2 true Americans

[frosolone]

2 from military collection

C05636E9-5B71-4D95-8B24-21A34231AA57.jpeg (176.75 KiB) Viewed 2400 times

[jerryk25]

Holy Crapola ! . . . . . .

outstandingly fantastic specimens.

I remember seeing an Orange one in mint condition years ago.
I don't think it had that etch.
I remember something about being sold at Sears and Roebucks,
I recall a small paper advertisement alongside of the Orange one.(that I saw)

[frosolone]

Yes there was another with “Craftsman” etch. I saw one many years ago in Rhode Island, it had full etch and a fingerprint stained on the blade that was closed and put in drawer. Kicked myself many times for not buying it.

[Bill DeShivs]

Great knives. Neither were military issue.
The "Commando" is exactly like the military knives, except they were not etched.

[Fishtail Picklock]

I admire (and lust) after that Paratrooper. That's a useful pocket knife if I ever saw one!

[TMD]

Very cool knives! Looks brand new.
Is the etch original to the knives or added later?

[frosolone]

I was told these knives were left over and were etched to sell to civilians.

[TMD]

Ok, very cool stuff! Thanks for sharing.

[JimBrown257]

Wow, the condition of both of those is incredible. The condition of the etch makes me think they are in original (uncleaned) shape. Did you find those two together? Its rare to find one of those in that condition, let alone two from separate sources. So I'd guess they were both together.

I know someone who is going to want those. Actually, probably a lot of people will.

[Bill DeShivs]

I was told these knives were left over and were etched to sell to civilians.

They weren't "left over."
The orange handled model was never military issue.
The etched knife was made for civilian use.

[frosolone]

Thank you Bill, the only reason I call them military is I display them with my other prestos,schrade, Camillus, paratroopers. I am not saying they are military issued knives. Do you know why that orange one was stamped “Paratrooper”? It’s always a good time to learn more information and you seem to have some worth listening to. Thanks

[Fishtail Picklock]

I know this may sound either silly or careless, but if I was the owner of the orange-handled "Paratrooper" I would have Ted Blocker of Tigard, Oregon manufacture a bespoke pouch for the knife. I would then wax the blade and carry it.

What a wonderfully historic tool!

[Bill DeShivs]

Frosolone- I don't know why the large one was etched that way-except for marketing.
The etched M2 Presto is actually rarer than the issue version.

[Erik131065]

Ay idea about the age of the orange one?

[Bill DeShivs]

Ay idea about the age of the orange one?

Only post-WW2-1956.