Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original WWII U.S. Marine Corps 1219C2 Fighting Utility Knife manufactured by Camillus Cutlery Company of Camillus, New York, complete with a period leather belt sheath. Knives of this general pattern became universally associated with the KA-BAR name during WWII, although KA-BAR was actually the trademark of Union Cutlery rather than the manufacturer of this Camillus example. This knife is a desirable later-war USMC-marked variant with its identification stamped directly into the crossguard.

Marine Corps issue knives are much harder to find on the market than the U.S.N. marked variety. Overall length of this Mark 2 knife is 12 inches, with a 7 inch clip-point blade. The markings on the hand guard are as follows:

U.S.M.C.
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 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.

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 "swept back" cross guard. The knife features the original leather washer grip, which is in good condition, with no cracks or splitting, and it has a 1/4" steel pommel with cross pinned tang. The grip is quite darkened from service-use, as it still has most of the original factory "buffed" finish.

The blade retains much of the original black finish, with heavy loss from sharpening along the edge. The crossguard has no play, but the pommel has a very small bit of play.

The leather sheath is the standard type used with the Mark 2, and is in fair condition, and the securing snap is intact, albeit very weak. These were originally issued in natural leather, and this has faded heavily to a chestnut brown. There is heavy cracking and crazing, with very heavy verdigris around the brass fittings. The securing strap and snap are intact though there is some heavy crazing. The front of the sheath is carved:

HR
USMC
1942

This is a strong service-used example of a later-war USMC-marked Camillus Fighting Utility Knife, retaining its original stacked leather grip, pinned steel pommel, guard markings, substantial blade finish, and heavily worn leather sheath. The U.S.M.C. / CAMILLUS N.Y. guard stamp firmly places the knife within WWII production, while the carved HR / USMC / 1942 inscription adds an intriguing but presently unidentified personal element to the accompanying sheath.

Specifications:
Blade Length: 7"
Blade Style: Clip-point "Bowie" Style
Overall length: 12“
Crossguard: 2 7/16”
Scabbard Length: 7 3/4" with Belt Loop