Manufactured in 1943, the Case V42 Stiletto was patterned after the British Fairbairn-Sykes commando knife based on input from officers of the First Special Service Force. A joint American-Canadian Unit, the 1st SSF was conceived as an elite Arctic warfare unit, intended to use the glaciers of occupied Norway as a staging ground for long-term harassment of the Axis. When this plan was laid aside, the 1st SSF instead fought in Italy and Southern France, where their highly advanced and rigorous training made them a nightmare for their opponents. The lessons learned by the unit would inform later American and Canadian attempts at building elite fighting units, making them the spiritual forefather of the modern U.S. Army Special Forces as well as the Canadian Special Operations Regiment. The stiletto measures 12 1/2 inches overall, with a 7 1/4 inch blade, fine hollow-ground edges leading to an asymmetrical needle point and a long ricasso with distinctive serrated "thumb print" thumb rest over the "Case" marking. The flat oval guard is fitted with a leather pad on the grip side, leading directly into the serrated leather grip and capped with a flared steel pommel with "skull-crusher" spike. The sheath is brown leather with steel and brass studs, steel reinforcement plates on either side above the tip, and a steel web belt hook. Some modifications were made to the sheath, with the top shortened and a conventional 2-slit belt loop added, a common modification; the original "long drop" sheath was designed to clear a heavy winter parka which the 1st SSF didn't need in Italy and the Raiders never needed in the Pacific. Additionally, the front plate has been stamped "SIMON" and the body has a struck-out marking over "E-12". The struck-out section appears to be "USS Oxxxx", suggesting an American ship name later struck out for personal or security reasons.

Excellent. The blade shows 97% plus original blue finish, with minor wear along the edges, with a bright steel appearance on the guard and mild spotting on the pommel. The guard pad is starting to loosen up, and a tiny crack is present in the grip near the pommel, otherwise the hilt leather is fine. The sheath is very good with the noted modifications, showing a few light scuffs and stains. Case V42's are hard to find in any condition, and particularly hard to find in so fine a condition, particularly on the blade, and one might be able to decipher the markings on the sheath enough to have a clue as to where and when this stiletto was used in the service of the United States. If you've been on the lookout for a high-condition V42, this is the one.