The Ka-Bar knife was adopted by the USMC in 1942 as a versatile utility and fighting knife. It was created to meet the need for a modern combat blade that could work as both a weapon and a tool, following complaints about the outdated trench knives from World War I. Designed for hand-to-hand combat and a variety of field tasks, it was produced during WWII by several companies, including Union Cutlery Co. (Ka-Bar), Camillus, PAL, and Robeson, each with slight design and marking differences valued by collectors. By 1944, the knife had become so iconic that Marines called it the “Ka-Bar” no matter who made it.
This is an excellent example of the WW2 USMC combat knife. The blade retains nearly 100% of the blackened finish with only the factory edge sharpening evident. The grip shows little wear and correct age. The cross guard is marked CAMILLUS, N.Y and U.S.M.C. The pommel is pinned and retains most all of the blackened finish. The scabbard, with owners’ initials, is also excellent with unaltered light-colored leather and stapled and sewn seams. The only flaw is a break to the latch tab, all leather still remains and could be repaired if desired.
