WW2 Cattaraugus Combat Knife

An as found US combat Knife - Cattaraugus 225Q. Salty and used, but not rusty, this make of knife was heavily favoured by the US War Department.
Cattaraugus began in the 1880s and was founded by John Brown Francis Champlin and William R. Case and his brothers (who broke off to form the Case brand we know today a few decades later). When the War Department began tooling up for battle, they needed knives, and quickly the MK-2 became the iconic representation of that need, playing a crucial role in meeting the production demands for fixed-blade knives during its collaboration with W.R. Case & Sons and Kinfolks. Whilst its origins are somewhat debated some believe it was designed specifically for the Quartermaster Corps, while others think it might have been a utilitarian hunting knife that found its way into service. either way it became a solid and reliable featuere of ground troop equipment throughout the US involvement in Europe and The Pacific.