Item:
ON6111

Original U.S. WWII USN Mark 2 KA-BAR Fighting Knife by Robeson Cutlery with USN MK2 Scabbard

Item Description

Original Item: This is a great example of the legendary WWII Production USN Mark 2 "Ka-Bar" fighting knife by Robeson Cutlery Co., with a MK2 Fiberglass Scabbard. Overall length of this Mk2 is 12 inches, with a 7 inch clip-point blade. The markings on the knife crossguard are as follows:

U.S.N.
MARK 2

Below the blade is marked:

R.C.C.

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 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.

Camillus Cutlery Co., the first manufacturer to supply the Ka-Bar Combat Knife under contract, also produced the largest number of such knives, producing over one million examples marked "Camillus.N.Y." on the knife's crossguard before the war ended.  Besides Camillus, the Union Cutlery Co., Robeson (ShurEdge) Cutlery Co., and the PAL Cutlery Co. all produced the Ka-Bar knife under military contract during World War II.

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. The cross guard is straight, as on the early issue knives. It features original leather washer grip, which is in great shape with no cracks or splitting. It does have some wear on the finish and edge, so it did see some use. About 80% of the original blade finish is still present, with most of the missing finish on the edge and tip. It has a heavy steel pommel with cross pinned tang. The blade is in very good condition, and is still sharp, with just a bit of post factory sharpening. No major nicks or dents, with just a bit of light corrosion on the edge.

The scabbard is the Mk2 version, very similar in construction to the M8 scabbard for the M3 fighting knife, with a fiberglass 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 - 6581 / B.M. Co. with a stylized V P logoThe NORD number is for the US Navy contract it was produced under, which was delivered between July 1944 and February 1945. It was manufactured by Beckwith Mfg Co. a division of Victory Plastics. Scabbard is in excellent condition, with just a bit of staining on the canvas from corrosion to the brass and steel rivets.

An exceptional example of the hard to find USN-marked "KA-BAR" knife, in great condition. No knife collection is complete without an example of a "Ka-bar".

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