Original Item: One-of-a-kind. A combat knife is a fighting knife designed solely for military use and primarily intended for hand-to-hand or close combat fighting.

Since the end of trench warfare, most military combat knives have been secondarily designed for utility use (clearing foliage, chopping branches for cover, opening ammunition crates, etc.) in addition to their original role as close-quarter combat weapons, and may be referred to as "fighting-utility knives." On the other hand, military knives that are intended primarily for use in a role other than combat are typically referred to by their primary role, such as "utility knife" or "survival knife".

This example of a fighting knife was made by Royal Cutlery. There are no stampings visible on the knife but the distinct shape and style of the knife is that of Royal Cutlery. This knife is in very good condition with some scratches and patina on the blade surfaces from being used and still retains a sharp edge. The wood handle is in great solid shape with minor scuffs, no play and still retains its original dark finish.

The leather sheath, which is original to the knife, is still in good condition with the typical rub and wear marks on the front, sides and bottom. The back side of the sheath has a slightly worn look to it and appears as if it wasn’t carried much. Almost all of the darkened finished is still present. On the back side of the sheath there is a stamping which is:

The overall condition is great due to the age and the nature of which this style of knife was intended for. A welcomed addition to any military collection with great research opportunities!

Measurements:
Blade Length: 7 inches
Handle Length: 4 ½ inches
Total Length:11 ½ inches
Sheath Length: 11 ½ inches

A fighting knife has a blade designed most effectively to inflict injury in short-range physical confrontation. The combat knife and the trench knife are examples of military fighting knives.

Fighting knives were traditionally designed as special-purpose weapons, intended primarily if not solely for use in personal or hand-to-hand combat. This singleness of purpose originally distinguished the fighting knife from the field knife, fighting utility knife, or in modern usage, the tactical knife. The tactical knife is a knife with one or more military features designed for use in extreme situations, which may or may not include a design capability as a fighting or combat weapon. Since World War I, the fighting knife in military service has gradually evolved into a dual-purpose or "fighting-utility" knife, suited for both knife fighting and utility roles. As a consequence, the terms "fighting knife" and "tactical knife" are frequently employed interchangeably.

The United States Merchant Marine refers to either United States civilian mariners, or to U.S. civilian and federally owned merchant vessels. Both the civilian mariners and the merchant vessels are managed by a combination of the government and private sectors, and engage in commerce or transportation of goods and services in and out of the navigable waters of the United States. The Merchant Marine primarily transports cargo and passengers during peacetime; in times of war, the Merchant Marine can be an auxiliary to the United States Navy, and can be called upon to deliver military personnel and materiel for the military. Merchant Marine officers may also be commissioned as military officers by the Department of Defense. This is commonly achieved by commissioning unlimited tonnage Merchant Marine officers as Strategic Sealift Officers in the United States Navy Reserve.

The merchant marine was active in subsequent wars, from the Confederate commerce raiders of the American Civil War, to the assaults on Allied commerce in the First and in the Second World War.

During World War II ships with deck guns had the United States Navy Armed Guard to man the guns. Some Armed Guard personnel also served as Radiomen and Signalmen. The Navy gun crews were assisted by the ship's crew, though the merchant mariner's training in gunnery and combat role was ignored for years. Specific instructions as to merchant crew manning of guns and training they should receive was issued by the War Shipping Administration which operated all U.S. merchant ships either directly or through agents during the war. At war's end 144,857 men would serve in the Navy Armed Guard on 6,200 ships.