Devoted to saving lives under fire, service as a Marine hospital corpsman took a special kind of courage. These wide bladed knives with rounded points were intended to cut wood and bamboo to fashion temporary splints, poles, stakes, stretchers, or whatever else might be necessary to aid or evacuate a casualty in the dense jungles of the Pacific islands. They might also come in handy, of necessity, in last ditch hand-to-hand fighting. This is in near excellent condition with bright blade and sharp US Marine Corps markings, and comes with a 1945 dated, contractor marked scabbard.

The blade is crisply marked on the reverse U.S.M.C. / VILLAGE BLACKSMITH in line with the blade. Based in Watertown, WI, the company had been in the business of making farm tools, etc., from the early 1900s. The blade has a good edge and shows bright with some scratches on the flats from light use or cleaning, a little more on the obverse than reverse. The grips are excellent, with nice edges, good color and surface, and tight to the tang.

The scabbard is the standard issue riveted and sewn russet leather with narrow brass throat reinforcement band riveted in place, sewn edges, and grommet at the tip for tie-down thong. The leather shows some typical dings and stains from storage, but no wide scrapes, abrasions or loss of finish, and no verdigris from the rivets. The riveted and sewn reinforcement piece and smaller loop for the wire belt hook to engage the web waist belt are firmly in place on the reverse, though the wire hook/hanger itself is missing. The smaller loop meant to hold the wire hook, is clearly marked USMC / BOYT / 45, indicating it was made in 1945 by the Boyt Harness Co of Des Moines, IA, a major supplier of leather slings, holsters, scabbards, etc. in World War 2.  [sr][ph:L]

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