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Comment by George R Naugle on February 15, 2023 at 8:36

Well, after due consideration I decided I had to know what was under the tape.  I removed it and found that the original handle material (probably leather ring-type) was totally gone, and the tang is rusted.  Now I am faced with having to do something about a handle.

Comment by George R Naugle on February 3, 2023 at 4:12

Kevin, thank you very much for your posts. It was my thought that this was something worth keeping as a little bit of history.  I wish I could know what tales this knife might tell if it could speak.  I was born in 1942, and have little memory of that great war, WWII.  I do remember ration stamps, blackout curtains, and a few other things.  When it ended, I was three years old.  I have much clearer memories of the Korean War.  Possibly this knife did service in one or the other.  It does look like it may have been through Hell, or something close to it.

 I have a neighbor who is also a good friend and hunting buddy and is a former marine.  When I showed him the knife, he asked that if I ever decided to part with it, could he have first chance at buying it.  I have no intention of selling this one, but it will go to him in the end.

Comment by Kevin D on February 2, 2023 at 19:39

I mis-spoke a little bit.  Or at least was not as clear as I should have been.

During the war, there were four manufacturers.  The fifth (Ontario) did not start producing the Mk2 until a fair bit later.

Comment by Kevin D on February 2, 2023 at 17:56

PAL acquired the cutlery division of Remington in January of 1941.  Your knife looks to be a Mark 2, and so was designed November of 1942 (first delivery of the knives was made by Camillus (who designed the knife) in March of 1943).  PAL was one of the five manufacturers of the Mk2 blades.  Most were USN Mark 2s, but as you know a few were ear-marked for the marine corp.  The stamping on the blade is indicative one of the earlier runs - on later runs the stamping was moved to the guard.

Congrats on becoming a steward of a piece of history!