A fighting knife, also commonly called a combat knife, is a knife designed for military use, specifically for close combat. Although since the end of trench warfare, most military knives have been primarily designed for utility or tool use. Activities such as clearing foliage, chopping branches for cover, opening ammunition crates, etc. This is a US fighting knife. Manufactured by PAL. The handle is made of a series of compressed leather rings. At certain intervals the color of the rings is changed from dark brown to yellow or red. The pommel is of aluminum construction. Some samples may have been steel or wood.

The base of the blade has the markings "RH,PAL, made in USA, 35" on one side. The other side reads U.S.N. (United States Navy). These series of "RH" knives were produced during the war. All of them were similar in construction but had slight differences, primarily reflected on the blade.

This WWII era theater knife comes from the collection of a World War II veteran. The name on the base handle of the knife reads ‘Jim R. Tanner’. The blade does show heavy uses and sharpening marks but maintains a very study and overall amazing condition.