Original Items: Only One Available. This is an original and exceptionally scarce U.S. Marine Raider Stiletto manufactured by Camillus Cutlery Company in 1942, complete with a period leather scabbard and braided leather thong. Only 14,370 Marine Raider Stilettos were produced, making surviving examples far scarcer than the millions of standard U.S. fighting knives manufactured during WWII. Designed specifically for elite Marine Raider units and heavily influenced by the British Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife, the Raider Stiletto became one of the most distinctive American combat knives of the Pacific War. This example unquestionably saw hard use and has suffered significant deterioration to its fragile cast zinc handle, which has been broken and repaired, but it retains its original USMC scroll, visible Camillus blade markings, checkered grip, 7¼” double edged blade, and a very interesting period leather scabbard with what appears to be a scratched owner name on the reverse.

The Marine Raider Stiletto was developed in 1942 at a moment when the Marine Corps was creating specialized assault units intended for raids, reconnaissance, and aggressive small unit operations against Japanese positions in the Pacific.

The Marine Raiders drew heavily from the example of British Commandos. Their training, tactics, and equipment reflected that influence, and nowhere is it more obvious than in the design of this dagger.

The stiletto was patterned closely after the famous:

Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife

used by British Commandos and other special operations personnel.

The Fairbairn-Sykes emphasized the thrust rather than general utility use. Its narrow double edged blade, symmetrical grip, and balance were intended for close quarters fighting rather than cutting rope, opening crates, or performing the hundreds of ordinary camp tasks expected of a conventional field knife.

The U.S. Marine Corps wanted a similar purpose built fighting knife for the Raiders.

Lieutenant Colonel Clifford H. Shuey, a Marine officer serving with the Engineer Division at Headquarters Marine Corps, developed the American version. He retained the basic Fairbairn-Sykes concept but altered several construction details to simplify production and conserve strategic materials.

The result became known to collectors as the:

U.S. Marine Raider Stiletto

Camillus Cutlery Company produced the knife during 1942, with a total production of approximately:

14,370 examples

That comparatively small production run is one of the primary reasons authentic Raider Stilettos are so difficult to find today.

The knife was issued selectively rather than as a general Marine Corps fighting knife. Priority went to specialized units including the Marine Raiders, with examples also associated with Marine parachute and scout/sniper personnel.

The 1st Marine Raider Battalion under Colonel Merritt A. Edson and the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion under Lieutenant Colonel Evans F. Carlson became two of the best known American special operations formations of the early Pacific War.

Raider units participated in some of the most famous early American operations against Japan, including the raid on Makin Island, the fighting on Guadalcanal, and later operations in the Solomon Islands.

The knife’s specialized design, however, also proved to be its weakness.

While well suited to close quarters fighting, the long narrow blade and cast metal grip were not ideal for ordinary field chores. Marines frequently needed one knife to perform everything from opening ration crates to cutting vegetation, and the Raider Stiletto was simply too specialized and too fragile for many of those tasks.

By late 1943, it had largely been displaced by the far more versatile Marine Corps fighting and utility knife, the 1219C2, later universally associated with the name KA-BAR.

The handle of the Raider Stiletto was particularly innovative but ultimately problematic.

Instead of using the forged or machined grip construction of the British Fairbairn-Sykes, the Marine knife used a one piece die cast zinc alloy handle formed directly around the blade tang.

This reduced machining time and conserved higher priority metals.

Unfortunately, the zinc alloy did not age well.

Over time, many original handles developed fine cracks, swelling, flaking, or complete structural failure. This deterioration is one of the best known problems associated with surviving Raider Stilettos and explains why so many original examples are encountered today with cracked, repaired, partially missing, or entirely replaced handles.

This example displays exactly that characteristic deterioration.

The zinc handle has suffered heavy cracking and breakage and has been repaired.

Care should be taken when handling it because the repaired areas remain fragile.

Despite the damage, the original molded checkering remains clearly visible.

The original USMC scroll is also still present on the handle, an important identifying feature.

The blade markings remain visible on the ricasso and read:

CAMILLUS
CUTLERY
CO.
CAMILLUS
N.Y.

The markings have survived despite the knife’s obvious use and age.

The blade measures approximately:

7¼”

with an overall length of:

12⅜”

The blade retains the distinctive narrow, double edged stiletto form with diamond shaped cross section characteristic of the pattern.

Unlike a utility knife, the blade was intended primarily for thrusting. It was sharpened along both edges and tapered to an extremely narrow point.

The complete knife weighs relatively little and was designed to remain hilt heavy in the hand, reducing the tendency for it to slip during close quarters use.

The original design intentionally borrowed heavily from the balance and ergonomics of the Fairbairn-Sykes, though the Raider blade was slightly longer and considerably thinner.

The knife is accompanied by a period leather scabbard.

The scabbard remains in good overall condition with expected wear and areas of verdigris around its metal fittings.

The original securing strap is retained.

The belt hook also remains present.

At the front is an especially interesting detail: the original leather thong has been braided into a chain-like pattern, giving the scabbard considerable individual character.

The back of the scabbard also appears to have a name scratched into the leather:

Rahlins(?)

The inscription is difficult to read, and the exact spelling has not been confirmed. If correctly deciphered, it could potentially provide an avenue for further research, but at present we cannot connect it to a specific Marine or unit.

The scabbard itself deserves some clarification.

Marine Raider Stiletto scabbards are sometimes confused with the Army M6 leather scabbard used with the M3 fighting knife because both are leather combat knife scabbards of broadly similar appearance. However, documented Raider Stiletto scabbards had their own construction variations, including examples with and without reinforcing staples at the throat and with and without metal tip plates. Collector references also distinguish original Raider scabbards from standard M6 examples. (US Militaria Forum)

For that reason, without detailed photographs showing the scabbard construction, throat, rivets or staples, tip reinforcement, and dimensions, we would prefer to describe this simply as a period leather scabbard rather than definitively calling it an M6.

The condition of the knife is heavily service worn.

The cast zinc handle is the principal issue and shows extensive cracking, structural damage, and old repair.

Some portions of the surface have deteriorated considerably, although the checkering remains visible.

The blade shows use but retains its Camillus markings and overall stiletto profile.

The leather scabbard is in considerably better condition than the handle, though it shows expected wear and verdigris.

The securing strap and belt hook remain present.

The braided leather thong and possible scratched owner name add considerable personality to the group.

The Marine Raider Stiletto occupies a special place in U.S. edged weapon collecting because it represents a very specific moment in the development of American special operations forces.

It was conceived for elite troops, produced in very limited numbers, used during the early and extremely difficult Pacific campaigns, and replaced after only a relatively brief service life because its specialized fighting design was poorly suited to the broader demands placed on a Marine’s field knife.

Its construction also created its own built in scarcity. The fragile zinc handles have continued deteriorating for more than 80 years, meaning even damaged original examples are increasingly difficult to obtain.

With its original Camillus markings, surviving USMC scroll, checkered zinc grip, 7¼” double edged blade, period leather scabbard, braided leather thong, and possible named inscription, this is a highly evocative surviving example of one of the rarest purpose built U.S. fighting knives of WWII. The extensively cracked and repaired handle, general service wear, verdigris, and uncertain reading of the scabbard name are fully disclosed. For the advanced collector, its rarity and direct association with the Marine Raiders make it an important addition to a USMC Raider, Paramarine, Pacific War, Camillus, special operations, or WWII American edged weapons collection.

Dimensions:

Blade Length: 7¼”
Handle Length: 5”
Total Length: 12⅜”
Crossguard: 2"