Item:
ONSV9541

Original U.S. Service Worn USMC KA-BAR Fighting Knife by Union Cutlery in Oxblood Leather Sheath

Item Description

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a nice service used example of the legendary U.S.M.C marked Mark 2 "Ka-Bar" fighting knife by Union Cutlery with a leather belt sheath. Marine Corps issue knives are much harder to find on the market than the U.S.N. or unmarked variety. Overall length of this knife is 11 7/8 inches, with a 6 7/8 inch clip-point blade. This mid 1970s production example is marked on the blade ricasso with USMC, while the reverse ricasso is marked:

KA-BAR
OLEAN, N.Y.

This example looks to have seen a lot of use, and the original finish was worn off of the blade and pommel, with most of the original finish gone. It now has a lovely oxidized patina, giving it a great "service worn" look, only acquired through real use in the field. The blade still have the correct shape, though sharpening and use have shortened it by about 1/8".

The grips are worn but still solid, with no movement of the crossguard. The pommel is 3/8" wide with a cross pin from one side only, definitely identifying it as being made in the mid 1970s or later.

The leather sheath is the standard type used with the Vietnam Era Ka-Bar, and is in very good used condition. The leather has a very deep brown red "Ox Blood" finish, which was a "special" concoction of advanced fungicide devised by the military. All of the stitching and rivets are still intact, and it is structurally very sound. The securing strap is intact, and the snap is still functional. This is the typical pattern used during Vietnam, which is very close to the WWII pattern.

A very nice example of a USMC-marked "KA-BAR" knife, field used with a very nice original leather sheath. No collection is complete without one! Ready to display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 6 7/8"
Blade Style: Clip-point "Bowie" Style
Overall length: 11 7/8
Crossguard: 2 1/2”
Scabbard Length: 7 3/4" with Belt Loop

More on the KA-BAR Knife:
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.

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