{"product_id":"original-u-s-vietnam-war-era-u-s-m-c-mark-2-ka-bar-fighting-knife-by-camillus-in-oxblood-leather-sheath-2","title":"Original U.S. Vietnam War Era U.S.M.C. Mark 2 KA-BAR Fighting Knife by CAMILLUS in Oxblood Leather Sheath","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item. Only One Available. This is a good service-worn example of a U.S. Vietnam War era Mark 2 Fighting Utility Knife manufactured by Camillus Cutlery Co. of Camillus, New York, complete with an unmarked dark oxblood leather scabbard. The knife measures approximately 12” overall with a 7” clip-point blade, and its ricasso marking places it within Camillus postwar military production from the Vietnam period. Heavy blade oxidation, wear to the stacked leather grip, and age to the scabbard give the set a distinctly used appearance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe markings on the blade ricasso are as follows:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eU.S.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCAMILLUS, N.Y.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe leather scabbard is an original Vietnam era issue, without any markings. The leather is in good condition with the securing strap and snap still functioning perfectly with heavy wear. There is some finish wear across with verdigris across the rivets.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe markings on the blade and the straight cross guard indicate that this was manufactured somewhere between 1962 and 1974, which puts it right into the Vietnam War Era. Previously the knives would be marked specifically to the U.S. Navy or Marine Corps. After WWII, there was such a surplus that no additional orders for the knives were made until 1959. Union Cutlery \/ KA-BAR and Utica received the first orders, with Camillus receiving orders later.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis knife features original painted leather washer grip, which has some heavy wear with a large chunk taken out under the crossguard, where oxidation and eaten away at some of it, and it has a heavy steel pommel with cross pinned tang, though there is some oxidation and wear to the pommel. The blade has a good amount of the original finish, but there is heavy oxidation pitting across its length, with finish wear at the ricasso. The factory grind marks can still be seen throughout the blade. It is currently sharp, so handle it with care!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe leather sheath is the standard type used with the Mark 2, and is in very good unused condition. The leather is a dark oxblood red. All of the stitching and rivets are still intact but worn, and it is structurally very sound, but there is heavy stiffness and wear. 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.\u003cbr\u003eCamillus was one of the major WWII producers of the pattern and later returned to military production during the Vietnam era. The postwar knives retained the basic broad clip-point blade, stacked leather grip, straight guard, and pinned pommel that made the pattern so durable and successful.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith its U.S. \/ CAMILLUS, N.Y. Vietnam-era marking, original stacked leather grip, pinned pommel, substantial surviving blade finish, visible factory grind marks, and complete oxblood leather scabbard, this is a solid service-worn example of a classic American military fighting knife. The heavy blade pitting, grip loss, oxidation, scabbard stiffness, and verdigris are significant condition issues, but they leave the knife with a convincing used appearance. It would fit especially well in a collection devoted to U.S. Vietnam War edged weapons, Camillus military production, Mark 2 knives, or postwar American fighting equipment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpecifications:\u003cbr\u003eBlade Length: 7\"\u003cbr\u003eBlade Style: Clip-point \"Bowie\" Style\u003cbr\u003eOverall length: 12“\u003cbr\u003eCrossguard: 2 7\/16”\u003cbr\u003eScabbard Length: 8\" with Belt Loop\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45584558358597,"sku":"ONJR26MARA037","price":250.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONJR26MARA037__01.jpg?v=1787255961","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-vietnam-war-era-u-s-m-c-mark-2-ka-bar-fighting-knife-by-camillus-in-oxblood-leather-sheath-2","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}