Description
WW2 Western Pilot Knife Baby Shark fighting knife, rare early bronze/aluminum fittings type; original leather scabbard; excellent condition, considering the age. FREE EXPEDIETD SHIPPING WITHIN THE U.S FOR THIS ITEM
A scarce WW2 era American utility/fighting knife manufactured early in the war by Western Cutlery in Boulder, Colorado. This is a hard-to-find early WW2 version of the US issue “Baby Shark” model utility-fighting knife that was issued to the USAF crews. These smaller versions for the WW2 Western “Shark” model fighter were intended to serve as an all-purpose fighting/survival knife in case of a bail-out. This type is illustrated on page 234 of the KNIVES OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY WORLD WAR II book by Michael W Silvey – a well-established expert an author of many books on the subject of US military edged weapons (see the page’s scan attached with the photos).
Rare first-production Baby Shark with aluminum pommel and bronze guard – during the war Western Cutlery had to phase-out the use of aluminum and bronze as the material for knife handles in favor of Bakelite in order to conserve strategic metals for the war effort. I have a nice example of the Baby Shark with Bakelite fittings available as well, please check it out. Stacked leather washers handle with colored fiber spacers on the ends; bronze guard and aluminum pommel. The handle is solid; all parts are tight with no play. No typical contact marks on the pommel or the blade – rare as such as these knives would typically be used in the field as intended. The knife is about 9-1/8″ / 23.2 cm overall; fullered “bright finish” blade is about 4-3/4″ /12 cm long; the blade is razor-sharp still; the tip is intact. Original scabbard is in near-excellent condition for the type; the leather is soft and supple. Original rivets, stitching and keeper are intact.
This rare early WW2 Western Baby Shark Pilot Knife has not been cleaned or tampered with in any way, it is in 100% original “as is” condition. These are the actual photos; spent brass is not included with the knife 😉 I have a few more American WW2 era combat knives and bayonets, as well as several scarce WW1 and WW2 fighting daggers and trench knives from other countries available for sale – please take a look in our Militaria section.
For collectible knives and edged weapons Argo C&C accepts payments via credit cards, personal checks drawn from US-based accounts, certified US-based bank checks, and money orders. Take a look at the Payments section within our Terms and Conditions for mailing instructions and additional details. Please email me at info@argocoins.com if you would like to make a credit card purchase over the phone. Follow me on Facebook @argoman400BC to keep an eye on the latest additions and promotions.
FREE EXPEDITED USPS PRIORITY MAIL SHIPPING WITHIN THE U.S. FOR THIS ITEM
International shipping for this item will be $44 and up to most countries on our “ship-to” list.
