United States. A First Special Service Force V-42 Stiletto by W.R. Case & Sons

Purchased directly from the estate of a Special Service Forces member. A rare and desirable V-42 stiletto measuring 320 mm in length, with a 190 mm-long magnetic metal blade with a sharpened tip and edges. The obverse ricasso features a grooved thumb rest, facilitating a secure grip during combat use. The blade presents plain with the exception of an obverse maker’s mark of “CASE” for the firm of W.R. Case & Sons of Bradford, Pennsylvania. The blade sits firmly within a plain magnetic metal upper crossguard, transitioning into a ribbed, blackened, boiled leather handle. The stiletto completes with a sharpened magnetic metal pommel, allowing for use as a secondary weapon during close combat. It is accompanied by its period original scabbard, constructed of brown leather. The structure is maintained by twelve magnetic metal rivets, with six distributed on each side, in addition to a hollow metal rivet at the bottom. The throat additionally bears eight metal staples. It completes with a belt loop, secured together by dual magnetic metal rivets. The interior of the belt loop features a leather band with a functional magnetic metal snap button, securely holding the stiletto in place during storage. Oxidation to the metal features is evident throughout, as is material fatigue and deterioration to the leather elements. The stiletto is in an overall very fine condition.