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. Due to FSSF's original conception as an alpine warfare unit, the V-42 was bundled with a signature "long drop" sheath, designed to clear the bottom of a military-issue parka while worn on the belt. Overall, the stiletto measures 12 1/2 inches, with a 7 inch blade featuring a needle point and hollow ground edges, along with the "thumb print" oval panel over the "CASE" marking. A slight upturn can be seen in the guard, with a leather grip and blued steel "skull crusher" pommel. Original brown leather long drop sheath is included, with staple-reinforced mouth and edges, along with a black box.