Buying via the links on CutsandCarves could earn us a commission on the sale. I appreciate you writing this post and the rest of the site is very good. Also, for the first time, the personal memories of multiple branches of this . or Best Offer. Show me your knife, and I'll tell you who you are. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Next is the Camillus family. In most of the places that Ive come across a Klein knife, it was either a military electricians knife or for another handyman. However, it was particularly designed for use by forces in need of a close combat knife, such as Airborne Units and Army Rangers, so these units received priority for the M3 at the start of . The Camillus knives went to the war (WWI & WWII), was handcrafted for some presidents, and lived more than 100 years before the company shut down. The Camillus Cutlery company also produced: Their production capacity was expanded during the second world war when they had to manufacture a lot of high-quality knives to meet the needs of the soldiers shipping off to war. Originally, the deep fuller was intended to allow the blade to be laid flat on a hone and sharpened something like a straight razor. I am immediately ordering even more books to pass on. Required fields are marked *. In 1929, Marbles added a 4-inch-blade version of the Expert to its line called the Sports Knife. The Girl Scouts of America adopted it as their official sheath knife in 1930, and the Boy Scouts made it an alternative to the more expensive Woodcraft. The Case has two variations which are the details in the casting of the pommel. Please use a different way to share. This site is maintained by the Cattaraugus County Historical Advisory Committee and the Dept. I purchased 2 books to give as a gift to some of the men in my family. The Expert. Location: Central Massachusetts. Here are the markings on the sheath and blade. The Expert pattern is just a strong as any other knife in its general weight class when used for reasonable field tasks. View cart for details. A beautiful little village in a largely agricultural area. Due to labor issues, Kinfolks was closed in 1957, with another cousin, Emerson Case, continuing production of the brand under Robeson Cutlery in Perry, New York, until 1965. US MILITARIA FORUM - COLLECTORS PRESERVING HISTORY Also, for the first time, the personal memories of multiple branches of this . The design of the knife was very imposing. No matter which it is, there are a series of reasons why you might, Read More How to Determine the Value of a Knife (Vintage, Antiques & Collectibles)Continue. My father-in-laws Case knife he brought back from the ETO. I think the album link, vs a picture link . Maybe it was the Woodcraft name that sold them. However, that beauty does come with some challenges in telling the exact era that the knife is from. Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations. While some other companies have taken over the design and started to make modern versions, there is simply nothing like the older units that first came out under the original Klaas company. Be prepared to take clear pictures of the knife, but never send the knife to anyone to have it dated for you. Included are four vintage catalogs to aid collectors in the identification and dating of Kinfolks knives, as well as biographies of Kinfolks founders: Russ Case, Tint Champlin, and Dean Case. $6.30 shipping. Thanks for showing, peaked my interest. I believe youre more interested in dating the vintage ones, though, so the other era guides on that list are best suited to your needs. So question: does it have brass spacers in handle? This article appears in the July 2021 issue of KNIFE Magazine. This is one of the 6-inch knives that the US Army purchased in 1942, before they went to the M3. Show me your knife, and I'll tell you who you are. The company closed shop in the 1950s and they have since been resurrected in other capacities. Or do you just want to know the value of your knife? Top is pre-war procured knife blade tang stamped Kinfolks INC. followed by the two war time procured knives illustrating the use of alternate materials first switching to a plastic guard with aluminum pommel then plastic guard and plastic pommel tang stamped Kinfolks USA. Included are four vintage catalogs to aid collectors in the identification and dating of Kinfolks knives, as well as biographies of Kinfolks founders: Russ Case, Tint Champlin, and Dean Case. You just think these companies would be in cities. Robeson continued to make knives until 1965, the year that Emerson Case . Klein knives are clear vintages, and they're one of those knives that went to the war. Did Camillus Make Other Brands Knives on Contract? 2023 Cuts & Carves - Designed by O. Christopher, How to Date A Kinfolks Knife to A Specific Era, How to Tell If A 1918 Trench Knife Is Real (5+ Unique Methods), How to Date a Kissing Crane Knife (Both Old and New), How to Date Klein Knives to A Specific Year or Era (5 Methods), How to Date a Camillus Knife Effectively (1902 2007), How to Date A Case Kodiak Knife by Yourself (Expert Advice), How to Determine the Value of a Knife (Vintage, Antiques & Collectibles). Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2011. Great read, with very helpful information. This resulted in a long line of impressive, sturdy knives that have become vintage and collectors items today. http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/200448-questions-on-a-bright-blade-camillus-mark-1/. If you have one of such knives, follow the guide above to narrow down the date or era as much as you can. . Providing rare insight into Kinfolks and the families involved in its creation and development. Did your Camillus knife go to the war? I know Camillus had the one style sheath for 5"knives that seems to be unique to them, but I kind of wonder if sheaths weren't generally a sub-contracted item and often shared between different manufactures. Outdoor writers of the period all ridiculed the Bowies as being strictly, Billy the Kid, dime-novel fantasies. As for the butcher knives and the folders, they got the job done, but they didnt have much flash. by JohnR Tue Nov 08, 2016 5:09 pm, Post Marbles next gift to the sporting cutlery world was the Expert sheath knife (5- and 6-inch blade lengths), introduced in 1906. by JohnR Tue Nov 08, 2016 11:59 pm, Post There seems to be a problem serving the request at this time, Hunting Collectible Vintage Factory Manufactured Fixed Blade Knives, Bowie Collectible Vintage Factory Manufactured Fixed Blade Knives, Hunting Collectible Vintage Fixed Blade Knives, Camillus Collectible Vintage Fixed Blade Knives, Stainless Steel Handle Collectible Vintage Fixed Blade Knives, Stainless Steel Handle Collectible Vintage Factory Manufactured Fixed Blade Knives. Re: Kinfolks identification Post by Leo7504 Thu Oct 27, 2022 1:15 am I obtained access to that Kinfolks book and the 1939 Catalog describes a Model 925 with a 5 in blood groove blade,heavy back and keen edge, double non-slip guard and extra long indestructible handle, length overall to 9 1/2 inches. Can you post a picture of the end of the pommel? KINFOLKS USA 1925- 40's RARE PERFECT BONE VINTAGE KNIFE $104.99 $5.55 shipping Vintage Kinfolks 330 And 333 double knife set with Sheath . Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon. One of the most interesting things about this company is that they were founded in Little Valley, New York. Interesting,educational,and nice knives too. Starting in 1918, the English cutlery company, Wade and Butcher, began offering pretty much exact copies of Marbles Ideal pattern. We are all connected through Job Case, all kin, and this book may be the history of only one of thirty-two different cutleries our family has started over our 140+ year history in the industry, but it is much more. $200.00 $10.20 shipping 12 watching Antique 1925-1948 Knife Kinfolks Fixed Blade With Original Leather Sheath Rare $195.00 $9.85 shipping or Best Offer WW2 Kinfolks USA Mk 1 Commando Combat Bowie Knife $129.99 4 bids. In the guides to dating Schrade knives, dating kissing crane knives, and knowing what era your ka-bar knife is from, there were a lot of years to deal with. But that changed at the start of the war with the adoption of the legendary USMC Fighting/Utilitya knife that was basically a militarized version of a Marbles Ideal. Included are four vintage catalogs to aid collectors in the identification and dating of Kinfolks knives, as well as biographies of Kinfolks founders: Russ Case, Tint Champlin, and Dean Case. The middle knife has the chrome plating on the blade that Case was known to do. Around 1915, Marble made what some consider his greatest contribution to outdoor cutlery, the Woodcraft sheath knife. By Since the knife was not making it to only American troops but the allies, the demand was genuinely high. Procure a maior eBookstore do mundo e comece a ler hoje na web, no tablet, no telefone ou eReader. This does not impact the price of the item youre buying and it supports me to keep creating the content that you love. The wide, upswept, 4--inch, flat-ground blade was his version of the perfect big game and trapping knife. In 1958, Robeson purchased Kinfolks Inc of Little Valley, New York, which just happened to be Emerson Cases former employer. Steve Pfeiffer, author of Collecting Case Knives: Identification and Price Guide published by Krause Publications. Included are four vintage catalogs to aid collectors in the identification and dating of Kinfolks knives, as well as biographies of Kinfolks founders: Russ Case, Tint Champlin, and Dean Case. Now, we know already that this, Read More How to Tell If A 1918 Trench Knife Is Real (5+ Unique Methods)Continue, The Case Kodiak is one of the most interesting exports from the company and continues to command a high price today. It is believed that some of these tactical knives made it to WWII but there is no concrete proof of that anywhere. This started in 1899 with the Ideal model, which was available in a variety of blade lengths from 4 to 8 inches. Id rather give up now than give you a piece of misleading information anyway. Although I don't seriously collect knives I do have a small collection of Camillus sheath knives. There is also no proof that Case made any fixed blades before 1923, and by 1926 and up to 1932-33 all their fixed blades were made by Kinfolks. The M3 was originally designated for issue to soldiers not otherwise equipped with a bayonet. In 1962, the design was shortened to 5-inches to make it easier to carry inside aircraft cockpits. The model 380 was one of the most popular. WOW! Just look at it and you would see the same thing. During the time which they made knives, the company created a long line of hunting and fishing knives. Copyright 1995-2023 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. Before WWII, the Woodcraft saw the most attention from competitors. If you are vastly interested in the story of how three cousins came together to found a knife company that we still know today, check the book out on Amazon today. However, when I went on to see what prices were being asked for Kinfolks in this condition, I saw the prices in the $125 range (over twice what I paid). For this topic I thought I would zero in on the 5" hunting knives that are known to have been procured by the USAAF. Same for middle knife? The Expert would also seem to be perfect for the needs of modern bushcrafters. It is the aluminum guards that define Kinfolks made Case fixed blades. However, that beauty does come with some challenges in telling the exact era that the knife is from. Also, for the first time, the personal memories of multiple branches of this American cutlery dynasty are included, as well as a foreword by Brad Lockwood. However, that should not deter you from knowing when your knife was probably made. Buying via the links on CutsandCarves could earn us a commission on the sale. Kinfolks Knives offers an accurate and factual history of Kinfolks Cutlery. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. One of the biggest challenges with dating any kind of knife at all is the change of ownership that might have occurred along the line. Vintage Kinfolks Knife Bakelite Pommel with Sheath. And a final rant about the place we all love to hate. You can jump to the following sections if youre in a hurry, but I would advise that you dont skip this part. As popular as the Marbles line was with outdoorsmen, it was their impact on the rest of the cutlery industry that really made a lasting impression. Today, they have become a favorite of collectors, so much that we are interested in dating them to know whether we have the real deal or a fake. Slowly at first, but with increasing momentum, the folding hunter once again became the favorite field knife of most hunters, and the Marbles patterns were considered old fashioned. By 1992, Buck had produced 11,000,000 Model 110s and was adding more at the rate of 400,000 a year. I agree that he probably was the person who hand stamped the USN mark on the sheath. However, the Case dating system also adds to the appeal and collectibility because the knives can be easily identified and dated. The blade has a 4 " false edge, and a pair of very narrow, 3 5/8" long fullers, near the spine on each side of the . Kinfolks Knives offers an accurate and factual history of Kinfolks Cutlery. Why in the world would ANYONE pay $713.00 for this book? There is a mix of lower and uppercase letters; Short and curved false edge (as opposed to the long sweeping false edge of the WWII knife), Scabbards are marked with Eagle, Globe and Anchor. Your email address will not be published. There are many flavors to be had and with me it is edged implements more directly associated with aeronautical. The sheath also offered a stone pouch and extra holes for tying it down to a flight uniform. I did have to do a little searching for the right picture link from tou album post. I note that you say that there is a third variation of the #5679 L 36 that has the black plastic pommel (presumably of the Mark 1 style). Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon, [{"displayPrice":"$24.06","priceAmount":24.06,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"24","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"06","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"%2BQyZ7lxqPrKytmlgbPMUyI1zR9P%2FwI2wzZMEcSH%2FSdjv%2FKwN3AnQ%2FmFqQCKgS1lHxRqZVXeMDodNS9MrsTriWgMqK%2FYEXCrMgipm8K5uGvOE%2BB7SyNmsDR6SFlK0hlLI7JOAj6S6f1KPtBiUbtNavoP6JXZ2C5krQ5lvV%2F3lIlS4sT7Lwzs8cA%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW"}]. Kinfolks Knives offers an accurate and factual history of Kinfolks Cutlery. These RARE KINFOLKS Y330 & Y333 Fixed Blade Sabre Ground Hunter Knives w/Original Tooled Leather Sheath are in EXCELLENT overall vintage condition! Sactroop, I saw yours in a previous post and it does indeed have the unique sheath supplied with Camillus AAC knives. Still factory sharp! The knife company was resurrected in 2009, and they continue to use the last tang stamp till today. Alternately, you can look for Facebook groups or other social media gatherings where you can find such knife experts. Kinfolk Collectible Vintage Fixed Blade Knives. Sorry, you have Javascript Disabled! Included are four vintage catalogs to aid collectors in the identification and dating of Kinfolks knives, as well as biographies of . CustomizedGiftStore. Many hunters and fisherman carried them. He is also a contributor and Associate Editor of the print magazine. The middle one is the other variant with oval shaped liked filler. Kinfolks Knives offers an accurate and factual history of Kinfolks Cutlery. Camillus knives are one of my most favorites knives to date. We dont share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we dont sell your information to others. Like every other knife Ive dated, the Camillus knives are challenging in their way. Certainly Western didn't have facilities to make sheaths in factory before the 50's. An area I have not as yet delved into. Total Production: 2,469,956. There were six manufacturers: Kinfolks, Queen, Williams, Case, Ka-bar, and PAL. When Vietnam heated up, the Camillus Pilot Survival Knife became a standard-issue item for a wide range of units, including Ranger Companies. They, along with many other companies, also suffered when men in the company joined the war effort by enlisting even when they were deferred with required jobs at a cutlery as a specialized skill. Read Next: The Total Outdoorsmans Guide to Knives. Kinfolks Knives offers an accurate and factual history of Kinfolks Cutlery. Where neither is possible, its best to stay away. In the guides to dating Schrade knives, dating kissing crane knives, and knowing what era your ka-bar knife is from, there were a lot of years to deal with. Included are four vintage catalogs to aid collectors in the identification and dating of Kinfolks knives, as well. Still,, Read More How to Date Klein Knives to A Specific Year or Era (5 Methods)Continue, Of all the knives that I have ever tried to date, the Kinfolks remain one of the most beautiful. Vintage Kinfolks Fixed Blade Hunting Knife Stacked Leather Handle W/Sheath . KinfolksFounded by Dean Case, Russ Case and Tint ChamplinLittle Valley, New York1925-1957. The originals stopped being made such a long time ago that the catalogs and materials to identify them might have all gotten lost, or might be unreliable. i>Kinfolks Knives" offers an accurate and factual history of Kinfolks Cutlery. The knife is 14 5/8" in overall length, with the instantly recognizable 9 " clip point Bowie blade. Likewise, everyone simply assumes that these knives only come from between the 1920s 1930s era, which is not the case. $9.85 shipping. I know that Case was plating some of their knives as early as the 1930's and marketing them as corrosion resistant. US MILITARIA FORUM - COLLECTORS PRESERVING HISTORY Included are four vintage catalogs to aid collectors in the identification and dating of Kinfolks knives, as well as biographies of Kinfolks founders: Russ Case, Tint Champlin, and Dean Case. Did you recently find a Camillus knife, and youd like to know what era it came from? Some say it was the millions of knives produced by other companies for the war effort that doomed Marbles in the long run. There are variations within each manufacturer. Most period cutlery companies also produced close copies of the Ideal for use as survival knives in the various branches of the armed forces. The consensus is that the Kinfolks knife company was established around 1924 from when they made these really fine knives till the 1950s. It's easy! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Included are four vintage catalogs to aid collectors in the identication and dating of Kinfolks knives, as well as biographies of Kinfolks founders: Russ Case, Tint Champlin, and Dean Case. Great Knife Collection. With decades of experience under his belt, Adolph spearheaded the growth and expansion of the Camillus knife company into what we know it as today. Challenges with Dating the Kinfolks Knife. They show only very minor age/handling related wear, surface scratches, etc. 1 bid. Tang Stamps Case has become the undisputed favorite of knife collectors for a variety of reasons including the rich heritage, quality and variety of knives. They also sometimes referred to the blade or overall knife material which is equally helpful in narrowing down the years. | However it looks like your knife has a nickel silver guard which may indicate pre-Kinfolks made by Case. ANTIQUE KINFOLKS U.S.A. MY65 Knife & Hatchet Combo Ax Axe Butterscotch Amber. He felt the proper grip when field dressing was to choke up on the handle with the base of the blade between your fingers. these are the typical sheaths for the knives in post #1. Marble tended to know his customers well, and if he thought a double guard would sell better than a single, then that was the way it was going to be. All About Pocket Knives is a knife related resource center for buying, selling, researching, and discussing all things knives, Post of Economic Development, Planning & Tourism. Instead, it was supposed to be reserved for professional hunters, trappers, and guides with the experience to use a light, sharp blade in the field. and do not appear to have been used! I have noticed over the past two or so years that the prices of decent WW2 knives on ebay have more than doubled what I was paying back in 2016 and earlier. In most of the places that I've come across a Klein knife, it was either a military electrician's knife or for another handyman. by JohnR Tue Nov 08, 2016 6:39 pm, Post The CASE 322-5 are suppose to have plated finished blades. The brand name has since been resurrected. The knife was obtained from his family and they stated to the best of their knowledge it had been stored with his memorabilia since he returned in 1946. The brand started using tang stamps early enough, making it easy to tell the age of a Camillus knife. ${cardName} unavailable for quantities greater than ${maxQuantity}. You can also check much larger forums such as BladeForums, AllAboutPocketKnives, or such other relevant picks. Your email address will not be published. Then again, I prefer dating women in general. Fortunately for us, Camillus changed their stamps enough to map each one to different periods. . Without new collectors, this hobby will slowly atrophy until there are just a few of us left (until we age out). Find out more below. The Western "V-44" offered here is in about FINE condition. There is no definitive history of the Kinfolks knife around, but the little we know of them is as interesting. He started importing and selling German-made knives to his U.S. audience. I'm not sure exactly but I would assume they requested some sort of corrosion resistance this would leave the door wide open. Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt. The TC marking shows that the blade was made of Tungsten Carbide, a material that Kinfolks started using in 1957. Kinfolks WWIIvar option_df_159643 = {"outline":[],"forceFit":"true","autoEnableOutline":"false","autoEnableThumbnail":"false","overwritePDFOutline":"false","direction":"1","pageMode":"0","source":"https:\/\/www.knifemagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/blogpost\/KM-July-2021-Kinfolk.pdf","wpOptions":"true"}; if(window.DFLIP && DFLIP.parseBooks){DFLIP.parseBooks();}, HistoryKinfolks Inc.Knife Magazine ArchivesKNIFE Magazine July 2021WWIIWWII Knives. Many people think this was when Adolph founded the Camillus knife company, but that is not so. LARGE STOCKMAN - JADE BONE KINFOLK JIG. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Others give only a very vague date when the original Kinfolks company was making its knives and nothing more. This is a pity, as the Woodcraft still remains one of the best big game processing knives ever designed. To add the following enhancements to your purchase, choose a different seller. A German himself, and having spent enough time in the U.S.A. to know the market landscape, this business venture was not difficult for him. Also, for the first time, the personal memories of multiple branches of this American cutlery dynasty are included, as well as a foreword by Brad Lockwood. During WW2 I believe Kinfolks was in Little Valley in Western NY. Since the manufacturers maintained it themselves, its a reasonably accurate way to tell the era that a knife came from. Just $1 per month , The history of Marbles knives and their impact on outdoor cutlery for the last 120 years, By This was a straight-backed, sheath knife with a slight clip-on, flat ground blade that swept to the point at the very end. This isn't just a book for knife collectors. H. Clay Aalders is a lifelong edged tool user. While guiding in Idaho, Clay worked part-time writing for a local newspaper, and upon moving to Tennessee began writing for the blog The Truth About Knives - spending his last 5 years there as Managing Editor. $274.99. Do you think your Camillus is older than your friends, but neither is sure? by Miller Bro's Sun Dec 25, 2016 8:07 pm, Post The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. There are variations within each manufacturer. ${cardName} not available for the seller you chose. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price. If you have already guessed from the name, this company was founded by entrepreneurs who were related to one another. This was a straight-backed, sheath knife with a slight . You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. Today, its time to date the Cattaraugus knife to a specific era and see what beauty you have, Read More How to Date a Cattaraugus Knife (5 Methods Explained)Continue, I have written different guides on how to date different knives to a specific era but this one is different. Kinfolks Knives - Dean Elliott Case 2010-09 Kinfolks Knives oers an accurate and factual history of Kinfolks Cutlery. Included are four vintage catalogs to aid collectors in the identification and dating of Kinfolks knives, as well as biographies of Kinfolks founders: Russ Case, Tint Champlin, and Dean Case. Knives made by top companies were featured in catalogs that were either internally maintained or sent out to dealers and collectors. Yep, more nice eye candy and good story thrown in for free. Marbles halted most knife production in 1976, and the trademark was later sold to a company overseas. This American heritage contributes to the high-value craftsmanship and quality control that ships with these knives. I have presumed that it was a 5679 L 36 that some one had replaced the grip and pommel with those from a USN Mark 1. We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Danny. Correct Kinfolks marked sheath, lightly sharpened condition, guard and leather washers very tight. Besides showing you how to date a Camillus knife properly, I also give some tips to avoid falling into the fake vintage Camillus knife scam. Published Oct 28, 2019 6:08 PM EDT. Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2013, This book is an excellent history of a family who lived the American Dream. A legacy that lives on today, Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2018. I know my knives - maybe not as well as my mother - but enough to write helpful guides for you. You may receive a partial or no refund on used, damaged or materially different returns. When WWI and WWII came along, Adolph shifted the focus of the company to cater to U.S. soldiers and the Allied Forces. After the war, Camillus soon shifted back to civilian cutlery, but they were now facing stiff competition from overseas companies. If you are a Case Knife collector this is more the backstory on the people who built the companies that made the products and less about the specifics on any era of knives. I have covered some of them here for you: Those guides expose you to some insider tips and strategies to get the exact date of these knives, narrow down their era or simply confirm if you have the original thing. The sheath looks like the one you show from Camillus. A timeline of the family and related cutleries is included for quick reference, as well as answers to the most common questions about the company from www.KinfolksInc.com. Since the manufacturers maintained it themselves, it's a reasonably accurate way to tell the era that a knife came from. In any case, Marbles Woodcraft and Ideals are still easy to find on eBay. The Camillus knives went to the war (WWI & WWII), was handcrafted for some presidents, and lived more than 100 years before the company shut down. The good news is that I found multiple ways to determine how old your Camillus knife is. When I received the package, I, out of more curiosity than anything began to read the forward and introduction and was immediately drawn in by the colourful characters and the 140 years of american history. With Western being so far off in the hinterland, maybe their sheaths tend to be more unique to them. The third (bottom) one is interesting as it seems to have a fuller but barely and steel guard, Always assumed the pommels were secured like the MK1s. Camillus was on contract to make Buck knives from 1968 after Schrade stopped making them. Thank you for sharing. Steven Dick Included are four vintage catalogs to aid collectors in the identification and dating of Kinfolks knives, as well as biographies of Kinfolks founders: Russ Case, Tint Champlin, and Dean Case. KNIFE Magazine July 2021 issue Sneak Peek, Weekend Open Thread: Stupid is as Stupid Does Edition. Didn't know they were filled that way. Camillus was also notorious for sometimes mixing up the tang stamps. The original building was blown away by wind, yet Dean Case was able to buy-out his related partners through product by the 1930s, supplying fighting knives and the M4 bayonet during World War II, refocusing on hunting and household knives afterward. One of the most common models today has the 568 TC USA marking on its blade. As stated, I presume mine is a rebuild but find your comment interesting. Brain fart I suppose. If you dont go to knife shows, you might also have some luck with veteran knife collectors in your locale. This is the Kinfolks family. Dept. All had clip-point blades and a deeply-fullered edge grind (not a blood groove). Turner Manufacturing, Imperial Knife Company, Conetta Tool and Die, and Bren-Dan Inc. received the contracts for this run of M4 bayonets which finally ended in 1970. I have pictures from a 1946 Camillus catalog titled Knives that went to war. Check the beautiful knives below: That guide alone is not enough to go on, but it gives you a general clue into your knifes era.