U.S.M.C. flat point bolo/knife

[JiminLE]

I found this at a swapmeet over the weekend...but I cannot find much info on it. It's in a sheath marked; USMC BOYT 45.
I've seen plenty of the round tip ones, but not one like this. Any info???

Thanks,

Jim

[1563621]

Hospital corpsman knife. US Medical Corp.

[JiminLE]

Thanks...any reason for the flat end instead of the rounded?

Jim

[Richard Turner/Turner Saddlery]

It began its life as a round point USMC Medical Corpsman Knife, but someone has squared the end, as all the originals made were round point. There was none made with a hole drilled in the grip either. The scabbard is the standard for the USMC Medical Corpsman Knife. There was a square point USMC machete that is very similar in design, but only made by Collins & Co. and Disston. The grips were similar, but had four rivets, vice three.

[Johnny P]

The big heavy knives were popular at deer camps for cutting up deer. Looks like someone turned it into a cleaver by grinding off the end of the blade.

[JiminLE]

Thanks for the info...that would answer why I've never seen one like this before. Also whoever did it did a good job.
The sheath has a shape to it where you can see where the end of the blade goes in, so must have been done quite a while ago.
Thanks again,
Jim

[JBinIll]

It looks like a USMC Entrenching Machete with the wrong sheath.They were an issue USMC item from about 1912 to just before WW2.The 1938 Naval Landing Force Manual listed them as equipment for a Marine Rifle Company.Disston and Collins made them So I would suspect as others said a bubbaed Corpman's Bolo.

30656