USMC Marine Raider Stiletto

[Dexter Ewing]

5677L99 USMC Raider Stiletto – with its 7-inch dagger style polished blade and knurled, die cast zinc “Coke bottle” shaped handle - the USMC Raider Stiletto was also another important fighting knife along with the #5684L77. “This knife is the rarest and most valuable model made by Camillus” states Camillus’ historian, Tom Williams. It was patterned after the famous Fairbairn-Sykes dagger, a tool known for effective “sentry removal.” Camillus basically modified the Fairbairn-Sykes design to make it more user friendly such as making the handle oval shaped as opposed to the Fairbairn’s round handle – which tended to have an effect on the user’s grip. In total, about 15,000 pieces were made, and a small percentage of that were made with Parkerized blades (model 5677L19). The coated ones were shipped off to the Canadian Airborne, and are the versions that are fetching most value out on the collector market today. Total amount produced: 14,370.

The above is an excerpt from my article on the history of the Camillus Cutlery Company, which appears on the company's website and also in the first issue of To The Point. I was able to track down a reproduction of this knife that Camillus did a few years ago, it made it in today. Thought you guys would like to see some cutlery history. Go here for a scan of the knife: http://albums.photopoint.com/j/ViewPhoto?u=55151&a=6956649&p=23478266

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AKTI Member # A000005
NC Knife Knuts Member
Living life "on the edge"




[This message has been edited by Dexter Ewing (edited 06-28-2000).]

 

[Will Fennell]

Dexter,
I'm not sure if I told you or not, but those commemoratives were made with a group of ORIGINAL WW2 Marine Raider blade blanks we found about 15 years ago in the plant. You have a REAL piece of history there! The Marine Raider Stellito is one of the most collectible US military knives ever. Enjoy!

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Stay Sharp!
Will Fennell
Camillus Cutlery
www.camillusknives.com

 

[CAman]

Nice picture. I saw some drawings of this a while back, but the picture is great.