After the outbreak of World War II, the Marine Corps found itself in need of a better knife. Knives throughout the Corps reflected trench daggers from World War I, with knuckle guards, the U.S. Navy Mark 1 Utility knife, various machetes, and the Raider Stiletto.
Two Marine officers were tasked with finding a modern and effective fighting knife and asked several military knife and tool manufacturers to submit designs for the war effort.
The officers