Unique, Super Rare Genuine Wwii Marine Raider Gung Ho Knife

UNIQUE, SUPER RARE GENUINE WWII MARINE RAIDER'GUNG HO' KNIFE. 18 knives made for the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion in the summer of 1942 - i. A genuine "Gung Ho" knife. It is truly the exception which proves the rule. By the known facts, by the knife's highly unusual - indeed unique - green and black green cattle horn handle scales, and by simple logic. As I pointed out in my article a signed copy of which I will supply with this knife. I will also include a copy of a more in-depth, but unpublished article,'The Marine Raider "Gung Ho" Knife' which documents my research, ALL Collins No. 18s (numbered and un-numbered) with 9 1/2 inch blades, the Collins No. 18 blade stamp, yellow brass crossguards and handle rivets, and green cattle horn handle scales were made in 1942 and are probably "Gung Ho" knives. Yet, only a couple of dozen or so have been verified by the Marine Raider Association as being genuine "Gung Ho's", and due to the impossibility of having any more documented by surviving Raiders after the passing of so many years, the prospect of having any more verified is nil. Because, in addition to having all of the correct characteristics described above, it has a truly unique handle made of green cattle horn scales, but with a light green scale on its left side and a unique, almost pure black, green cattle horn scale on its right side. As I point out in my article, the Collins Company's supply of green cattle horn ran out while it was manufacturing the 1,000 Collins No. 18 knives ordered by the Marine Corps for its 2nd Raider Battalion during the summer of 1942.

Consequently, it had to finish the order with the black plastic handles which it then used on all No. 18s it made until the company went out of business in 1966. Almost all green cattle horn is green. Most is a light green, but some is a bit darker. Logically, a highly reputable old company like the Collins Company (founded in 1826) would only have made its knives with MATCHING HANDLE SCALES for so long as such scales were available.

18s I have ever seen have had matching handle scales EXCEPT FOR THIS ONE. The only possible reason this unique, almost pure black, right handle scale would have been paired with a light green one is if it were the only remaining right handle scale available. Because the supply of right side green cattle horn scales had otherwise run out, which was exactly what happened while the "Gung Ho" knives were being made! Therefore, logically, this knife HAS TO BE A "GUNG HO"! It offers the discerning collector of U.

WWII fighting knives the opportunity to own one of only a handful of verifiably genuine "Gung Ho" knives carried by the Marines of the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion during WWII. I also realize this knife is not numbered with an etched number on its blade, as some so-called authorities erroneously say all genuine "Gung Ho" knives must have.

Henry and other true authorities state, only some - but not all - of the 1,000 "Gung Ho" knives were numbered. As shown by the photos, this true collectible has been carried, but is in excellent, unsharpened condition and it comes with its original Collins No. 13 sheath, also in excellent condition.