USMC Parachutists Western w-31 Knife w/ original box

[Jack C]

I thought a few members might enjoy seeing this. I am wondering if any one has ever seen a W-31 w/ the original cardboard box? She's a sight to behold.

[SKIPH]

I'm impressed! First I've seen or even heard of with a box. THX for showing! SKIP

[sactroop]

That is a beauty!

[camillus]

beautiful knife thanks for sharing

[mdk0911]

Now that is an awesome knife - a beauty!!

[Der Finn]

That is truly impressive!! Any interesting story behind it? Vet purchase? Flea Market? Surplus store?

[beerdragon54]

Speechlessly in amazement

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[DRE66]

Wow, is that a rare one, where did you find it?

[robinb]

I can't write what I said out loud. I'm impressed.

[Tony V]

Jack

 

Congratulations ! Just wonderful to a beautiful Western with the box.

 

Thank you

 

Tony

[Catfishcraig]

What a beautiful knife!

 

Thanks for sharing

[Catfishcraig]

Wow, is that a rare one, where did you find it?

Here is a good link on this knife

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/83837-usmc-parachutist-knife/?fromsearch=1

[schmooser]

Only seen one in books, like most everyone else I would guess. Thank you very much for sharing!!

[themick]

I really learned something here. Up to now, had I come across that knife and sheath at a flea market, I'd never have guessed it was military because of the ornamentation of the sheath. It's doesn't look like anything US military I've ever seen. Thank you Jack C for sharing that!!

 

Steve

[byf41]

Never seen one In the box , that's a great find . Can you share the story please ?

[jw517]

I've seen theater pics of that sheath worn by troops and thought they may be altered cause of the oak leaves on the sheath.guess they are genuine.

[MCDUFF]

That is jaw dropping awesome!! Amazing find! The early pattern sheath ones are rare enough, but mint in a box..... wow! Thanks for showing it!

[Jack C]

It brings me a big smile that so many others appreciate this knife. It's wild how a craftsman can fashion different types of metals and wood together into such a thing of beauty . Before the info on the web made research so much easier. A friend had an eagle head USMC with the stacked handle and we were never sure what it was. Then I found this beauty it the box. The box explains so much. I believe the Cocobolo wood handle with the double stitched tooled oak leaf sheath was an early version of the W-31. To those inquiring about if I was interested in selling. I work about 70 hours a week. I do get tired some times and think about selling many of the wonderful treasures I have been fortunate enough to come across in this life. Let me think about it. Jack

[doyler]

I've seen theater pics of that sheath worn by troops and thought they may be altered cause of the oak leaves on the sheath.guess they are genuine.

There were at least two types of sheaths for these I have encountered from Western.The leaf embossed scabbard shown is one.

[Costa]

you do not see very very often a knife with the origonal box------ a rearity and yours is a beauty.

[aznation]

Western Parachutist No. W31 Knife, which is better known to collectors as the Marine Parachutist Knife or Paramarine Knife. The Marine Parachutist battalions, of which there would eventually be three, was established in October of 1940. Like the parachute regiments within the US Army, the Marine Corp parachutists were all volunteers, who were required to be unmarried, and would be subject to intense training in order to qualify as “Paramarines”. The first group of Paramarines was trained at the Naval Air Station in Lakehurst, NJ and formed the core of the 1st Marine Parachute Battalion. The second group was trained there in December of the same year, establishing the core of the 2nd Marine Parachute Battalion. The 3rd Marine Parachute Battalion was made up of men trained at Camp Kearney near San Diego, CA during the first part of 1941. In May of 1942, after the United States entered World War II, a new training camp for Paramarines was established at Camp Elliot, near Camp Kearney. This camp was specially designed for the training of the Marine parachutists. The Marine Parachutists first combat came on August 7, 1942 with the invasion of the Japanese held island of Guadalcanal. The 1st Marine Parachute Battalion was assigned to invade the two small islets of Gavutu and Tanambogo, to help secure Guadalcanal. After bitter fighting the 361-man battalion suffered 20% casualties and was no longer an effective battalion sized fighting force. The remaining Paramarines were assigned to reinforce the 1st (Edson’s) Marine Raider Battalion, on the island of Tulagi. On September 8, 1942 the combined Raider and Paramarine force landed on Guadalcanal and attacked the village of Tasimboko. After the raid, the group established a defensive line on Lunga Ridge, where they fought off multiple vicious Banzai attacks. The first planned parachute jump by the Paramarines was for the Bougainville campaign in late 1943. However, the plan to jump was called off for a number of reasons, not the least of which was the belief that the casualties would be too high. During this same time frame the 3 battalions were reorganized as the 1st Marine Parachute Regiment, although they never really fought together as a coherent regiment. As a result of the decision not to jump, the 2nd Marine Parachute Battalion was selected to make diversionary strikes on the island of Choiseul (about 30 miles east of Bougainville), and the 1st Marine Parachute Battalion raided supply depots along the Bougainville coast, working with the 2nd Marine Raiders. The 3rd Marine Parachute Battalion landed on the island attached to the 3rd Marine division, and all 3 battalions fought through the remainder of the campaign, until they were relived in January of 1944. During this time, the Marine high command reanalyzed the Marine Parachute Battalion concept and came to the determination that due to the jungle environment that the Marines were fighting in, there was really no need for this specialized group of men. The Marine Commandant officially ordered that the Marine Parachute Battalions be disbanded on December 30, 1943 and they were removed from service on February 29, 1944. Many of the former Paramarines were rolled into the revitalized 5th Marine Division and subsequently took part in the invasion of Iwo Jima on February 19, 1945. Among those former Paramarines were Corporal Harlon H. Block and PFC Ira H. Hayes, both of whom were immortalized in the iconic Joe Rosenthal photograph of the raising of the American flag on Mount Suribachi, 4 days after the landing. Among the roughly 3,000 men who served as Paramarines during WWII, five would be recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor. Although specially trained as parachutists, the Paramarines never jumped into combat, and spent their term of service fighting as typical Marine infantrymen.

While in training at Camp Elliot, the Marine Parachutists were issued a special knife, the Western Parachutist No W31. In theory the knives were to be returned after training was completed, but this almost certainly never happened, and some sources note that the knives were available for sale to the Paramarines as well. Some well-worn extant examples are known with inventory numbers stamped into their guards, suggesting that these were the training knives that were issued at Camp Elliot, and the knives without such numbers were acquired either privately or outside the parameters of training. Sources vary regarding the number of knives produced, but the general consensus seems to be around 400, which is an incredibly small number for any military knife. The famous Western Cutlery Company of Boulder, Colorado, produced the knives and like most Western products were very high quality. The knife resembled a typical outdoor utility knife, with a drop point blade and a wood grip. The knife was 8 5/8” in overall length, with a 4 3/16” blade that was just under a 1” wide at the ricasso and was about 3/32” thick. The blade was highly polished steel, leading some to believe (incorrectly) that the knives were plated. The knife had an aluminum hilt and pommel cap, with Cocobolo grip scales and black Bakelite and leather washer spacers at the guard and pommel. The pommel had a hole for a lanyard, and was secured to the tang with two pins. The reverse ricasso was marked U.S.M.C., and the reverse of blade had a narrow 2” fuller. A simple leather scabbard with a short hilt-retaining strap accompanied the knife. Two versions of the scabbard were provided, with the “early” variant having an embossed pattern on the leather scabbard body, and the more commonly encountered version having a plain leather body. The scabbard was sewn with a single row of thread and reinforced with five domed rivets. The hilt strap was closed by a simple snap. Despite conflicting reports about production numbers, the very few examples of this knife that remain in collections today make this one of the rarest and most sought after of Marine Corps edged weapons, and a real centerpiece in any advance Marine Corps collection.

These knives rarely come up for sale and when they do they are very expensive. Rough condition examples regularly sell in the $2,000 range, while pristine examples can easily command $5,000.

By the way, there's currently only ONE of these knives on Ebay and it's at $1499.00 with 42 minutes remaining (Note: It's not my listing). And it's not anywhere near mint like Jack C's is.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/WWII-USMC-Western-W31-Parachutist-Knife-PARAMARINE-SUPER-RARE-/232286033103?hash=item36155394cf:g:FQIAAOSw32lY0Yzf

[tankerman]

TRULY OUTSTANDING !!

[jw517]

That's great information! Required reading!

[Pops369]

The box is great. Would love to see any other forum members with other Westerns that have the box with them.

[Still-A-Marine]

WOW