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USMC WWII Marine Raider bowie knife

D-62 USMC WWII Marine Raider Battalion large bowie knife. Formed by Col. Evan Carlson, "Carlson's Raiders" as they came to be known, had incredible "esprit de corps" and emphasized it by carrying large bowie bladed fighting knives. Some were factory made and some were field made from materials at hand. This Marine bowie Raider knife appears to have a blade made from a jeep leaf spring and has a hand carved walnut handle, probably from a rifle stock. The handle rivets are aircraft aluminum, as is the straight guard. A small crack has appeared in the handle, but the handle and guard are as tight as the day the knife was made. The blade is 10 1/4" long, and with a 4 1/2" handle, the knife measures 14 3/4" long, very close to the measurements of the original Raider knives. The knife is complete with the original handmade leather scabbard. The heavy knife is in excellent condition, the scabbard very good with some unraveling of the edge lacing. The belt loop of the scabbard has come unstitched, but can be easily repaired. A great relic of the Marine Corps "gung ho Raiders". From the estate of Pfc. Rufus Mayo - with a USMC Good Conduct Medal, "RIFLE EXPERT" Badge marked "STERLING", cap EGA and a Ronson cigarette lighter with an affixed EGA. (Pfc. Mayo, a "war-dog" handler - 1st Marine War Dog Platoon, was attached to the 2nd Marine Raider Regiment. While engaged in combat on Bougainsville, his dog "Caesar" saved his life by attacking a Japanese soldier in the act of throwing a hand grenade into his foxhole. Other information also will be provided.) Condition II $600.00

II

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