Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very interesting original U.S. WWII Navy Mark 2 fighting/utility knife manufactured by Union Cutlery of Olean, New York under the KA-BAR trademark, complete with a correct U.S.N.-marked leather sheath. The knife has been extensively modified during its service life with a colorful stacked transparent grip and replacement aluminum fittings, giving it a very distinctive period-personalized appearance.

This early production example is marked on the blade ricasso with USN, while the reverse ricasso is marked:

KA-BAR
OLEAN, N.Y.

This is a trademark brand of Union Cutlery, but after WWII it became nearly synonymous with the Mark 2 Knife. The knife grip has been replaced by a colorful stacked transparent grip of red, orange, black, and clear, with an aluminum pommel more similar to the Navy Mk. I knife. There are still leather spacers at each end of the grip. The crossguard is also replaced, now aluminum.

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.

The blade is now missing its blackened finish and is bright. The overall length of the knife is now 12 ⅛”.

The U.S.N. marked leather sheath is the standard type used with the Mark 2, and is in good condition. The leather has aged to become quite dark, with the belt loop showing a bit of crazing. It is still supple but has some minor dry rot. 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, with a faded finish. The back of the sheath is stamped ASHLEY ED, likely meant to mean the name E.D. Ashley, the sailor who carried this. A good research project.

The combination of the early U.S.N. / KA-BAR OLEAN, N.Y. blade markings, bright service-worn blade, colorful stacked transparent grip, aluminum replacement guard and pommel, retained leather spacers, U.S.N.-marked sheath, and ASHLEY ED identification makes this an especially unusual surviving example of a field-modified WWII Navy Mark 2 knife. Its modifications and wear clearly distinguish it from a standard factory-configured example and preserve a strong sense of its individual service history.

Specifications:
Blade Length: 7"
Blade Style: Clip-point "Bowie" Style
Overall length: 12 1/8“
Crossguard: 2 1/2”
Scabbard Length: 7 3/4" with Belt Loop