Original Item: Only One Available. The originator of the KA-BAR trademark, Union Cutlery Co, began using the name in 1923, having received a letter from a fur trapper who had used the knife to kill a wounded bear which attacked him when his rifle jammed. According to company records, the letter was only partially legible; "ka bar" could be read, as fragments of the phrase "kill a bear". In 1923, the company adopted the name Ka-Bar from the "bear story" as its trademark. From 1923, the KA-BAR trademark was used as a ricasso stamp by Union Cutlery Co. on its line of automatic switchblade pocket knives, including the KA-BAR Grizzly, KA-BAR Baby Grizzly, and KA-BAR Model 6110 Lever Release knives. The company produced about 1 million knives with the trademark on the ricasso.

This is an interesting service-used and altered example of the legendary WWII Production U.S.M.C marked Mark 2 "Ka-Bar" fighting knife with leather belt sheath. This example had the hilt entirely removed minus the crossguard and replaced with a goat horn. Marine Corps issue knives are much harder to find on the market than the U.S.N. marked variety. Overall length of this Mark 2 knife is 11 ½ inches, with a 7 inch clip-point blade. This example is marked USMC on the ricasso. The markings on the other side of the ricasso are as follows:

KA-BAR

There is no address under the "KA-BAR", which is correct for the earlier war made USMC marked knives by Union Cutlery. The blade shows sharpening with some of the black finish worn away. The handle has been entirely replaced with a goat horn. 

The Mk2 Knife was developed as an improvement over the Mk1 design, which had issues with blade snapping due to the thinner design. Working with Union Cutlery, USMC Colonel John M. Davis and Major Howard E. America contributed several important changes, including a longer, stronger blade, the introduction of a small fuller to lighten the blade, a peened pommel (later replaced by a pinned pommel), a straight (later, slightly curved) steel crossguard, and a stacked leather handle for better grip. The knife was officially known as the 1219C2, but it was commonly called the "Ka-Bar" after the trademark of Union Cutlery that was on the blades of early examples. The first production order went out to Camillus Cutlery Company, who produced the largest number of knives during WWII. The design was subsequently adopted by the Navy as the US Navy Utility Knife, Mark 2, and the USMC adopted it as the USMC Mark 2 Combat Knife, or simply the Knife, Fighting Utility.

In 1944, the US Navy put through a change order to have the markings moved from the blade to the cross guard, however the last pattern of the "KA-BAR" marked knives kept the blade markings, as on this example. It has the earlier war straight cross guard. The handle is entirely gone, replaced by the goat horn.

The leather sheath is the standard type used with the Mark 2, and is in very worn, used condition. The leather has faded to a lovely darker brown, but it is still supple and has some cracking. All of the stitching and staples are still intact, and it is structurally very sound. The securing strap is intact, and the snap is still functional, although fragile. 

A unique example of an exceptionally hard to find "KA-BAR" knife with a goat horn handle, field used with a very nice original leather sheath. One of the most unique KA-BAR knives you’ll ever see! Ready to display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 7"
Blade Style: Clip-point "Bowie" Style
Overall length: 11 1/2“
Crossguard: 2 7/16”
Scabbard Length: 7 3/4" with 5"Belt Loop