Boker Plus 02BO1943 M3 Trench Knife with 6 3/4 in. High Carbon SK-5 Steel Blade

When I ordered this knife I was a bit apprehensive. It was more expensive, Boker gets them from China, Ontario makes the same thing, and I've had good experiences with Ontario's Spec-Plus knives. I got one from each of them. Whoa! The Boker is worth every bit of its extra price. The quality is outstanding. The finish on the leather handle is on a par with the Ka-bar; and that's good! The blade is good steel and reminds me of the blade on my M-14's bayonet. It comes in a bayonet sheath that must be one of the heaviest in the world! Solid metal, good looking and I'd suggest you replace it ASAP with a Ka-Bar Kydex Sheath! So much lighter. This is a quality product from start to finish.

The finish on mine was marred a bit but not enough to send it back. Absolutely nowhere could I find China written on the knife. On their website Bokes says about the "Boker Plus" series of knives that it "is produced with strict instructions and quality checks by our well-known business partners in the Far East." On the box it is written "Made in China" but, of course, that may simply refer to the box. Using the M8A1 style "metal" scabbard that comes with the knife will indeed scratch off the finish as will the original M8 scabbard and even the M6 leather scabbard because of the metal grips designed to keep the knife from slipping out.

Having recently received mine, I may have a later build but the Boker I have is flawless in build and detail to the original M3. I own original M3 knives and M8 scabbards, so I can compare this first hand. After inspecting it in detail with a magnifing glass , I can nowhere find any markings that it was made in china (as posted in others remarks) it is deeply and nicely engraved withUS M3 1943. I have to believe this is produced by Boker, as the quality is fantastic.One post said the hilt and cap where aluminum??????. Mine is positivly heavy steel. I would not consider this a reproduction, but a spec build continuation of the original. Anyone looking for an M-3, BUY THIS.I will say, everyone is correct about the scabbard,steel was not the wise choice to make it with. The scabbard looks original but is just a wall hanger. (or trash can)

The knife itself does seem to be of decent quality. The handle looks nice, the finish is proper for this type of knife and it arrives with a decent edge. The knife is in fact make in Chine and is marked as such but it is cleverly inconspicuous. It is marked on the edge of the blade on the blade side on the short un-sharpened/un-edged part between the blade and the guard. If you weren't looking for it you'd likely never see it. It is marked in the same method as it is serial numbered on the side of the blade vs being stamped or molded in the the Boker markings and the M3 markings on the side of the blade. While it is unfortunate IMO that it is made in China the knife does seem to be decent quality. The scabbard (sheath) on the other hand is a dismal disappointment. I have real original M8A1 scabbards in my collection. This one looks only superficially like one and are made of what appears to be fairly thick metal similar to what I believe is called pot metal that they make die cast cars out of. It's way heavy and compared to a real one doesn't look much like it really. If they were going to use an alternate material to the original I don't understand why they simply didn't use Kydex which I have to believe would be at least as cheap, much lighter and in fact closer to the original than this is. This one IMO is just. Usable to look at but would be ridiculous to carry. Not that I carry these things anyway but it seems a crying shame that they did so good on the knife but really just didn't put a lot of effort into the scabbard. If anything it seems they went out of their way to make it just weird. Who ever heard of a heavy metal scabbard anyway? The scabbard just loses it's stars for me as does the fact that a proud German name is producing it in China to some extent. Mostly just that crappy scabbard though...

Fine reproduction, well made. I question the nylon string on the sheath as well as the nylon used in the sheath, my genuine knife used canvas in the sheath and leather for the leg thong. All things considered, though, this knife is excellent. Since I plan to carry it, I don't mind the nylon. I gave it the "Devil's Brigade" test (prying open a drawer) and it passed like a high speed, low drag troop! I love it.

Item was not a Boker as advertised, but a cheap pot metal knock off. Do not buy is sold through "The Man Cave"

I was apprehensive about this particular reproduction. While it is good quality in many ways, it is NOT made in Germany, but made in China for Boker, and that fact shows up in the questionable quality control. The tang at the end of the handle on the example I received was crooked and not square to the blade. The security snap on the scabbard was too long and didn't hold the knife securely. The black finish on the blade started coming off after pulling it in and out of the sheath a couple of times. Sorry..........I'm returning it. For my money, the US made Ontario reproduction is a bit more "rough around the edges" but ultimately a better choice. This would be an awesome knife were it not for all the little but frustrating flaws. I can't recommend it.

First off, the Guard and Pommel are with out a doubt: 'STEEL' (a magnet does stick to both), and definitely NOT Aluminum. Blade is razor sharp and grind is near perfect. Leather handle is just beautiful. Metal's black-gray oxide finish appears to me parkerized. Knife also comes with Limited Lifetime Warranty from Boker.Who yea that "Made in China" label on the side of the presentation box, that covers the bar-code label - it's easily peels right off. Eliminating all reference to that country.