This is a short quick guide on the M 2 WW II Schrade Paratrooper knife from my article in Knife World July 2005 with some updates.

1. If the Tang mark says Schrade Walden N.Y. USA versus Schrade Cut Co. Walden N Y the knife was made after World War II. Schrade Walden did make a paratrooper knife for the Army, it is not a M-2 but designated as a MIL-K-10043 and called it a parachutist's snap blade knife. They always had a bail and a plastic handle that mimiced a stagged bone.The Schrade Walden tang mark was not used until 1946 and WW II ended in 1945.

2. Look for,

Schrade Cut Co. Walden NY on one side the tang and three patent dates on the other with jigged bone handles and very rarely walnut handles with a bail.The knives must have a bail to be Military Spec. It has just been determined that "PERHAPS" 1020 of the  Schrade Cut Co. with bail M-2 were shipped to the Pacific right around June 14 1944 using a jigged plastic/celluliod handle. Or they could have been made for a cancelled order of 5000 in 1944. This makes them very rare- remember do not confuse them with plastic handled MIL-K-10043 made by Schrade Walden which has a slightly smaller frame. Whether the plastic handled model was ever issued to the troops is up in the air at this time, but it appears they were made to be issued. No documents have been found to date to show a celluloid handled Schrade Cut Co with bail were actually issued to the troops, but they were made before Schrade Cut Co was sold and became Schrade Walden in 1946.

The knife should have a bail to be proper military issue. No metal jigged handles for Schrade Cut Co.. Frank Trzaska in Knife Worlds Nov 2006 "Military Edge" reveals that the National Archives documents show Schrade Cut Co. was the first model tested and used by the Army as the M-2.

The other military issued M-2 is marked Geo. Schrade Knife Co. BPT CONN on one side of the tang and Presto usually with a 1940 patent date on the other. The knife should have a bail to be proper Military Spec issue. Jigged bone handle, black plastic handle, and  metal handle painted black and made to look like jigged bone are kosher. Hawkbill blade is a rare one.Clip blade common. Metal handled model comes in 2 sizes.

Also beware as WW2

3. Schrade Walden, Camillus and Logan Smyth all made a orange plastic jigged handled air crewmans knife with a clip blade and hook blade. Schrade Walden made the first in 1957 then Camillus then Logan Symth. They are Military issue but are not WW II or Korean War.

4. Schade Walden made a knife with a smooth bright reddish orange plastic handle. They were never military.

5. Colonial Shur Snap knives are not military and made after WW II.

6. Cole was right in his suspicions the Pronto knife was not military nor was the Edgemaster.

7. Schrade Cut Co. or George Schrade's Swing Guard, Forest King and Derby Hat Bolster Knives were not military issue. A soldier could have bought them in a hardware store during a war but they are not military issue.

I have been asked if Schrade Cut Co. or George Schrade knives without a bail, lanyard staple whatever the terminolgy being used are M-2's? To be a Military Specification officially issued by the army it must have a bail. There is oral history out there to the contrary, but knives were bought outside of military channels, there was a "Save a Life with a Knife" program funneling civilian knives to soldiers, but to be Mil Spec issued the M-2 knife must have a bail.

Hope this helps. Your best defense is knowledge.

Always check your Local, State and Federal laws in any knife purchase.