Own a piece of history!!!
The Nickel-Plated Edition
History
In early 1942, a nucleus of Marine Raiders from both coasts was sent to Britain to train with the British Commandos and to bring back their fighting skills and to be the training cadre for the Raiders. While in Britain, they trained with the widely honored and admired British Commando Knife - called the Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife.
At the request of these Raiders, Lt.Col. (later Brig.Gen.) Clifford H. Shuey, USMC, redesigned the British F-S for American production and initiated its making for and issuance to the U.S. Marine Raiders. It was called the U.S. Marine Raider Stiletto.
During World War II, the Marine Raider Stiletto was used by Raiders both in combat and as a design element in various unit and individual symbols. Today it is central in the respected U.S. Marine Raider Training Center graduation award, a daily reminder to today's Raiders of their glorious World War II Raider heritage.
Also, today, this is one of the rarest and most valuable military fighting knives in existence - even rarer and more valuable than the early British Commando F-S Fighting Knives that inspired them! Further, by comparison, about 175 to 200 times as many of the M4 Trench Knives were made for the U.S. Army, versus Raider Stilettos. No wonder they are highly desirable among Military Knife and Marine Corps collectors.
None are found in collector "excellent" condition; the war and time took their toll, And in collector "good" condition the going rate is $2,500 and up. The currently available 75th Anniversary U.S. Marine Raider Stiletto provides a rare opportunity to own a "Blood-Brother" to the original, in "new" condition, and at about one-tenth the price of an original in very good condition, if you could ever find one for sale, while helping to support the U.S. Marine Raider Association.
Description
* The hilt of each Stiletto is cast of a half-pound of fine Pewter, which has been used for centuries in many knives. It will not crack or flake off, as the wartime Raider Stilettos do - those hilts were cast of an inexpensive, then-experimental Zinc-Aluminum alloy, which failed over time.
* This is the first time in history that this-style blade has ever been made of Stainless Steel, for long-term quality and beauty, with little maintenance. Double-edged, these are forged, hardened, tempered, hand-ground, sharpened and mirror polished in Sheffield England, by a wartime supplier, where original British Commando/F-S Fighting Knives were made. They are both battle-worthy and presentation quality.
*The Special Edition Marine Raider historical inscription is custom etched across the blade.
*On the blade reverse, custom etched are the trademark of H.G. Long & Co. of Sheffield England (established in 1847) and the Limited Edition Serial Number.
* A Certificate of Authenticity, signed by the President of the U.S. Marine Raider Association and the President (and Honorary Raider) of Historical Associates, is numbered to match your Limited Edition Stiletto and included.
