Found this at a pawn shop yesterday. I dont think i have ever had a knife feel as balanced or be like an extension of your arm as one of these.

They make a great camp knife.

WWII vintage & issue? Legendary knife! Saved many a Marine's life in the Pacific 70 some years ago. Collector's item, too valuable to be used.

Still have 3 of them from the time I was a Marine grunt. Carried it through the first Gulf War. Sits on the mantle now. When I was in the Corps, you could buy one at the PX for $17.00.

Nice find. Most of those with the USMC stamped on them were made by Union Cutlery out of Olean NY. What’s the makers stamp on yours say? Lance

Great and useful knife. I carry one on all my Western elk hunts and I am a minimalist.

One heavy tough knife. Used to play with one, along with a Marine camo backpack and camo rain wear my dad brought home from WWII. Later it was added to my outdoor gear, but haven't seen it in years. Got to be a whole lot of'em still out there as I wasn't the only young fella to see one around their house. Great post.

Ka-Zar?!

Oops...went straight comic nerd mode...sorry

Kent. Oh yeah, big knife, blond jungle god and his loyal Saber Tooth cat! What can go wrong with that?

What year is that from?

I received one for Christmas several years ago....they are badass.

me and my some yuse that type of ka-bar for all our survival stuff,,ill give you a tip ta make the knife a lot better ta hold and grip better,put some rubber o-rings on the goooves of the handle and see what a difference it makes, ALPHAMALE

I miss mine so much bought one before getting out of the USMC back in 85 I lost it up in Ontario Many years ago. That is a great Pawn shop find

I still got mine when i was in the navy. Mine has U. S. Navy.Mark 2 stamped on it great knife.

Still have mine, that I carried in the Corps, will until I die.

Got mine in 1983 while in the Marines. Still hangs on my belt with my stumping tackle.

My buddy lost his in battle when he got shot. I taped mine to the calf of my leg to get it home and then gave mine to him as a gift. Another friend found this out and bought me one but it sits in the drawer. Don't quite have the same meaning to me I guess.

A Ka-Bar was my first big knife, I was 13 years old (1949) Back then you could buy new or used Ka-Bar knives in the "Army Surplus" stores and the were pretty inexpensive.

I remember my knife came with a little booklet that told you how to sharpen and care for the knife. At the end of the instructions it said.... "TAKE CARE OF YOUR KNIFE IT MAY SAVE YOUR LIFE"

I cut out that phrase and glued it on the sheath of my Ka-Bar.

Have always wanted one...

I have mine from marine corps 1970, heavy duty and I wouldn't take for mine

A Kar-Bar would show up occasionally on episodes of the TV Western "Gun Smoke" it was a prop knife.

Hey bro, Phil, the Kabar is an excellent design and is a great knife for all seasons on your belt.

When i was in the army my squad leader had one tied to his ruck. Always liked it and it very useful around the fox hole and like ron said it may save your life. I had a newer one but gave it to a fellow who wanted to restore his grandfathers WW11 knife which burned in a house fire. He needed the sheath and leather handle for it, plus i had worn the blade pretty good on it reducing selffbows. Not sure how old this one is.

Warchild, had one with the handle wrapped with 550 chord. God I miss it.

I have 2, one that was carried in WW II and one from the Vietnam era.........great knife to do almost anything.

Dan, That's ironic. I still have the one my Dad carried all thru the south pacific in WW2. He made the landing on Leyte and Okinawa among others. I restored it a few years ago to it's glory days. He said his kept him alive also.

You know I have to say more on these knives.

I have spent a good many days and hours in the last ten years searching out ideal fighting knives and training with them.

Have cut down a couple of good-sized Locusts training on them with fighters.

I have had benchmade, Sog and SRK, and homemade fighters I have used and worn out a couple of them.

This KA-Bar design and length is the perfect fighter!

This knife is long enough to reach the vital organs of large NA animals of all kinds and made in 10-95 carbon steel.

They sharpen up good and hold a decent edge.

Everyone should have one of these and the modern made Ontario and Kabars are still very high quality.

I like a Kydex sheath for my belt and even have a slip sheath on a cord and carry one down in the back of pants concealed. You jerk the handle and the knife sheath is captured by the paracord at an 8 inch distance for fast deployment.

I have 3. One was on my hip or in my pack throughout my almost 30 years in the Corps. One was ingraved when I left the 11th Marines and one I rescued for $10 at a local auction. The perfect knife can cut, chop, hammer and used to belay a cord such as a tent peg or hold down an aiming circle in heavy winds. This is it. Lots of these great tools around

I bought this one new in 04' or 05 from a small surplus store. Its the smallest of the ka bar fighting knives. Its also by far my favorite knife of all and has been on many adventures with me. I added a leather "wrap" on the sheath to ad to my carry options since depending on what I was doing it could sometimes get in the way carried vertical. I took my time with a lansky sharpener and changed the angle on the blade to 25 degrees. Starting with extra course working down to fine, then stripping it with leather. It will take and hold a razors edge now.

Horizontal carry option.

Few more pics

Handle looks black in the pics but its dark brown. I used to see the black camillus kabars at the PX.

Kyphil that is a nice knife to happen upon. I'd love to have a full size version as well but those knives don't turn up often in my price range.lol

Owned two of them. Nice knife. Funniest memory is once on a FTX in Germany in February. A guy had a KBAR, it was his pride and joy. We were throwing our knives into a tree, he came up and boasted about how we should watch a real knife. Throws his, hit the tree and snapped right in half!

Very nice find. Love those knives.

My dad was a marine. He always gives one for presents to my self and his nephews. My cousin took his to Somalia back in his army days. Still has it. I keep mine in my go bag. Great piece of american history

me and a friend were between 11 and 14 broke 2 or 3 by throwing them . all broke at the handgaurd. just stupid. they are hi carbon and are good if used as intended. got one of the navy ones at a yard sale with a plastic sheath and a extra late model leather sheath for $35. don't need a big knife ,sold it at the flea mkt...ron

Curious, if you guys were going to buy one new, would buy one full size or "Short" (they're a lot smaller) straight edge or serrated, Kraton or leather handle?

I always like a good leather handle that you can rub up with some snow seal or just keep it oiled up with a leather preserver. The leather is the best IMHO.

I would like to have the large one, maybe in a small knife a skinner as a backup.

I like Buck 301 or a swiss cadet or swiss hunter with a saw.

You get in bear country the kabar is a last resort I know but it is a good stabber and slicer.

Zbone I like the smaller version for no other reason than ease of carrying. And definitely like the leather handle better than the black ones. Just personal preference. I can't imagine the small version coming up short in any situation next to its big brother, even in a self defense situation. Its still a lot of knife yet a tad more convenient. I cut down a small leather ladies belt and put a few holes in it to wear on my lower leg when hunting/hiking. Straps around my upper calf and is very comfortable and secure yet always there if you need it and not in the way or snagging on anything while ground hunting or sitting in a chair. I also prefer the straight edge.

Thanks Shortbow... Am gonna get one someday, just don't know when or would have had one years ago...

Right now the only thing I settled on is the serrated blade, and pretty sure I want the leather handle too... It's now about the size, am thinking full size at present (but that could change tomorrow...8^))

Shortbow - Main reason thinking about going with the full size as more of a survival tool rather than just a knife...

They are a great and classic outdoor knife, still made in Olean NY!

That would be a good reason to go with the bigger one zbone. If you needed a tool to do any kind of chopping or prying or digging in a survival situation, it'd certainly do it easier and quicker.

I've had one of the Air Force/ pilot survival short versions since the early '70s. Perfect size imo.

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