Original U.S. WWII USMC Rare “Red Spacer” Mark 2 KA-BAR Fighting Knife by Robeson Shuredge with Boyt USMC Leather Scabbard - Extremely Scarce

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 an outstandingly scarce KA-BAR knife, the rarest we have ever offered. This example is by Robeson Shuredge, by far the rarest maker of the USMC Mk II Knife. The markings on the blade ricasso are as follows:

U.S.M.C.

The other side is marked:

ROBESON SHUREDGE

Only 10,000 examples were manufactured by Robeson Shuredge during the war. There were four WWII Mark II manufacturers, and all of them made both the USN- and the USMC-marked ones. They were Camillus Cutlery, the Ka-Bar Division of Union Cutlery, Pal Blade Company, and Robeson Shuredge. Camillus and Ka-Bar made the greatest number of them, followed by Pal, and Robeson made the fewest. This combination, USMC by Robeson, is the rarest Mk. II knife out there.

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.

This example is in very good condition, with great retention of the original phosphate finish, around 95%. The edge is still relatively sharp, and definitely looks to have been possibly field sharpened with a whetstone. The red spacer stacked leather washer grip is in great condition with good period wear and some verdigris. The Peened pommel and markings on the blade indicate early production.

The sheath is a heavily worn example which has a broken securing snap, but does retains a gorgeous braided leather thong. The belt loop is stamped:

USMC
BOYT
43

The leather is heavily worn with rubbing and the securing strap is retained, but the snap itself has broken off on one side and is contained in the other side. There is also heavy verdigris across.

An extremely scarce Mk. II knife, the rarest we have ever offered. Ready for further research and display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 7"
Blade Style: Clip-point "Bowie" Style
Overall length: 12 1/8“
Crossguard: 2 3/8”
Scabbard Length: 7 7/8" with Belt Loop