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Rare Documented 1st Special Service Force Case V-42 Combat Knife

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:3,000.00 USD Estimated At:6,500.00 - 12,000.00 USD
Rare Documented 1st Special Service Force Case V-42 Combat Knife
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Case V-42 Combat knife with original leather scabbard. This knife was issued to Staff Sergeant Arthur E. Duebner, 2nd Regiment, 1st Special Service Force. Sergeant Duebner carried the V-42 as a member of the 1st Special Service Force during the invasion of Kiska, Aleutian Islands in 1943, in the battles of Mt. LaDifnesa and Anzio in Italy and the amphibious landing in Southern France in 1944. When the 1st Special Service Force was disbanded in December 1944, S/SGT Duebner volunteered for duty with the 504th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. As a member of the 504th Infantry S/SGT Duebner fought in the battle of the Bulge and the Rhineland and Central European campaigns. Sergeant Duebner was wounded in action three times; twice in Italy and once in the Ardennes. The V-42 knife has a 7 5/16" stiletto blade with distinctive 'Thumbprint" on the obverse ricasso. The bright steel guard is backed with leather. The handle is made of serrated leather washers and the steel butt has a sharp point. The blade is marked "CASE" below the "Thumbprint". The russet leather scabbard is 20" long and has a riveted belt loop at the top. There are eight steel staples in the scabbard throat and seven lozenge-shaped staples on each side of the scabbard body. The original russet tie-down strap is attached to the brass loop at the tip of the scabbard. The face of the scabbard is marked: "S/SGT/ARTHUR E. DUEBNER/F.S.S.F.". The knife and scabbard are complete with a detailed account of S/SGT Duebner's service with the 1st Special Service Force and 82nd Airborne during WWII, five photographs of S/SGT Duebner in Italy and Germany during the war and 1st Special Service Force and 82nd Airborne shoulder patches. Also included in the group are copies of several wartime newspaper accounts of S/SGT Duebner's military service, zerox copies of 60 wartime photographs of S/SGT Duebner and fellow soldiers in Italy and Germany and S/SGT Duebner's original copy of "A COMMEMORATIVE HISTORY/FIRST SPECIAL SERVICE FORCE/JULY, 1942 - JANUARY, 1945". The history contains bibliographies of 1st Special Service Force veterans including S/SGT Duebner.
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Condition: Fine. The knife shows the finish wear expected of a weapon carried during two years of combat; 30% of the original blue finish are present on protected areas of the blade and pommel. The blade has a smooth bright finish with no nicks in the edge and no scratches or pitting. The very fine leather grip washers show moderate handling wear with some nicks in the side. The tip of the pointed steel pommel is sharp. The scabbard is in very good condition with moderate handling wear. The stitching is tight and all of the staples and rivets are in place. The scabbard has the original russet leather tie-down strap. This is a fine example of a rare, fully documented, 1st Special Service Force V-42 Combat knife.