History V-42 stiletto

us army special forces unit crest featuring v-42

after receiving drawings of proposed knife designers, prototypes of v-42 submitted 3 knifemaking companies - camillus cutlery co., case cutlery, , cattaraugus cutlery co.. captain dermot michael pat o neill, first special service force s close-combat instructor , former detective sergeant of shanghai municipal police (the same police force in fairbairn , sykes had served), recalled col. frederick selected case prototype , gave authority acquisition.

first issued in 1942, v-42 standard issue fighting knife issued fssf, members referred force knife or v-42 stiletto. members of force trained extensively in use, though members of force s combat echelon issued own v-42 knife. in combat, v-42 proved excellent thrusting weapon penetrate leather , heavy clothing, though needle tip stick when contacting bone after deep thrust, making knife difficult withdraw. has claimed force members re-ground points of knives alleviate this, baldwin said differences due variations in production, knives hand-ground , largely hand-made.

some 70 v-42 knives issued short u.s. marine corps raider knife scabbards. confirmed case cutlery shipping records, indicate 70 v-42 knives procured u.s. navy , sent brooklyn navy depot in late 1942 , 1943. knives issued in 1943 crewmen serving in uss omaha landing force , armed boat party while ship off florida coast @ start of south atlantic war patrol, searching german commerce raiders , blockade runners. while uss omaha did encounter german blockade runners, there no recorded instances of v-42 being employed against opponent in combat. 70 v-42s procured u.s. navy known v-42 knives sent unit or branch outside first special service force.

the v-42 depicted on badges of canadian special operations forces command, canadian forces joint task force 2 , 1 of united states army special forces badges.

w. r. case & sons cutlery co. manufactured post-war version 1989 until 1993.