I have a growing collection of WW2 Allied knives. I am always looking to upgrade my “placeholders”. Recently, I acquired what I believed to be a solid specimen of a Camillus WW2 Marine Raider Stiletto. However, even before buying, I noted the absence of the USMC Scroll and Camillus Maker’s Mark etchings in the pictures, which the seller was upfront about. Even so, I held out hope that I would be able to make out at least a trace of the markings because I have been able to do so with even the worst of my previous 4 specimens even when others could not. Less than 15,000 of these were ever made, and even fewer have survived the past 80 years intact due to impurities in most of the experimental Zinc Aluminum Alloy batches used for casting the handles.
Upon receipt of the knife, I realized that it was indeed likely a Camillus WW2 Stiletto, but that there was no hope of finding any etchings and decided to re-sell it on eBay because I am a Marine Veteran and won’t settle for a placeholder without even a faintest “USMC” on it. The knife generated lots of views and watchers immediately, but there were no bids for 4 days. I got a few PM’s asking specifically about Camillus authenticity and the lack of markings even though I had been clear about the lack thereof in the description.
Frustrated, I began to research and took a closer look at both the knife and the scabbard and noted several important details that were not evident from the seller’s original photos alone:
1. The missing etchings are completely gone! No evidence they were removed, and not even a trace that they had ever been there.
2. The handle was completely intact, but was a couple shades darker than the usual grey Zinc patina. Upon viewing under magnification, there is a worn, but uniform coating on the handle making the entire thing look darker. This is similar to the Canadian versions I have viewed virtually.
3. The blade has numerous dark areas that appear to be unrelated to corrosion or pitting. This darkened blade metal is concentrated at the hilt and in the shadow of the blade spine where friction would be less when inserting into the sheath. This is very similar to the Canadian models showing wear to the Parkerized coating.
5. The Mosser sheath is the correct version for all the Canadian issued Stilettos and is darker than normal overall, particularly between the reinforcing staples where the blade is most scraped. Some Raider versions were mated with the earlier non-reenforced M6 sheaths.
6. There is a name stenciled on the back which matches about a half dozen Marine Raiders and at least two 1st Canadian Paras.
7. I purchased the knife from a seller within a 300 mile radius of a major Canadian city. The Canadian Paras trained in the U.S. and many settled here post war.
After doing some additional research, I have concluded that this knife is indeed an authentic WW2 Camillus Stiletto, but that it is likely an even rarer model made for the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion. It is believed that only 500 of this model were ever manufactured. The key differences being the lack of markings on the blade and the other above listed details. This possibility had never occurred to me since so few of these model variations exist today and the sellers photos were out of focus and in poor lighting.
As I realized that I was unable to eliminate the possibility that this was the much rarer Canadian version, I began to update my eBay description. I finally decided to remove the listing completely pending more research. I would like to be able to tell potential buyers what they are bidding on in order to avoid returns, dissatisfaction, and cheating myself.
Please look at this knife and let me know if you think it is a Camillus Marine Raider or a 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion Stiletto. I am not asking for valuation, because I can figure that out on my own. I just need to authenticate which version it really is. I may even decide to keep it long term due to the uniqueness and solid structure of the Stiletto regardless of which model it turns out to be.
WW2 Camillus Canadian Stiletto?
Upon receipt of the knife, I realized that it was indeed likely a Camillus WW2 Stiletto, but that there was no hope of finding any etchings and decided to re-sell it on eBay because I am a Marine Veteran and won’t settle for a placeholder without even a faintest “USMC” on it. The knife generated lots of views and watchers immediately, but there were no bids for 4 days. I got a few PM’s asking specifically about Camillus authenticity and the lack of markings even though I had been clear about the lack thereof in the description.
Frustrated, I began to research and took a closer look at both the knife and the scabbard and noted several important details that were not evident from the seller’s original photos alone:
1. The missing etchings are completely gone! No evidence they were removed, and not even a trace that they had ever been there.
2. The handle was completely intact, but was a couple shades darker than the usual grey Zinc patina. Upon viewing under magnification, there is a worn, but uniform coating on the handle making the entire thing look darker. This is similar to the Canadian versions I have viewed virtually.
3. The blade has numerous dark areas that appear to be unrelated to corrosion or pitting. This darkened blade metal is concentrated at the hilt and in the shadow of the blade spine where friction would be less when inserting into the sheath. This is very similar to the Canadian models showing wear to the Parkerized coating.
5. The Mosser sheath is the correct version for all the Canadian issued Stilettos and is darker than normal overall, particularly between the reinforcing staples where the blade is most scraped. Some Raider versions were mated with the earlier non-reenforced M6 sheaths.
6. There is a name stenciled on the back which matches about a half dozen Marine Raiders and at least two 1st Canadian Paras.
7. I purchased the knife from a seller within a 300 mile radius of a major Canadian city. The Canadian Paras trained in the U.S. and many settled here post war.
After doing some additional research, I have concluded that this knife is indeed an authentic WW2 Camillus Stiletto, but that it is likely an even rarer model made for the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion. It is believed that only 500 of this model were ever manufactured. The key differences being the lack of markings on the blade and the other above listed details. This possibility had never occurred to me since so few of these model variations exist today and the sellers photos were out of focus and in poor lighting.
As I realized that I was unable to eliminate the possibility that this was the much rarer Canadian version, I began to update my eBay description. I finally decided to remove the listing completely pending more research. I would like to be able to tell potential buyers what they are bidding on in order to avoid returns, dissatisfaction, and cheating myself.
Please look at this knife and let me know if you think it is a Camillus Marine Raider or a 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion Stiletto. I am not asking for valuation, because I can figure that out on my own. I just need to authenticate which version it really is. I may even decide to keep it long term due to the uniqueness and solid structure of the Stiletto regardless of which model it turns out to be.
WW2 Camillus Canadian Stiletto?
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