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 in an M-6 leather scabbard, the rig quickly became part of the paratrooper mystique, and a symbol of those "devils in baggy pants". This US Army WW2 D-Day Paratrooper Airborne M-3 Trench Knife L&C M-6 Leather Scabbard is in Very Good Condition, with some surface cracking along the top fold of the belt hanger, some whitish and dark soiling at the upper front belt hanger, some crazing to the handle retention strap, some lines of darkening just above the front throat where the guard of a knife would normally rest, some light patina to the metal reinforcing plates at the lower front and back body, the name “HAL CANTOR” hand marked in black vertically along the middle left side of the “roughout” leather back, and with some light overall age wear evident. Most interestingly, it's crafted of elegant light brown leather, and is marked “U.S. M6” at the front throat, along with its maker, “L&C”, the date, "1943", and the inspector initials, “FJA”. These L&C made M-6 sheaths are very rare today, and were primarily issued with the equally scarce Robeson Cutlery Co. “R.C.Co.” blade dated M-3 trench knives. The scabbard boasts a fully intact darkened metal wire hanger at top, sports a fully functional metal “glove” snap closure leather handle retention strap on the slitted leather belt hanger, and features the classic 8 metal staples at the front throat. It bears the traditional whitish cotton stitching and darkened metal “staples” down the sides, carries the familiar metal reinforcing plate at the lower front and back body, and is even complete with the original coiled rawhide leather tie down lace neatly knotted through the darkened brass grommet at the end tip. It exhibits domed darkened metal rivets throughout, and is a fine example of a very rare, original US Army WW2 D-Day Paratrooper Airborne M-3 Trench Knife L&C M-6 Leather Scabbard. No knife included.