Marine Raider History

It may be Spec Plus's take on the original Collins #18 Legitimus (the "V44 Raider Bowie") or it may have been their take on the then recently discontinued Western W49 Bowie (which was itself a take off on the original Raider Bowie).

The original Collins model was basically a cut down machete with rather thin stock for a proper bowie knife. During WW2 Western, Kinsfolk & Case made versions. Don't know much about the Case or Kinsfolk versions, but the later Western W49 had the proper blade thickness & became a bit of a classic blade, having been popular with soldiers in Vietnam & produced until Western went under.

Informative threads on the subject: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...stion-about-V-44s-and-18s?highlight=v44+bowie

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/for...-kinfolks-fighting-usmc-pilot-survival-knife/

Russian forum thread with good pics: http://translate.google.com/transla...s+case+western&start=10&sa=N&biw=1280&bih=631

When the Spec Plus line started the V44/ Western W49 pattern was a natural for them to cover along with the Kabar, Pilot Survival knife, ect.
 
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