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LOT 1449
Attractive Case
V-42 Stiletto with Sheath - A
descendant of the Fairbairn-Sykes
combat knife, the V-42 Stiletto was designed with input from members of the First Special Service Force, the
joint American/ Canadian arctic and
mountain
warfare unit that is considered one
of the forefathers of modern American Special Forces. The
majority went to the 1st SSF, but around
70 were diverted to the Navy and among the armament issued to the light cruiser U.S.S. Omaha. The stiletto measures 12 1/2 inches overall with a 7 1/4 inch double
edged, hollow ground blade showing the signature serrated “thumbprint” on the ricasso above “CASE”. The alloy guard is fitted with a thick leather finger pad
on the underside with a ribbed leather washer
grip and distinctive “skull crusher” pommel. The brown leather sheath is in the
original SSF-style “long drop” configuration, with staple and rivet reinforcement, and a faint hand-marking starting with “Lt.” on the back.
CONDITION: Very fine, with
85% plus original blue finish, showing bright edge wear, light handling marks, and minor spotting. The edges remain straight and sharp, and the
tip retains the original “needle point” profile. A small amount of play is present in the guard, with some minor scratches
on the leather. The sheath is fine, with some cracking and staining, along with a typical crease in the belt loop just above the retention strap. Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 1450
Grouping of Insignia and Artifacts from a Lieutenant with the 503rd Parachute Regimental Combat Team - Per an included note, the items in this lot are the former property
of a Lieutenant Thomas R. Marshall of G Company, 503rd PRCT. Put together with the 503rd Parachute Battalion as the nucleus, the 503rd PRCT would see multiple actions in the Pacific, most prominently a combat
drop on Corregidor in 1945 and
multiple actions in support of
the liberation of the Philippines.
The PCRT would go inactive in
December of 1945, though the
unit was effectively dismantled
earlier, the bulk being either
sent home or retasked to the
11th Airborne Division for occupation duty. Available records show Thomas Marshall as a resident of Buffalo, New York and a student at the University of Indiana at the time of his joining the Army, with newspaper reports placing him as part of the pre- PRCT 503rd PIR’s air assault on Dutch New Guinea, the first American parachute action in the Pacific. Due to a misdrop, he was separated from his unit, hit a palm tree on the way down, and badly sprained both of his ankles, spending the better part of two whole days alone in the jungle crawling to get help. Other records verify his recovery and rejoining the unit for Corregidor. After the war, he would finish his studies in Indiana, get a masters degree from the University of Buffalo, and settle down with a lady he met in Indiana. Included with the grouping is a garrison style cap with black/gold trim, parachute patch and 1st Lieutenant bar, a silk “meatball” pattern flag, leather nametag and dogtags marked for Marshall, three crossed-rifle Infantry badges, embroidered cloth jump wings, five Lieutenant’s bars (2 metal 2nd LT, 1 metal 1st LT, and one each in cloth), two 3-pence British coins, and three “ruptured duck” honorable discharge pins.
CONDITION: Very good overall, showing minor wear.
Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection.
Estimate: 2,000 - 4,000
LOT 1451
Desirable World War II U.S. Kinfolks M3 Combat Knife, Early Blade Marked, with Sheath - Used as the primary U.S. fighting knife of World War II, the M3 knife was introduced
to service with the right flat of the blade used as a location for the maker’s marks. While a nice,
concerns were raised that the blade stamps could have a negative effect on the strength of the knife, so only the earliest M3s are so marked. 11 5/8 inches overall, with a blued 6 3/4 inch blade with a spear point, sharpened false edge,
and “U.S. M3 KINFOLKS 1943” on the right flat. The guard and pommel are blued, with the guard unmarked and a “flaming bomb” stamp on the pommel next to the tang, and a ribbed leather washer grip. With a brown leather M6 sheath, marked “U.S.M6/BARWOOD/1943.” with steel reinforcement plates and integral hanger.
CONDITION: Excellent, with the blade, guard, and pommel retaining 95% plus of the original blue
finish with light edge and handling
marks. The grip is also excellent with
light handling evidence. A standout
example of an early M3 combat knife
from one of the more r
are manufacturers.
Provenance: The Putnam Green/
Sycamore Collection.
Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500
LOT 1452
Grouping of United States Army Airborne Patches and Insignia - Grouping includes three
custom engraved silver jump wings (two to the 457th Field Artillery, one to the 152nd Anti-
Aircraft), four glider wings (all marked “1946/SENDAI JAPAN” on the back), three combined jump/
glider wings, a custom belt buckle made out to a Billy Carrow of the 503rd PIR with “CORREGIDOR”
at the bottom, an embroidered set of American flag and jump wing patches (both noted as French construction), and unit patches for the 456th Parachute Artillery, 462nd Field Artillery, 187th Glider Infantry, 152nd Anti-Aircraft, 457th Field Artillery, and the 674th Field Artillery.
CONDITION: Fine overall, with mild wear and stains.
Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection.
Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000 327