U.S. Fork M-1926

The U.S. Fork M-1926 is part of the American military cutlery introduced in 1926. This stainless steel or tinned fork was part of the standard field gear and was used extensively by American soldiers during World War II.

Features and Design

• Hole in the handle: The most striking feature is the hole at the end of the handle. This served to hook the fork (along with the knife and spoon) onto the handle of the mess kit (Meat Can M-1942) to clean and sterilize the cutlery in boiling water.
• Markings: The front is almost always stamped with the letters U.S. The back often contains the name or logo of the manufacturer (such as Silco Stainless or P.I.C.) and sometimes the year of production.
• Material: Manufactured from sturdy stainless steel or tinned iron to prevent rust formation in the field.

Logistics and Transport

The fork was carried in the backpack along with the accompanying M-1926 knife and spoon. To prevent the sharp tines or the knife point from damaging the inside of the duffel bag or the Haversack M-1928, the cutlery was often placed in special leather protective sleeves (sheaths).