Original U.S. WWII USMC Mark 2 KA-BAR Fighting Knife by CAMILLUS in Personalized Leather Sheath

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 service-used example of the legendary WWII Production U.S.M.C marked Mark 2 "Ka-Bar" fighting knife with leather belt sheath. 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 shows much of the original black finish, but the blade itself appears a bit shaven down from period use. It has its original length with heavy wear to the black finish. The crossguard now has a small bit of play. The handle is etched with the name LEX and shows heavy wear with minor material loss near the crossguard.

The leather sheath is the standard type used with the Mark 2, and is in fair condition. These were originally issued in natural leather, and this has faded just a bit to a light chestnut brown. There is heavy cracking and crazing, with very heavy verdigris around the brass fittings. The securing strap is intact but has heavy crazing and verdigris, but the snap still works. The leather is a bit stiff. The front of the sheath is embossed with initials C.E. over a nice wind motif. The sheath even retains the original leather thong in worn shape.

A good example of an exceptionally hard to find USMC-marked "KA-BAR" knife! No collection is complete without one! Ready to display!

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