Ontario 8155 Mark III Trench Knife - Military Grade Fixed Blade Survival Knife with Sheath, Brown Handle for Outdoor Camping, Hunting & Bushcraft

I have been searching for the right M-3 for a while now. I was tempted many times with the Boker model. The reason I did not buy the Boker was price and I heard it was German made. Nothing wrong with German made because the Germans tend to over engineer everything. It is a question of Historical loyalty, it is the same reason I would not buy an American made part for a 98k or Lee Enfield. If Boker was made in the US even though it was a WWII contractor I would have bought it. Though Ontario was not one of the WWII contract Companies for the M-3 ( there were 9, Imperial Knife, Pal Blade, Case, Utica Cutlery, Robeson Cutlery, Aerial Cutlery, H. BOKER & Co, Kinfolks Inc. and Camilus ) they did do contract work for the US Military. I have an original M-3 I bought years ago before they started repro-ing them. They are identical in weight and construction with a couple mfg differences. The M-3 I received I am totally happy with the Leather Handle did come with a funky red leather dressing that did smell. It did not put me off as it is a Dagger / Field Knife. The originals came un- treated but were soaked in Neatsfoot oil. That is what I did when I received mine. A good soaking of Neatsfoot and air dry. The sheath was not even close to historical so I pitched that in a drawer and bought an M8A1 scabbard from Sarco. For those WWII re-enactors you want an M8 Scabbard or remove the metal tip and hanger from the M8A1. By the way the sheath that came with my M-3 is well made and is useful to those not historically inclined. The Blade is what I expected and what I expected was not a knife but a dagger. There are those who have critiqued the knife as a bad knife with bad angles and temper. I totally respect their views as Knife Makers and Buffs. Yes this is a bad knife but a good dagger. One has to remember this is a Dagger first a knife second. The M-3 eventually evolved into the M-4, M5 and M6 BAYONET. A pig sticker as you will it was not designed to do field work. There are better knives than that out there and if one studies WWII photos there were a lot of personal knives being carried. With some work you can put an edge on it but a lot of work. So to sum it all up it is an Awesome repro for the WWII buff who does not want to screw up an original. It's a Dagger first Knife second. American Made but it will need some things to get it to re-enactor use.