Original U.S. WWII Theater-Made Navy Mark I Ka-Bar Fighting Knife Turned Knuckle Knife with M8 Scabbard & Braided Leather Thong

Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. Theater knives are knives made by military personnel in the various theaters of war. Each knife is unique in its own way due to the maker's style, preferences and materials available. Most theater knives were made from spare parts, wreckage, tools and already existing blades.

These knives were made by the armorers and engineers on request. The larger ships needed to have skilled fabricators on board to make repairs and modifications to weapons and gear. Usually the blades were made from existing weapons or from steel components, and the hilts were cast from metals such as aluminum or zinc.

This is a great theater-made knuckle knife which began life as a Navy Mark I Ka-Bar knife, still marked at the ricasso with KA-BAR / OLEAN on one side and USN on the other. The blade was severely cut down and made double-sided, with heavy oxidation spotting across. The hilt is heavy aluminum or lead and is morphed into knuckles, with 8 “spikes” and four finger holes. There is also a small rod “skullcrusher” at the pommel. There is a washer retained at the bottom of the blade which may just be the worn down original crossguard.

The entire length of the knife is 11” including the skullcrusher. The knife is held within an updated M8 scabbard with a gorgeous braided leather thong. The throat is painted green so we cannot see any markings. It is painted RICH on the back of the body.

An outstanding theater-made knuckle knife, ready for further research and display.

Dimensions:
Blade Length: 4 3/4”
Total Length: 11”
Scabbard Length: 12”