U.S. Marine Raider Stiletto
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The U.S. Marine Raider Stiletto was a stiletto issued to the Marine Raiders and 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion during World War II.
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[edit] Background
Knives previously available to the United States Marine Corps (USMC) were the U.S. Mark I Trench Knife, issued during World War I for trench warfare. The "knuckle duster" hilts of these knives were cumbersome and the Mark I was expensive to produce as the hilt contained nearly one pound of brass. These knives could not be held in the "fencing-grip" position, the preferred position for the thrust. In addition, the marines had the KA-BAR, which is a combination fighting/utility knife.
What was required by commandos like the Marine Raiders was a dagger designed solely for knife fighting, but none were available that met the requirements.
[edit] History
The history of the U.S. Marine Raider Stiletto begins at the Commando Training Centre, in Achnacarry, Scotland. The Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife was already in use at the training centre, before the Marine Raiders arrived for training. During the design phase for the U.S. Marine Raiders Stiletto, it was natural to pattern the stiletto after the Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife.
The U.S. Marine Raider Stiletto was the first knife in United States Marine Corps history to be designed by a U.S. Marine Corps officer, the then Lieutenant Colonel Clifford H. Shuey, who retired as a Brigadier General and was formerly in charge of the Engineer Division at Headquarters Marine Corps. The knife was designed in 1942 and officially issued to the Marines.[1]
The new knife was manufactured by the Camillus Cutlery Company with 15,000 knives produced; a relatively small number compared to the 2.5 million U.S. M-3 Trench Knives issued.
It is known that Scout groups of the 1st Marine Division were issued the stiletto and some members of the 1st Marine Parachute Battalion creatively acquired them, by barter and trade or by 'liberation' from the Quartermaster stores.
[edit] Specifications
The U.S. Marine Raider Stiletto was similar to the Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife. Both were designed hilt heavy, to lie in the hand, to prevent dropping the stiletto. Both had a tapered, double-edge blade with stiletto sharp tip and diamond shaped cross section, sharpened on both cutting edges all the way to the oval crossguard. They both had a slender symmetrical grip of "Coca-Cola bottle" shape and both weighed the same 1.5 lb (680 g).
The primary difference was that the U.S. Marine Raider Stiletto hilt was a one-piece construction, die-cast directly onto the blade tang, which is the extension of the blade shoulder, concealed by the knife grip.
The stiletto hilt was die cast using zinc aluminum alloy, which exhibited the desirable characteristics of sharp casting, low shrinkage, low cost and availability; however, it has been discovered that the zinc ions in this alloy have a tendency to leach out, leaving the metal brittle. As a result more than half of the few Raider Stilettos still in existence today have very fine hilt cracks or entire portions of the hilt missing with pieces having simply flaked off.
The stiletto blade was approximately one-quarter inch longer than the Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife and considerably thinner. It is believed that thinner design was a manufacturing compromise, rather than an attempt to increase the effectiveness of the blade.
[edit] Manufacturing
The Marine Raider Stiletto blade was "blanked" or stamped out of steel sheet stock. Had a thicker sheet metal gauge been used, it would have been more costly. In addition, it would have required more steel, a commodity, which had to be conserved during the war. The flat knife blank was then machined to the diamond cross section.
By comparison the Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife was more expensive to make, but stronger. It was drop forged to shape, a process, which strengthens the steel, then hand ground to final finish.
[edit] Sheath
Within the same basic model, four different variants of the Marine Raider sheath have been noted and identified. These variants include the four combinations of with and without steel staples at the throat portion of the sheath and with and without steel tip plates (1.75 in by 2 in), front and back of the sheath to prevent the sharp tip from piercing the scabbard and injuring the wearer.
The purpose of the row of staples at the throat was to prevent the sharp knife from slashing through the sheath. Unfortunately, these staples could severely scar the stiletto blade. It is believed that these sheath variants evolved by trial, as the late issues had both staples and plates.
[edit] Usage
The U.S. Marine Raider Stiletto was designed for one purpose, killing the enemy and its design was not compromised. The stiletto was a finely designed, almost delicate, single-purpose weapon, which did not include a variety of other tasks normally associated with a machete or utility knife.
The KA-BAR was and still is an excellent all around, multi-purpose utility and fighting knife, but when it comes to the thrust to a vital portion of the human body, the slender straight blade design of the stiletto is more efficient, concentrating more force than a broad bellied blade, such as a bowie knife.
Marine Raiders were instructed not to use their stiletto for throwing because once the knife was thrown; the Raider would no longer have a knife to use in combat.
USMC Major General Oscar F. Peatross a veteran of the famous, Makin Island raid and author of the book, Bless 'em All: The Raider Marines of World War II ISBN 0965232506 recalled about the stiletto:
| “ | "It was pointed out that it should never be thrown, as it was designed as a hand-held weapon to be used only in combat. It was also pointed out that it was brittle and would break even if just dropped, particularly the point." | ” |
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— M.G. Oscar F. Peatross, USMC retired
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Due to the thin tip, even thinner than the tip of the Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife, the stiletto was not designed to be used for opening ration cans or as a pry bar to open cases.
The Marine Raiders found they could fit the sheath behind the standard issue M1911 pistol holster by inserting the sheath body between the holster body and belt attachment flap and tying the tip of the sheath and holster together with the tie-down thong. This gave them more room on their web belt and made the pistol and stiletto available to the right hand.
[edit] 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion
The 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion was issued the U.S. Marine Raider Stiletto. Their U.S. made stiletto was identical to the Raiders except it had a parkerized blade and the hilt without the U.S.M.C. scroll and maker's name etched on the blade.[2] It is believed that as part of the original production run; 500 parkerized units were manufactured.[3]
Roy C. Rushton who served as a sniper with the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion reported about the stiletto:
| “ | "I was issued the knife you mention in 1943 or 1944 by our Quartermaster stores. I recall that it was darkened but I am unable to recall what was imprinted on the blade. Our knives were always referred to as "Killing Knives" and they were used to dispatch German soldiers on at least two occasions. Some training was provided on how to attack or defend from the front and how to attack from the rear." | ” |
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— Roy C. Rushton
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[edit] Collectors
As the U.S. Marine Raider Stiletto was the first Marine-designed and Marine-issued knife, it was issued to a special unit. The stiletto is one of the rarest knives in the world of military collecting, existing specimens are extremely expensive on the collector's market.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] Further reading
- Buerlein, Robert. (2002). Allied Military Fighting Knives: And The Men Who Made Them Famous. Paladin Press. ISBN 1581602901
- Flook, Ron. (1999). British and Commonwealth Military Knives. Howell Press Inc. ISBN 1574270923
- Walker, Greg. (1993). Battle Blades: A Professional's Guide To Combat/Fighting Knives. Paladin Press. ISBN 0873647327
[edit] External links
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