ITS ALWAYS DIFFICULT TO ACCURATELY PLACE A AGE ON A ITEM ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE IT IN HAND. BUT I WILL TRY TO EXPLAIN MY REASONING ON THIS KNIFE. MY BEST GUESS , FOR SOME REASON I THINK LUZON ISLAND AND DUE TO THE STEEL FERRULE AND BAND ON THE SCABBARD WW2 OR LATER. THE BLADE MAY OR MAY NOT BE OLDER THAN THE FITTINGS AND THE SCABBARD MAY BE OLDER THAN THE METAL BANDS OR IT MAY ALL HAVE BEEN DONE AT THE SAME TIME.
WHEN AND WHY THE PAINT WAS ADDED COULD ONLY BE ANSWERED BY THE ONE WHO DID IT BUT I DON'T THINK IT IS MUCH MORE RECENT THAN THE HANDLE BUT IT DOES LOOK LIKE WW2 OR NEWER PAINT. ITS ALWAYS INTERESTING TO SEE AND DISCUSS THESE ITEMS ALTHOUGH THEY ARE NOT THE CLASSIC TRADITIONAL FORMS.
