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ONTARIO Knife Co. Machete

Dug out a old Machete. Bought it, 'just' a few years ago at a army surplus store in St Cloud MN.

(How I wish I could go back in time !!!!!!)

One of the thousands they made for the U.S. Army, 18" blade, 23' OAL.

Anyway in researching this, found out relatively inexpensive.

But !, looking at the photos, I see this is marked differently.

Of the knowledgeable people here, (who know the finer points of collecting),

Any thoughts on date, considering the markings are different,

than the photos I have seen on the internet ?

Thanks for your time.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Steve Hanner on March 11, 2013 at 20:05

Well I will say the Ontario Knife company of today is much different than the Ontario Knife Company of 1899. Is that what you were seeing out there Tom? Because the machete under that brand today is much different!

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Permalink Reply by Tom Radde on March 11, 2013 at 21:32

Hi Steve,

Don't know. That is why I asked the collectors here about information. It seems the the co name is in a different place & font, than the photos I have seen on the internet. So perhaps their are some, 'Ontario Knife Co' experts here, that could lead to more information ? I know it is at least 40 years old, how much more, don't know.

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Permalink Reply by Max McGruder on March 11, 2013 at 22:29

I have this one, the scabbard has 1945 on one side and the other U.S. on the blade it says Ontario Knife Co. I've had this one since the mid 80's

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Permalink Reply by Clint Thompson on March 12, 2013 at 11:26

I have the very same machete since 1975. I paid $10.00 for this blade. I would say it is worth around $20.00 to $25.00 as there are a considerable amount of these out there.

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Permalink Reply by Tom Radde on March 12, 2013 at 11:40

Thanks Max,

The distance between the parallel to the blade name stamping, and the back of the blade, probably little difference in a piece like this. A good clue to date a name stamping parallel to the blade, rather than the handle. Wonder when they changed that. For now, it's circa WWII era. Thanks.

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Permalink Reply by Tom Radde on March 12, 2013 at 12:09

Thanks Clint,

Yes, I see you got one a few years after I got this one. I was in Boarding school, and we would, once and a while, sneak out, and hitchhike to St Cloud. (Like almost every Sat & Sun). In the Surplus store, I remember a wooden crate, with a 2x4 nailed across the top as a divider. One side held, incredibly expensive, (to me at that time), bolt action rifles, with bayonets, and some with scopes. Tossed in like sticks in a barrel, and a hand written sign said: "30-06 bolt rifles, 19.95, the ones with the scope, 29.95".

The other side of this crate, held a bunch of long, 'bayonets', no sheath, and were marked .50 cents. Now one of them I could buy. It was a adventurer hitchhiking back to school, and getting it into my locker. ;)

I used it for a number of years to clear brush from my shooting lanes when deer hunting. Then hung it on a nail, in the back of the pole shed, when I bought the new fancy Gerber. Re discovered it a couple of days ago, and thought: "Hey, I know who I can ask". So now, it goes back to hanging on that nail, with a liberal, 'painting' of used motor oil on the steel.

Thanks for the help.