Here's mine in the scabbard. Not black stitching but it may not be the original scabbard. I think it is - but .... Bill

Thanks Bill,i just wish i could remember where i read about the black stitched sheath. Steve.

 

Steve:

 

I checked my USMC Robeson. It has a "right handed" sheath with black stitching.

 

I could not find the article written by Frank Trzaska which I thought described the black stitched Robeson sheaths. However, in searching my blade materials for it I ran across the January, 1944 article in the Marine Corps Gazette entitled "A New Marine Corps Knife" written by Capt. P. D. Carleton. That article describes the new Fighting Utility Knife and includes a photo of a USMC Robeson knife and right handed sheath. The sheath appears to me to have black stitching.

 

Also noteworthy is this quote from Mike Silvey's May 1996 article in Knife World entitled "US Marine Fighting Knives": The sheath for the very scarce Robeson Marine Corps knife was unique in that it was the only one stitched in black thread.

 

Silvey also shows an example of a beautiful USMC Robeson in his book "Knives of the US Military in WWII". The pictured knife has a right handed sheath with black stitching.

 

So, I don't know if that is definitive but I think that there is pretty good evidence that the Robeson USMC blades came with black stitched sheaths. Were all USMC Robeson sheaths black stitched? I don't know. However, I think we can probably say that all of the black stitched sheaths were for the Robeson blades.

 

I don't recall seeing a "left handed" sheath for a USMC Robeson before. I will say, however, that your sheath looks otherwise identical to mine. My opinion is that your sheath is legit. And your blade is a real beauty.

 

Hope that answers your question.

 

Regards,

Charlie Flick

EUREKA!!!.Thanks Charlie i knew someone would know the article.I forgot to look in Mike Silveys book of which i do have a copy.The sheath pictured looks exactly the same [although alot less used]even down to the same keeper button cap which looks like a round shield with a design around the edge.It also appears to have eight small domed rivets.The nine rivet sheaths mentioned and shown before all have 7 small rivets with the domed head and the two on either side of the sheath mouth are larger and flat headed [9 altogether],i have several of these and all but one have Camillus made knives in them.Now with these facts i think the left hand sheath i have was probably made by the same comp as the one shown in the book.Thank again,it's probably saved the rest of my hair i havn't pulled out already.

Thanks again to all the other members that responded to the thread.

Regards,Steve.

I have not collected knives very long.   I am not sure I am even a collector, but I have somehow stumbled upon two Robeson USMCs.   The first one was inherited by a grandson.   His Grandfather evidently had a friend who gave him the knife.   The second was in an auction.  This knife is in very nice condition.  Now I just need to luck my way into a few other knives that I have become an admirer of

 

the first knife appears to have the pommel re welded.   The second is factory correct.