WWII Ka-bars

[thorin6]

Seems to be slow at the Knife and Bayonet forum. Thought I would show my two WWII Marine Ka-bars. Although I spent my time in the US Army, and mostly collect Army knives and bayonets (M3s and M4s for example), the WWII Marine Ka-bars and US Navy Mark 2s have an allure all their own.

The first Marine Ka-bar shown is one I picked up at an Antique Festival I attended with my wife. It’s a blade marked USMC on one side, KA-BAR (no Olean, NY) on the other. It came in the leather sheath shown, has a thin pommel with pin through both sides, and a nice tight leather handle. I believe this is a late war Ka-bar, not sure of the exact dates it was made.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b21/thorin6/Kabar44a.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b21/thorin6/Kabar44b.jpg

This next one I bought at a Flea Market some years ago. It’s one of the early 1943s with KA-BAR over OLEAN, NY on one side, no markings on the other. It came in the sheath shown, obviously not correct. The pommel is of the thick type, with a circular peened tang, and the handle is tight.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b21/thorin6/Kabar.jpg

[m1ashooter]

Nice blades, I'm fond of them also.

[stars-n-bars]

Here is an Army Ka-Bar that was probably issued as a commemorative.

[Johnny P]

A WWII USMC, but not a KA-BAR.

http://i51.tinypic.com/2zfn1n9.jpg
http://i52.tinypic.com/351v2fd.jpg

[m1ashooter]

Very nice PAL

[thorin6]

Here is an Army Ka-Bar that was probably issued as a commemorative.

Not a commemorative, but a Viet Nam era made Mark 2 knife. The US over CAMILLUS, NY were made up to Sept 1974; after that the marks were US over CAMILLUS (no NY). Shortly after that Camillus lost the contract. First time I've seen a scabbard marked US ARMY 1975.

[thorin6]

Johnny, very nice PAL and hard to find. My PAL with red spacers is a USN Mark 2; it's the one on the right in the picture. The group (from left to right) are WWII PALs; RH 34, RH 35 (Mark 1), RH 36, and RH 37 (Mark 2). I just had to have a set.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b21/thorin6/PalKnives.jpg

[stars-n-bars]

The grips on my knife are marked U.S on one side and 1975 on the other side. Also on the back of the scabbard it's marked M.44.C Any idea what that designation might be? Does anyone know if any Army units were issued Mk.2's during Vietnam?

[thorin6]

The grips on my knife are marked U.S on one side and 1975 on the other side. Also on the back of the scabbard it's marked M.44.C Any idea what that designation might be? Does anyone know if any Army units were issued Mk.2's during Vietnam?

As far as I know, the Mark 2s during Viet Nam (and after) were in the DoD supply system, and any service could order them through the supply chain. As for M.44.C, no idea as to what it means. You might post a question over on the US Military forum under Edged Weapons at: www.usmilitariaforum.com

[stars-n-bars]

Thanks for all the info. thorin6. I registered at the usmilitaria forums but can't seem to be able to get on. At first it said the admin. would have to reveiw my registration and now it says my member log-in info. is unregognized. I see you are a member there, have you had similar problems. I sent an e-mail to the admin. no response.

[thorin6]

Thanks for all the info. thorin6. I registered at the usmilitaria forums but can't seem to be able to get on. At first it said the admin. would have to reveiw my registration and now it says my member log-in info. is unregognized. I see you are a member there, have you had similar problems. I sent an e-mail to the admin. no response.

Have they sent you an email to activate your registration? As I recall, once I had registered I waited 24 hours before I received an activation email with a link to click on. Once I clicked on the link, my registration was activated and I was on the forum. I don't think there have been any server problems, so I am not sure what the problems would be. I'll get on it tonight and see if there are any issues with log-ins, and if I learn anything useful, I'll pm you through this board.

[Johnny in Texas]

I too am fond of the Mk2 and Mk1 WW2 knives. Far left 1 Pal RH 36 4 RH 37 USN 1 RH37 USMC 1 RH35
Center left Mk 1's Geneva forge, Western, Imperial,Robeson, Boker, Colonial, and Pal
Center right Cammilus Mk1 US, USMC guard marked 3 USN blade marked and 2 Screw pommel Mk2's
Far right right to left Ka-Bar USMC Ka-Bar USN pin pommel 2 Ka-Bar USN Rectangular peened pommel

[mustanggt]

The symbol, in the 1st post on the second K-bar, looks like the crysanthimum that was on jap rifles in WWII. The emperors mark right? If not what does it mean? Kinda curious.

[thorin6]

The symbol, in the 1st post on the second K-bar, looks like the crysanthimum that was on jap rifles in WWII. The emperors mark right? If not what does it mean? Kinda curious.

That's not a symbol, that's the peening of the tang to hold the pommel and leather washers on the knife. Characteristic of early Ka-bars.

Johnny,
Nice collection, far surpasses mine. However, I have picked up some Mark 1s, so left to right, Camillus, PAL, Robeson, and Ka-bar. The last one I picked up at a flea market years ago; it serves as my letter opener:

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b21/thorin6/Mark1Knives.jpg

[Johnny in Texas]

thorin6 I really like that Pal RH34 I am looking for a nice one but cheap! They seem to be drying up. Thanks for the post and the great pictures.

[thorin6]

Johnny,
You've got some really nice Mk1s and 2s. I actually got interested in them when I went to complete the PAL set. The PAL RH 34 was the first one that I picked up; got by trading two pocket knives and $10 cash. Here are some pictures. It came in the generic Mark 1 leather sheath with markings on the back of the sheath suggesting it was a WWII private purchase.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b21/thorin6/PalKnife34.jpg

[DarylBruce]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v613/DarylBruce/Hobby%20Pics/knife.jpg

I am also fond of military knifes. a few PAL can be seen in the pic.

[thorin6]

I am also fond of military knifes. a few PAL can be seen in the pic.

I started out with one bayonet, a Camillus M4 that my father carried in Korea. Picked up an M1 Carbine to put the bayonet on, then picked up some web gear. Decided that I needed an M3 to complement my M4. Found a Mark 2 Camillus in a thrift shop; at one point had just a few knives:

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b21/thorin6/Knives1.jpg

But more than a few bayonets:

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b21/thorin6/BayoCity.jpg

[Johnny in Texas]

My Collecting started with a 110.00 Underwood M1 carbine and and a 5.00 Utica M4 Both were near new cond.

[stars-n-bars]

Thorin6, I've tried and tried to get on militaria forums and can get on but I can't do anything but read. I've tried to contact the admim. with no luck. I pull up the membership list and can't find my user name. I get an error message everytime I try to post,reply or update my info. Maybe the admim. just doesn't like me. I've waited and waited and have sent and resent my validation request. Could you contact the admim. for me and tell them Redhand1322 is trying to get on. Thanks if you can help.

[cplnorton]

Hey I'm having trouble registering with usmilitariaforum as well.

I've done the same thing as stars-n-bars. Tried registering, writing admin, no response either.

Add cplnorton to your list. I want to join that forum as well!!!!! lol

[thorin6]

Stars-n-bars and cpl norton, have you made sure your spam filters are turned off or that you can allow the US Militaria forum to access your email? I've posted your problem in the help section, so I'll see what they tell me about any issues with getting registered.

[cplnorton]

Sweet thanks thorin6. I owe you one!

[thorin6]

Here's the response I've received from a moderator:
"If they are using Hotmail.com or Gmail.com as their email address for registering, they may be getting blocked since those accounts are used heavily by spammers. Tell them to use another email server such as Juno.com. Once they are registered, they can always change their email back to whatever they use in their profile."
Please let me know if this is the problem. Probably should go to PMs so the forum can be free for its intended purpose.

[stars-n-bars]

Thanks a bunch thorin6, I'll re-register with my regular e-mail address.

[cplnorton]

Thanks thorin6!!!