Manufactured by the Case Cutlery Company, the V-42 was inspired by the Fairbairn-Sykes Commando Knife and was designed for issue to the 1st Special Service Force, a Canadian-American composite unit trained for arctic warfare. Small numbers of V-42 knives were also issued by the U.S. Navy to Marine Raider Battalions and Ship Landing Units. The distinctive V-42 knife have a blued double edged spear point 7 1/8 inch blade with a serrated "thumb print" on the ricasso above the "Case" marking, oval cross guard with a leather pad on the underside, spiral-grooved leather washer grip and the flared and pointed "skull crusher" pommel. Overall length is 12 inches. Complete with a low hanging brown leather sheath with reinforcement staples and a leather thong.

Very fine as modified (tip shortened and reshaped slightly) with most of the original blue finish, showing a gray patina on the cross guard, high edges, and at the tip, along with some light spotting. The grip is very good, with a few light dings. Sheath is very good, with some cracking and dark spots. V-42's often saw heavy use in unforgiving climates, making top-quality examples such as this one very rare.