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s&wchad · 09-12-2018, 08:41 AM

I recently purchased this at a small gun club swap meet. The seller got it out of his fathers estate and knew nothing about its history. It's not uncommon to find knives that were made or modified by servicemen during WWII, but they're usually not this ornate.

These were typically created by support staff at maintenance facilities or machinists aboard ships, using scrap materials on hand. They often used plexiglass from aircraft canopies, brass from shells or cartridge cases and whatever blade material they could find.

This blade appears to be from the tip of a pattern 1905 Garand bayonet. The handle was constructed from plexiglass, brass and aluminum, all held together with 13 brass pins. The brass guard is fairly thick and is inscribed, "CPL H KASTU" on one side and "MARY" on the other. I searched online military records and didn't find anything on a Corporal H. Kastu. He either had a warm spot in his heart for Mary, or he planned on using the knife on her when he got home! The leather sheath is homemade and the "lucky" die on the box knot tassel adds a nice touch.

If you have any examples of theatre knives, please feel free to post them here. I'd love to see 'em!

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