Original U.S. WWII Late War Navy Mark 2 KA-BAR Fighting Knife by Union Cutlery with U.S.N. MK2 Scabbard & Worn-Down Grip

Original Item: Only One Available. The originator of the KA-BAR trademark, Union Cutlery Co, began using the name in 1923, having received a letter from a fur trapper who had used the knife to kill a wounded bear which attacked him when his rifle jammed. According to company records, the letter was only partially legible; "ka bar" could be read, as fragments of the phrase "kill a bear". In 1923, the company adopted the name Ka-Bar from the "bear story" as its trademark. From 1923, the KA-BAR trademark was used as a ricasso stamp by Union Cutlery Co. on its line of automatic switchblade pocket knives, including the KA-BAR Grizzly, KA-BAR Baby Grizzly, and KA-BAR Model 6110 Lever Release knives. The company produced about 1 million knives with the trademark on the ricasso.

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

U.S.N.
MARK 2

The opposite is marked:

KA-
BAR

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. The cross guard is slightly swept back, indicating later war production. It features a stacked leather washer grip which is now extremely shaven down to more-so resemble the grip of the earlier Mk. I Knife. This looks to have been done during the period. 

It has a 3/8" steel pommel with a rectangular tang, correct for circa 1944 manufacture. The handle, pommel, and cross guard are all mostly tight to the blade, with some oxidation on the cross guard due to moisture exposure.

The blade of this example is in fair condition, with the original finish now entirely gone and the blade showing very heavy cleaning, sharpening, and wear. This example saw very heavy 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 - 6581 / B.M. Co. with a stylized V P logo. The NORD number is for the US Navy contract it was produced under. It was manufactured by Beckwith Mfg Co., a division of Victory Plastics. The scabbard is in very good lightly used condition, with just some oxidation near the throat area and on the rivets due to moisture exposure. The securing strap is fully functional, with a functional snap. The back is also stamped with a name and address, William J. Ganz of Baltimore, Maryland.

A fair example of the hard to find USN-marked "KA-BAR" knife, in heavily service-used condition. No knife collection is complete without an example of a "Ka-bar".

Specifications:
Blade Length: 7"
Blade Style: Clip-point "Bowie" Style
Overall length: 12“
Crossguard: 2 7/16”
Scabbard Length: 8" with Belt Loop