USMC Ka-Bar Screw on Pommel ?

[usmc-nav]

I have a USMC Ka-Bar knife that is stamped on the blade. One side is Ka-Bar and the other is USMC. The handle is gone. I would like to replace the handle. The pommel is a screw on pommel not the pinned type. Where can I find more information on the screw on pommel vs the pinned one? Thanks for your help.

[ka bar]

There is a wealth of info on these MK2 knives.

 

Probably one of the most collected, well researched knives of WW2

 

wiki has a good article on the MK2 and its manufacturing history

 

If you search mk2 in google, there will be pages of results

 

This forum has reference threads attached to the edged weapon section.

 

It truly is a BIG topic with masses of stuff.

 

Basically, the threaded pommel was in the early days of production, the boys in the field found they loosened off

 

So the threaded pommel became peened, then pinned.

[Still-A-Marine]

usmc-nav,

 

As ka bar said the reference section is the place to look.

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/forum/53-the-ww2-ka-bar/

 

The Marines never had a "screw on" pommel. They did use a round blade tang attached to the pommel. This type of tang was used on the early variants of the USMC Ka-Bars. They were marked KA-BAR over OLEAN,N.Y. on one side and USMC on the other. This is commonly called the "early marking."

 

The mid-war USMC Ka-Bar had a rectangular blade tang peened to a thick pommel. It is marked KA-BAR one one side and USMC on the other in large letters. This is the "late marking."

 

The late-war USMC Ka-Bar had a pinned rectangular blade tang. It also had the later marking of KA-BAR one one side and USMC on the other but now the letters are smaller.

 

There are variations in spacer color, handle shape, and blade treatment.

 

Is your blade marked KA-BAR over OLEAN,N.Y. or just KA-BAR? A picture of the blade and markings would help.

 

Bill

[Still-A-Marine]

Here are some pictures of the OPs knife from photo bucket.

 

 

[Still-A-Marine]

usmc-nav,

Your knife has the early markings and originally had the thin attached pommel.

 

The first versions had red-black-red spacers at the pommel. The very first ones had the pommel ground smooth.

 

The next version had triple black spacers at the pommel. One this version the pommel is not ground smooth.

 

Here are pictures of both.

[Still-A-Marine]

usmc-nav - Your knife has a different guard and pommel. Are you going to try to go back to the original or do something different? There are a multitude of modified handles that have been done over the years. I like the guard and pommel you have. Your options are many. What ever you do please post pictures so we can see the results.

 

Bill

[Still-A-Marine]

For comparison here is a knife I have that has the late war makings and the pinned pommel. I still haven't decided what I am going to do with it.