Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. This is a great example of the legendary WWII Production USN Mark 2 "Ka-Bar" fighting knife with a MK2 Scabbard. Overall length of this Mk2 is 12 inches, with a 7 inch clip-point blade. The markings on the blade cross guard are as follows:
Under the blade is marked:
CAMILLUS N.Y.
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. However, it still has the early war style straight cross guard, not the swept back version, so it was probably made in 1944. It features original leather washer grip, which is in great shape with no cracks or splitting. It has some wear, but does not appear to have been used extensively before being put in storage. Over 90% of the original blade finish is still present, with the usual wear from the scabbard and light use. It has a heavy steel pommel with cross pinned tang. The blade is in very good condition, and is still sharp, with with a few 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. The front of the throat is marked U.S.N. / MK 2, and the rear is marked NORD - 8114 / B.M. Co. with a stylized V P logo. The NORD number is for the US Navy contract it was produced under, which was delivered between March 1945 and May 1945. It was manufactured by Beckwith Mfg Co. a division of Victory Plastics. Scabbard is in very good condition, with just light wear throughout. The body does look like it was repainted at arsenal once, but it still has a great blue color.
An exceptional example of the hard to find USN-marked "KA-BAR" knife, in very good lightly used condition. No knife collection is complete without an example of a "Ka-bar".
- This product is available for international shipping.
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