Codger_64
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I posted this in the BRL forum and thought there may also be some interest here in the subject, a rare fighting knife Camillus produced in 1942 for the U.S.M.C. I don't think Mr. Levine will mind if I also post it here.
USMC Raider Stiletto by Camillus c. 1942
Here is a knife which was brought to my attention by former Camillus Cutlery Historian and avid collector Tom Williams. He recently found that the Camillus Historical Society did not have an example of a Camillus knife in their collections and so donated this knife from his. As he explained to me:
This knife was made by Camillus in 1942 and 14,370 were produced in two producton runs..
And further related about this knife on another forum:
...Most of these knives were issued to the Marine Raiders (Carlson and Eddson) and an unknown quantity were parkerized "black" and issued to the Canadian Airbourne Troops.
Camillus featured the Raider Stiletto in the first post WWII catalog. This knife was also used in the WWII movie "Gung Ho" starring Randolph Scott and Robert Mitchum...The sheath is a reproduction of the M6...
That year, 1942, Camillus produced 599,056 dozen knives 90% for the government. As far as the USMC Commando Knife goes, to quote Alfred Lief (1944 Business Life In America Series),
The British Model was reproduced with a much simpler construction, maintaining exact balance and dimensions and the cost was reduced by half!
Phil Gibbs recently reported that two fifty-five gallon drums of the unfinished blades were found in 1990's in their warehouse and some were assembled with pewter handles in lieu of the original zinc material.
Michael
USMC Raider Stiletto by Camillus c. 1942
Here is a knife which was brought to my attention by former Camillus Cutlery Historian and avid collector Tom Williams. He recently found that the Camillus Historical Society did not have an example of a Camillus knife in their collections and so donated this knife from his. As he explained to me:
This knife was made by Camillus in 1942 and 14,370 were produced in two producton runs..
And further related about this knife on another forum:
...Most of these knives were issued to the Marine Raiders (Carlson and Eddson) and an unknown quantity were parkerized "black" and issued to the Canadian Airbourne Troops.
Camillus featured the Raider Stiletto in the first post WWII catalog. This knife was also used in the WWII movie "Gung Ho" starring Randolph Scott and Robert Mitchum...The sheath is a reproduction of the M6...
That year, 1942, Camillus produced 599,056 dozen knives 90% for the government. As far as the USMC Commando Knife goes, to quote Alfred Lief (1944 Business Life In America Series),
The British Model was reproduced with a much simpler construction, maintaining exact balance and dimensions and the cost was reduced by half!
Phil Gibbs recently reported that two fifty-five gallon drums of the unfinished blades were found in 1990's in their warehouse and some were assembled with pewter handles in lieu of the original zinc material.
Michael
