First Special Service Force
6th CO, 3rd REG
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Forum Home > S4, Supplies & logistics, FSSF HQ > V-42 Stiletto

papajoad
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Posts: 22 		The V-42 Stiletto made by W.R.Case & Sons Cutlery Company of Bradford, Pennsylvania.  The V-42 was designed by Colonel Frederick and FS-4 Major Orvil Baldwin.  The "V" in the designation stood officially for "Victory" and the "42" represented the vintage.

   The overall length was 12.5 inches, with the blade being 7 3/16 inches long, double hollow-ground.  On the ricasso was a grooved "thumbprint" to aid in thrusting.  The hilt was fashioned from finely grooved leather washers and a leather pad was incorporated into the back of the slightly down-turned metal crossguard.  Toping the hilt was a temple spike, all metal parts were blued.

   The horsehide sheath was twenty inches long.  They were sewn together and reinforced with 7 rivets down each side, some have staples.  A single grommet eyelet at the base for a leather thong and a metal staple at the throat.  There was a belt loop at the top.  These sheaths were necessarily long so that the knives would hang below the tail of the long ski parkas.  Only members of the Force combat echelon were issued the V-42.

Case manufactured 3500 knives.  The first 1750 were delivered to the Force on Nov. 1942.  The next shipment was 70 in Feb. 1942, 100 more in June 1943 and then 900 knives in Nov 1943, for a total of 3,423 knives, 70 went to the U. S. Navy, the first 500 knives were serial # 1 - 500.
March 16, 2009 at 10:09 PM Flag Quote & Reply

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