Rule,from what "experts" with leather tell me, neetsfoot oil is no good for long time leather. They say it is fine for shoes , belts, ect, items went to be worn out, yet for heirloom type items it can actually deteriate leather over the long term. I dont know from personal experence but heed their warnings. Next a brief history of knives of WWII. The US was caught offguard when the war started and the few knives in inventory were WWI surplus. With so many other things needed in the war, the govt simply put out specs to knife makes and bought all they could produce. Just about anything from cut down swords to kithchen knives were bought and issued. As late 1944, my neighbor a veteren, was given an allowance by the govt to purchase a knife as they could not issue him one. He kept the money and had momma send his boy scout knife from home. The demand for knives was never fully met by the end of the war. So about any knife could and was used in combat.