMG_3020.jpegIMG_3019.jpeg

I just checked the butt of the handle and that part is not magnetic, however, the guard is.

[eveled]

Here are some of my others. They have a gray coating that wears off. I think someone was trying to mimic the original finish. The pommel is zinc. It looks correct. The test of the knife does not.

[Kimzilla]

Thanks so much! Would you happen to know where I might find an authentic one for sale?

[eveled]

[eveled]

I found 5 of them to compare. 4 are marked the same, one of them is different. (My Dad’s I posted first). Is not marked RH35

Yours seems to be a mix between them.

[eveled]

I think your blade is original and might be a scarce variant but it has been tampered with. Likely the leather washers deteriorated and someone did a nice job replacing it.

Your sheath doesn’t match any of mine. I have 2 I believe are original and 4 reproductions. They are all different from each other. Yours has the correct looking small rivets, but too many of them. Also the USN phont is different than mine, But they were probably made by a lot of companies.

Interesting that it is a left hand sheath. A lot of these knives have left hand sheaths. It may be original, but it is just too good looking. I think its a good reproduction.

The USN MKI DECK KNIFE was made by at least 8 different companies. PAL was the most common one. They are relatively common. Easily found on Ebay. The nord fiberglass sheaths are harder to find but still available

[Kimzilla]

Thanks for all of that information. I bought this one from Ebay and I paid for what I thought was an original, meaning not tampered with at all. Luckily, they accept returns and I just got finished boxing it up. Thanks to you and all of the pictures & information that you so graciously provided me with I feel like I'm better equipped to spot a real one....maybe. I was hoping maybe you had one you'd like to sell, if so let me know

[eveled]

It’s a neat knife, but not original. Now that you know what to look for, I’m sure you will find a nice one.

Then you need a RH36, a MKII, & a MKIII. LOL.

[Kimzilla]

It’s a neat knife, but not original. Now that you know what to look for, I’m sure you will find a nice one.

Then you need a RH36, a MKII, & a MKIII. LOL.

Please explain and show examples! I still need to know what the average price range for a WWII MARK 1 is!

[eveled]

I don’t think I ever paid more than $100 for any of mine. But I was patient, and saw many of them sell for more. I’d say $150 is a fair price for a nice one, with a nord fiberglass sheath.

I’ll get pictures of my other USN knives tomorrow.

[Gunsil]

Kim, Ed's joshing you, PAL also made RH36, and MK2s and M3s. They go up in price along with the model number with mint blade dated M3 going well over a grand with proper sheath. For value, just look at them on ebay and go to "sold items" on the left toolbar and you will see what every one sold in thhe last 60 days actually sold for. As Ed says, the RH35 is the most common of the MK1s. I usually see at lest one at every gun and knife show I go to. I think you could get an unissued or like new one for $200 in the fiberglass sheath.

Ed, fine collection you have there!!

[eveled]

Thanks Gene. The PAL M3 is too rich for my blood. Plus my focus was always on USN knives.

I was actually talking about the USN MKIII. It was made by Ontario.

You can’t have a MKI & a MKII without a MKIII

[Kimzilla]

Kim, Ed's joshing you, PAL also made RH36, and MK2s and M3s. They go up in price along with the model number with mint blade dated M3 going well over a grand with proper sheath. For value, just look at them on ebay and go to "sold items" on the left toolbar and you will see what every one sold in thhe last 60 days actually sold for. As Ed says, the RH35 is the most common of the MK1s. I usually see at lest one at every gun and knife show I go to. I think you could get an unissued or like new one for $200 in the fiberglass sheath.

Ed, fine collection you have there!!

Thank you both for the tips!

[98src]

I think the knife is completely original including the sheath. I doubt anyone could rehandle that knife and make it look that good, The gray coating is just parkerizing and a little WD 40 and 4/0 will smooth it up.

[Kimzilla]

I think the knife is completely original including the sheath. I doubt anyone could rehandle that knife and make it look that good, The gray coating is just parkerizing and a little WD 40 and 4/0 will smooth it up.

Thanks for posting your thoughts on it. I wasn't sure what to make of it and after getting information from others on here I decided it was best not to keep it.

I ended up returning it to the seller on Ebay for a refund. They received it back yesterday and already refunded me. I'm not sure how you feel about the price I paid for it....$627 plus tax & shipping.

[Gunsil]

I think the knife is completely original including the sheath. I doubt anyone could rehandle that knife and make it look that good, The gray coating is just parkerizing and a little WD 40 and 4/0 will smooth it up.

RH 35 only came in the plastic sheath. Steel wooling parkerized knives only decreases their value. Knife is what it is and eveled is an expert on MK1s.

[Kimzilla]

I think the knife is completely original including the sheath. I doubt anyone could rehandle that knife and make it look that good, The gray coating is just parkerizing and a little WD 40 and 4/0 will smooth it up.

RH 35 only came in the plastic sheath. Steel wooling parkerized knives only decreases their value. Knife is what it is and eveled is an expert on MK1s.

I hope I did better this time around.

I got this one on Ebay for $150 and I used all of the knowledge that was gained here from you guys to make the determination that this one was probably legit.....
It has Vinny scratched into the back of the sheath, which may have been an issue for some buyers, but it actually was a plus as this was meant for my son and his name is Vincent It just arrived today, so

If you guys happen to have a chance to look it over, it'd be much appreciated

I still can't express enough how appreciative I was and still am for all of the help that you gave me with the last one.

This one was within the range that you said it should be, so if there is anything off with it I'm not going to lose it, I'll just have to keep looking!

[eveled]

You did better this time around, it’s definitely original. The handle looks good and tight. The colored washers aren’t cracked. A little worn from sharpening over the years, but that’s ok. Vinny must have liked that knife and kept it sharp. The sheath looks to be in great shape and is worth as much as the knife. I’m sure Vincent will love it.

[Dan In MI]

You did good with that one, methinks. Vincent oughta be really happy with it!

[Kimzilla]

Yes, Vincent is extremely happy with his gift It was meant to be his!