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 a lovely modified example of the legendary WWII Production USN Mark 2 "Ka-Bar" fighting knife with the correct MK2 Fiberglass Scabbard. Overall length of this Mk2 is 12 inches, with a 7 inch clip-point blade. The crossguard of this example was replaced with one slightly longer on one side, so we have no idea who the original maker was. The new crossguard is 1¼” from the blade side, and only ¾” from the spine side. Aside from this, the hilt of the knife was “shifted” to the right, for a more preferred grip by this soldier.

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 WW2. 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, so this knife was produced after that change. It also has the later war slightly swept back cross guard. It features original leather washer grip, which is in good shape with no cracks or splitting. It definitely does show wear however, with a slightly darkened color. The cross guard and pommel are slightly loose, as the leather has shrunk.

About 35% of the original blade finish is still present, with the usual wear from the scabbard and use. It has been sharpened at least once, and the false clip point edge was sharpened as well. It has a heavy steel pommel with cross pinned tang. The blade is in good condition, and is still sharp, with a few small edge dents from use.

The scabbard is the Mk2 version, very similar in construction to the M8 scabbard for the M3 fighting knife, with a thermoplastic impregnated cotton fabric body, metal throat, and canvas frog and securing strap. There is heavy chipping on one side, but otherwise it has survived well.

A very nice example of the hard to find USN-marked "KA-BAR" knife, in good service-used condition. No knife collection is complete without an example of a "Ka-bar".

Specifications:
Blade Length: 7"
Blade Style: Clip-point "Bowie" Style
Overall length: 12“
Crossguard: 2 7/16”
Scabbard Length: 8" with Belt Loop