WW2 AUSTRALIAN FIGHTING KNIFE WITH SCABBARD.
WW2 AUSTRALIAN TRENCH/FIGHTING KNIFE. I have come across these fighting knives a few times over the years and have seen a few examples in military museum collections. My assessment is that there was a lack of Trench or Fighting knives during WW2 for Australian troops especially in New Guinea and they were made in the field workshops by cutting down 303 bayonets and bronzing the blades to the hilts. All examples I have had or seen have been made the same way. They do not appear in the UK but do appear on the Australian market from time to time. This example has seen a lot of use and retains its original field made leather scabbard which is the first I have seen, it has that "been there done that" look and feel to it.