USMC Mk2 Fighting Knife
From the Collection: A World War Two issue US Marine Corps “Ka-Bar” fighting knife.
Probably the most iconic edged weapon in American History, the Ka-Bar is to the fighting knife what the M1911 is to the automatic pistol, essentially an archetype. When anyone pictures a fighting knife the image of the bowie style blade and distinctive leather grip quickly come to mind.
The Ka-Bar had its origin in the need to replace the aging trench knives in service on the eve of the Second World War, as these fearsome looking weapons, with their distinctive brass knuckles, were exceedingly awkward to use for purposes other than fighting. in addition, they had a relatively narrow blade, unsuited to hard use as a utility knife. After a short experiment with a copy of the stilleto-style British Fairburn-Sykes dagger, a new design was approved from Union Cutlery in 1942, based on an amalgam of several military and civilian utility and fighting knives.
The new knife featured a seven inch bowie style blade, ending with a distinctive clip point. A shallow fuller (also known as a “blood groove”) runs along both sides of the blade, which is edged only on the underside. The entire unit is finished via parkerization, in the same manner as US firearms of the period. The simple steel crossguard was originally straight, but on later models was curved slightly upward, and the grip of the knife was made of stacked leather washers, indented for a firmer grip, topped with a flat steel pommel. The design was officially adopted as the Mark 2 Fighting Knife, and was produced by several companies in addition to Ka-Bar (actually a trademark of Union Cutlery until the 1950s).
This example was made in the latter half of World War II by Camillus Cutlery of New York, which actually manufactured the lion’s share of Ka-Bar Type knives during the war. The late war nature of the knife is evidenced by the fact that the markings have been moved from the blade to the underside of the crossguard, typical of knives made between 1943-1945, as well as the pommel, which is retained by a large pin running all the way through, as opposed to earlier models which lacked the pin, and later models where the pin does not protrude on the opposite side. The property marking of the US Marine Corps is also prominently visible on the crossguard.
A notable point about the author’s example is the use of the grey fiberglass scabbard, clearly marked “USN” for the United States Navy. This type of sheath was actually used by the US Navy for their Mark 2 knives, which were marked appropriately as Navy, rather than Marine, issue. The USMC issued their Mark 2 knives in more traditional leather scabbards. It is possible (perhaps most likely) that the scabbard here was purchased by a civilian as a replacement for the knife after the war, but also possible that a Marine was able to get the sturdier scabbard as a replacement or trade with a sailor. It is, however, otherwise correct for a wartime issued knife.
At the first flag raising on Iwo Jima, Marine Private First Class James Michels (foreground with rifle) has a Ka-Bar on his belt.
By the end of the Second World War, the Ka-Bar had been issued to almost every US Marine that desired one, and had become an indispensable part of his arsenal. After the end of the war the knife would remain in service, seeing use throughout the war in Korea and on to Vietnam, although US military issue of the knives would decline. Despite this, they remain popular for private purchase to this day, and some are still issued within the US Marine Corps. The current USMC issue bayonet, the OKC-3S, is a modern design that shares a clear visible lineage to the iconic Ka-Bar knife.