WWII Marine Raider Stiletto in Sheath by Camillus

The World War II U.S. Marine Corps stiletto fighting knife that was designed by Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Clifford H. Shuey, basing his design upon the Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife. Only 14,370 stilettos were manufactured by the Camillus Company, which were then issued in 1942 to both the 1st and 2nd Marine Raider Battalions as well as to the Marine Corps 1st Parachute Battalion. The stiletto was soon replaced in late 1943 by the KA-BAR knife. This example is contained within its original leather sheath, a design with steel staples at the throat of the scabbard and steel plates on the front and back of the lower section of the sheath. The grip is the distinctive checkered diamond design and is free of any breaks or cracks. The bright blade is quite clean and has a “USMC” scroll as well as the Camillus name lightly etched onto one side of the blade. These were quickly worn away by use of the dagger. Both the scroll and the Camillus name remain visible on this example, although the blade has to catch the light in just the right way for them to be visible. The leather scabbard, like the knife itself, shows age and wear that is typical for a fighting knife that was carried in a combat theater, but the set remains in overall very good condition.