The US Army introduced the M-3 trench knife in 1943 for troopers carrying arms not configured to accept a bayonet. The wide use of Thompsons and Carbines by paratroopers meant the M-3 was issued in large numbers to those elite airborne troops. Often worn strapped to the calf, the M-3 trench knife quickly became part of the paratrooper mystique, and a symbol of those "devils in baggy pants". This US Army WW2 D-Day Paratrooper Airborne Camillus Blade Dated M-3 Trench Knife is in Excellent Condition, with a bit of sharpening to the blade edge, a bit of scratching at each side of the blade, some loosening to the guard, a few small nicks in the upper right side of the handle, and with some light scattered age wear evident. Most interestingly, it features a 6 11/16" spearpoint blade with the classic top false edge that retains approximately 95% of the crisp, original parkerized finish, sports a beautiful stacked leather washer "tootsie roll" handle, and is marked "US M3" at the lower right side of the blade, along with its maker, the famous "CAMILLUS", and the date, “1943”. Blade dated M-3 trench knives, especially in this condition, are very rare and difficult to acquire today. It boasts the familiar "thumb rest" bend in the top end of the steel guard, carries the traditional "flaming bomb" acceptance stamp of the Ordnance Department at the bottom of the two pin steel pommel, and is complete with the original US Army WW2 D-Day Paratrooper Airborne Unmarked M-6 Brown Leather Scabbard in Excellent Condition, remaining a bit too small to fully accept the blade, resulting in a small gap between the throat and guard, and with some light crazing at each side of the handle retention strap, a fingernail shaped dark line in the lower left front belt hanger, and with some light scattered age wear evident. Most interestingly, it's unmarked as to its maker or date, boasts the classic 8 metal "staples" at the front throat, and sports darkened metal rivets and white cotton stitching down the sides, a metal reinforcement plate at the front and back end tip, a darkened brass tie down grommet at bottom, and a fully functional darkened metal "glove" snap closure leather handle retention strap at the middle front belt hanger. It’s crafted of gorgeous brown leather, exhibits a fully intact darkened metal wire hanger in a riveted and sewn channel at the top reverse, and the set is a beautiful example of a very rare, original US Army WW2 D-Day Paratrooper Airborne Camillus Blade Dated M-3 Trench Knife.