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LOT 448 Outstanding OSS Stiletto with “Spatula” Pattern Sheath - One of the wartime alterations of the Fairbairn-Sykes Commando Knife, with the addition of a unique “spatula” or “pancake flipper” sheath that allowed for greater versatility in wear and concealment than a conventional leather hanger equipped sheath. One of the signature edged weapons of the Allied Powers, the F-S cast aside all notion of pulling double-duty as a utility knife, as it’s fine, hollow ground edges and needle point were optimized to cut one thing and one thing only; the enemy. Measuring 11 1/2 inches overall, with a 6 3/4 inch double edged blade, finished in full blue and mounted with a full length tang with round pommel nut. The cross guard is also blue steel in a flat oval configuration, with a knurled and blackened brass grip in the traditional contoured profile. No proof marks or manufacturer’s stamps are present, which is appropriate for this style. The sheath is the signature OSS “spatula” design with a stitched brown leather sheath riveted to a green steel frame, which fully supports the back, protects the tip and ends with a wide hanger with four mounting slots and a hooked segment for a rubber o-ring to retain the stiletto; the o-ring is damaged and partially absent. CONDITION: Excellent plus, as issued, with 98% plus blue overall, light scattered handling marks overall. Some portions of the o-ring (which
appears to have melted from exposure to sunlight, ambient heat or friction) are stuck to the hilt and blade, and a few spots of bright brass are present on the checkering. The sheath is also excellent, with some bright wear on the spatula from contact with the stiletto, strong enamel finish, and mild handling marks. Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection. Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 449
Very Scarce World War II Carlson Ordered Period Copy of the Collins Number 18 “Gung Ho” Marine Raider Knife with Sheath - This Camilus Number 18 knife comes with a photocopy of a page from an unidentified book which shows
Colonel Evans C. Carlson, son of Brigadier General Evans F. Carlson of Carson’s Raiders fame, holding an identical knife. Carlson, who was himself a platoon leader of 3 Company, 2nd Raiders, reportedly ordered 1000 of these knives from a maker in New Zealand for the 1st Battalion, 21st Marines, where they were fabricated from a combination of Australian carbon steel and die cast aluminum. The knife measures 14 inches overall, with a 9 inch long and quarter inch thick clip point blade and a one-piece cast aluminum hilt. The sheath is brown leather, with tooled decoration and Collins Legitimus markings. CONDITION: Fine. The blade shows a mixed gray and brown patina with mild spotting and some shallow pitting. The blade is very good and has been sharpened, with some nicks visible at the tip and about an inch above the guard. The hilt is fine, and the holster shows some light scuffs. Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection. Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500
LOT 450
Historic Third Pattern Fairbairn-Sykes Commando Dagger with Sheath, Identified to an American University Professor and Football Coach - According to an included note, this F-S knife, sheath and dog tag set were the property of Doctor Friedrich “Fritz” Febel, an Assistant Professor of health, physical education and recreation at the University of Buffalo as well as a football coach for the Buffalo Bulls (sic, not the Buffalo Bills, assistant 1936-1942, head 1952-
1954). Measuring 11 1/2 inches overall with a 6 3/4 inch spear point blade with a diamond cross section and short triangular ricasso flats. The guard is blued steel in a flat oval pattern, with “(broad arrow) B2” stamped on the underside, and the hilt is darkened ribbed brass with “3” cast into the side. The brass- tipped leather sheath has had the belt hanger removed, with a dog tag wrapped around the center marked “FRIEDRICH
FEBEL/36756192 T43 44 O”; this combination of markings would indicate an enlisted draftee from the Sixth Corps Area (Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, parts of Missouri). Included with the dagger are two German propaganda leaflets, one titled “Nettuno ...Bloody Shit” (addressed to British troopers at the Nettuno landing site during the Battle of Anzio, implying that their American allies had left them holding the bag; a hand-written note indicates the same note with the wording reversed was
dropped on American units in Anzio) and another titled “Mail Call” (framed as a U.S. POW reporting that neither Churchill or Roosevelt cared about the Atlantic Charter, and all other agreements were potentially moot), both with a general theme of “surrender now, ride out the war in a POW camp, and (for “Bloody Shit”) bring a blanket and some extra underwear”. A third propaganda leaflet, untranslated, features a Tojo caricature with a bloody sword, women and children haunted by a specter of death and overrun with snakes and other vermin in his wake. A pair of pictures of a man, one in civilian garb and one in a Staff Sergeant’s uniform, are included, one marked on back to identifying the man as Fritz Febel. Finally, an October 1943 award document for the German Cross in Silver to an Oberst (Colonel) Ulrich Dorn. CONDITION: Fine overall. The blade shows some polishing marks (particularly around the tip), and retains over 75% of the bright, strong blue finish overall. The hilt shows well aged brass patina on most of he surface, with original blackened finish in the protected areas. The sheath and tag show areas of unidentified residue, but are in generally fine condition. Provenance: The Putnam Green/Sycamore Collection. Estimate: 1,400 - 2,250
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