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Updated March 2008
Quote
The Enemy
Somewhere a True Believer is training to kill you. He is training with minimal food or water, in austere conditions, training day and night. The only thing clean on him is his weapon. He made his own web gear. He doesn't worry about what workout to do - his ruck weighs what it weighs, his runs end when the enemy stops chasing him. This True Believer is not concerned about 'how hard it is;' he knows either he wins or dies. He doesn't go home at 17:00, he is home.
He knows only The Cause.Unknown.
Sea Wolf Knives Revisited
Gus Marsh was with the US Navy and from 1967-1970 with UDT-13 in the Philippines and Vietnam. He made 26 of the three-piece diving knife for his SEAL and UDT buddies. The most visible difference between the two knives is that the three-piece knives have no name on the handle. From 1980-1984 he made about 200 Seawolf diving knives and sold them at Gun Shows in California, Arizona and Nevada. These knives were made from 440C stainless steel and hardened to the Rockwell C scale of 57-58. He retail sold them for $150.00 each with either a leather or kydex sheath. Gus has not made anymore since 1984. In 1986 Gus sold the rights to the Seawolf knife to Mike England from Oklahoma, who according to Gus never paid him for it. Mike has since died and Gus has moved on. The above information is right from Gus.
Some Interesting Vietnam War Facts.......
The oldest KIA was 63 years old.......the youngest KIA was 15 years old.......at least 5 KIA's were 16 years old.......at least 12 KIA's were 17 years old.......at least 25,000 KIA's were 20 years old or younger.......17,000 KIA's were married.......997 KIA's were killed their 1st day in Vietnam.......1,448 KIA's were killed their last day in Vietnam.......8 women were KIA.......50,112 KIA were white.......7,264 KIA were black.......115 KIA were asian.......226 KIA were American Indian.......467 KIA were listed as other.......38,196 ARMY.......2,555 NAVY....... 2,583 AIR FORCE.......14,837 MARINES.......7 COAST GUARD.I thought I might add that the 50,112 Caucasian KIA's include 3,070 Hispanics. The U.S. government did not begin keeping separate statistics on Hispanics until 1979.
Thanks to Bill Humes and Gunbarrel for the above info.
Excerpt from Rex Applegate
In June of 1940 the bulk of the British army, reeling from the advancing German blitzkrieg, was evacuated from the French beaches at Dunkirk to safety across the English Channel. The British nation licked its wounds and reorganized for a total was effort. It was a discouraging and bleak picture that faced the nation when Winston Churchill was called from political obscurity to lead the battle against Germany. In times of extreme national adversity it is not uncommon-as in Churchill's case- for gifted men to appear on the scene. Such men were W.E. Fairbairn and E.A. Sykes. Had it not been for World War II, they well have lived out their retirements in relative obscurity in the Far East. Then the modern fighting man would never have benefited from their experiences and skills in hand-to-hand combat. It was my good fortune, because of assignment to the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), to work with both "Dan" Fairbairn and "Bill" Sykes. During the six months of 1942, my association with Fairbairn took place at one of the first OSS training centers, designated Area B, near Thurmont, Maryland. (The site of Area B is now known as Camp David and serves as the presidential retreat). Later in 1942 I had a tour of duty in England in the area of Fort Williams and Achnacarry, Scotland. It was here that I had the opportunity to work with Sykes. Both Fairbairn and Sykes were close to retirement from the Shanghai police when they were called to active duty and given the rank of captain. They were declared too old for combat duty and were assigned to training operations. Stories abound, however, of how they tried to circumvent their non-combat classification in favor of front-line service. Looking back over forty years to my associations with these famous fighting men, I have several lasting impressions. Fairbairn was the more flamboyant and aggressive of the two. He had a more basic interest in unarmed combat and knife-fighting techniques. Sykes, a more reserved individual, had more expertise in firearms. Both excelled in all phases of close combat with and without weapons. Fairbairn always carried his razor sharp, First Pattern F-S knife in its sheath sewn to the lining of the right-hand pocket of his battle dress uniform. He frequently, and unexpectedly, would draw the knife from its concealed location and place the point at either the throat of stomach of various OSS personnel whom he was meeting for the first time. Needless to say, he got their attention and left more then a lingering impression. One night at the Army and Navy Club in Washington after a number of scotch and sodas, he stuck himself in the thigh while sheathing the knife. What the British call a "bloody mess" ensued. One of my most prized possessions is a Wilkinson Sword F-S knife given to me by Dan Fairbairn in the summer of 1942. My first meeting with Sykes was short on conversation. Sykes outfitted me with a brand new Sten Gun and a Webley revolver and had me run through a combat course in the basement of a medieval Scottish castle. He had installed a comprehensive combat range complete with targets in German uniforms (that fired blanks at the trainee), booby traps, and other devices. Apparently, I did well enough because a close relationship with Sykes followed. Sykes died of pneumonia late in the war. After the end of hostilities, Fairbairn, who spent the later war years in the United States, was promoted to lieutenant colonel and was active for a number of years on various training assignments. He died at his home in England in the 1960s. Both men left a legacy of close combat techniques and training methods that are in use to this day. But the Fairbairn-Sykes knife was undoubtedly their most famous contribution to the fighting men of their own and postwar generations. The Fairbairn-Sykes Commando dagger in its various configurations is certainly the most famous, special issue combat blade in modern military history. Although of British origin, it has become equally famous on this side of the Atlantic. Its original design has spawned imitations and variations that are still being manufactured. Beautifully executed commemorative knives, made by the original manufacturer, Wilkinson Sword are being marketed to collectors and persons interested in World War II weapons and memorabilia. As recently as the Argentine-British war in the Falklands, it was reported that special units of the British Army. The fighting men and the public throughout the free world recognizes the symbolism of crossed F-S knives on shoulder patches and other insignia, indicating elite troops and offensive military operations.Col. Rex Applegate
The Army and Navy Club
Washington, D.C.
USMC BOYT 43 Sheath
I just purchased on eBay a sheath marked USMC / Boyt / 43. As you may know this is a fairly elusive sheath to find and a great addition to a World War Two era 1219C2 Fighting / Utility knife in any collection. The sheath was in mint condition and although the marking was lightly struck it is no doubt to what it reads. The sheath is tightly stitched and has the proper nine (9) brass staples around the perimeter stitching for added reinforcement should the stitching split or in some way come undone. The sheath was relatively inexpensive, heck it was downright cheap and except for the fact that is it newly made every thing would have been great. That’s right folks the USMC / BOYT / 43 marked Mk2 sheath is being reproduced. Shown here are a few photographs of the sheath and the markings. The large brass snap is a plain giveaway and if you compare the old and the new the font on the stamping is different. It is a quality sheath but be aware they are out there and will no doubt be aged and passed off to the unsuspecting.
A New Book in the Works
Well we just finished taking a few hundred photographs of some of the finest M3 Trench Knives on the planet. Every possible combination of markings and configuration you could possibly think of and then some or so it seemed. My back still hurts from thinking about it. M6 sheaths still in the packaging along side the M8 and M8A1’s of different eras were included as well. Knives still in the original boxes with the printing on the outside as well as post war factory examples and even a few theatre modified as well. Some factory experimental’s were also on hand and a few more still to do. Then if that alone wasn’t enough the M4 bayonet was added as well. World War Two era pieces, wood handles, rubber handles, and the more modern era plastic handles were all included. Again all possible types and markings were included. This collection of knives and bayonets was impressive to say the least. Several more pieces that were not available are being scheduled for a photo shoot and examination.So any way the pieces were all assembled to shoot the photos for the new book by Vince Coniglio and Doug Yates. The United States M3 Trench Knife and M4 Bayonet-Knife; 1943 to Present. That’s right, the Coniglio M3 book is in the works for and update. No date for publication has been set so far but the two gentlemen are getting all the parts together. Along with all the photos I dumped hundreds of documents on the guys, many that have not been written about and all sorts of small minutiae about the knives and the bayonets. It looks like it is underway and should be a welcome new addition to the collecting world.
The new book and Vince and Doug unpacking some Good Stuff!
El Presidente of Cuba wears a Mark 2
Here is a photograph sent to us by good friend Miguel Carrillo Diaz. It shows the image of from left to right, Raúl Castro -the new President of Cuba, Fidel Castro and Camilo Cienfuegos circa 1959, somewhere in the Cuban mountains of Sierra Maestra during the revolution against the troops of General Batista. It seems that Raul is carrying a Mark 2 knife to me! Great photo, thanks Miguel!
Looks to be a Mark 2 to me...
E-Mails…
Last month we ran a piece about deals still being out there. We also received quite a bit of mail on the subject both pro and con for a multitude of reasons. To me they are light hearted stories and give me the will to press on, thinking that next piece may be just around the corner for me. It helps to balance out the negatives about the fakes and forgeries as well. Here is one of the best e-mails received…Now, let's see, believe it was the "father-in-law" (?) who
bought the Case "V42" Ships Landing Force knife from
a friend for $200.00 (same as Special Service Force ? -
almost hope the guy is pulling "our collective leg" - lol)!
And the "rough" estimated value, of the genuine article
"V42" in the condition displayed in those photos would
be how many thousands - what do you think - are they
still "friends" ? ? ? If the "tale" truly occurred as told - I
would be inclined to believe the gentleman has already
passed right by "living right"... and is moving full speed
ahead in the direction of "saint-hood"! Thank you again
and will be in touch...
