I collect US Marine, not Royal Marine, so I was surprised when this gentleman called me on my classified ad. His name is Corporal Walter Keen and he was a British Royal Marine Commando. Turns out he was a member of 40 and 41Commando during WW2. He joined the Chatham Marines in 1940 and volunteered for the Commandos in 1941. After intense training up and down England and in Scotland, he was one of the few who made it. He joined the unit shortly after the botched raid at Dieppe and landed at Anzio under fire of huge German guns. He was wounded at Cassino and joined back with his unit at the Island of Vis to take part in many raids around the islands of Yugoslavia. He also participated in Yugoslavian partisan raids and in the Balkans and near Greece. He was a Bren gunner and carried his Fairbairn-Sykes knife throughout his campaigns.
The knife is not in perfect shape, has never been cleaned, is in the original scabbard, is made by Wilkinson Sword and bears his initials on the reverse side.
My question is what is a good market price on this piece with its history? I have a good friend who flies with me who is a Royal Marine who wants it very badly. I don't want to leave too much on the table, but also get a fair price for it as well. I have seen some prices these fetch but none have had the history this one has.
Thanks for the discussion.
usmcaviator
The knife is not in perfect shape, has never been cleaned, is in the original scabbard, is made by Wilkinson Sword and bears his initials on the reverse side.
My question is what is a good market price on this piece with its history? I have a good friend who flies with me who is a Royal Marine who wants it very badly. I don't want to leave too much on the table, but also get a fair price for it as well. I have seen some prices these fetch but none have had the history this one has.
Thanks for the discussion.
usmcaviator
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