The Mark 1 was a dependable, durable and general purpose knife. These were contracted for by the US Navy from several different firms, all of whom followed the specified 5.125-inch blade length, but none of whom in Cole’s opinion followed every one of the specifications of November 1943, though PAL, the maker of this one, came closest, creating a great number of variations and making the knife a collecting category of its own. The pattern was and is well-respected, one online commentator quipping that the knife is durable enough to “stab a car,” if that’s your idea of a good time.

This one is Cole’s No. 23, page 81, of his Book III on knives and is in great shape. The butt is dull aluminum. The grip is made of leather washers with black, yellow and red fabric spacers at top and bottom and no drying out or warping of the washers. The guard and blade are fully parkerized with better than 90 percent finish, just a little rubbing on the reverse. The grip and blade show only minor rubs. The edge is excellent. The markings are crisp: U.S.N. / MARK I on the reverse and on the obverse “RH PAL -35” with pal in an oval, with “MADE IN U.S.A” in a curve underneath. PAL was the Pal Blade and Tool Company of Plattsburg, NY.

The scabbard is the grey plastic pattern with green fabric belt loop and snap fastening strap. The back of the throat is marked NORD – 8114 / B.M. Co. ½ vp [the latter with two stars.] The B.M. Co. is the Beckwith Manufacturing Company, with the VP/stars logo indicating Victory Plastics, a division of Beckwith. “NORD 8114” refers to the Navy contract number with deliveries from March to May 1945 according to the sources we checked, putting it in time for use in the late war Pacific theatre.  [sr] [ph:m/L]

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