machete ID

[jjh]

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y179/davebo/Picture012.jpgwhat make is this? and is it from the vietnam war? thanks

[noslack327]

I never saw a issue machete that looked like that in viet nam, ours had a black plastic type handle, the blade does not look the same, I carried one on my ruck for 18 months.

[Ron James]

It looks to be a commercial machete, At least it was never used by any military that I'm familiar with.

[Bayonetman]

Although I have no idea why it is not marked, the machete appears to be the Collins #32 which was used by the Navy in 1944. See Collins Machetes and Bowies 1845-1965 page 142 and Cole Book 4, page 122 2nd from top.

The one in this photo was brought back by my father, a Navy Seabee, who picked it up on Guam in 1945.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v97/bayonetman/Homer/MACHETE.jpg

[jjh]

thanks I thought it was a vietnam Machete because I got it from a marine that served in viet nam. but I think his dad served in WW2. it has the markings but there hard to see but I can make out the crown.

[Bayonetman]

I should have looked more carefully at your photo. The handle on yours is not the same as on mine, my Navy marked one has a 3 rivet Collins #3 handle, while yours has a Collins #9 handle. Yours may simply be a commercial Model 191 or one of that model purchased by the Marines in 1942 and possibly early 1943. The Marine blade was nominally 21 inches long, but in reality was closer to 20 1/2 inches. If yours is about 20 1/2 it may be the Marine issue or a commercial Model 191. The Marine ones were not militarily marked so it cannot be determined for certain if it is Marine but apparently most of that model was for the Marines according to the Collins book by D E Henry.