thorin6 Posted July 12, 2014 Share #1 Posted July 12, 2014 Picked this Ka-bar up at the flea market today for $10; wasn't even sure I wanted to spend the money. The pictures tell the tale; the right side markings have been ground off so I don't know whether it a USMC or USN blade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorin6 Posted July 12, 2014 Author Share #2 Posted July 12, 2014 The other side: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorin6 Posted July 12, 2014 Author Share #3 Posted July 12, 2014 Now the blade marking that wasn't ground off: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorin6 Posted July 12, 2014 Author Share #4 Posted July 12, 2014 And finally the peened, thick pommel: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorin6 Posted July 12, 2014 Author Share #5 Posted July 12, 2014 So does anyone have any ideas? I'm debating removing the electrical tape and the dried out remnants of the leather washers, and replacing the grips with wood; another possibility is to buy some of the leather washers off ebay and attempt to use those to build the grip. I will be working on the blade to try to smooth out the edge without removing too much of the metal, and I'll probably reduce the bend in the one side of the guard. Any comments on returning this knife to some sort of respectablity will be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted July 12, 2014 Share #6 Posted July 12, 2014 Looks like a challenging project.That should keep you busy during these hot summer days.Please keep a photo record of the restoration stages to keep us posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundance Posted July 12, 2014 Share #7 Posted July 12, 2014 Aren't I seeing " ...BAR" at the base of the blade? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundance Posted July 13, 2014 Share #8 Posted July 13, 2014 Oh, sorry, you said it was a KA-BAR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted July 13, 2014 Share #9 Posted July 13, 2014 Make up a good story to go with it. Just kidding. Maybe you could find some leather washers ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_mi Posted July 13, 2014 Share #10 Posted July 13, 2014 Or you could sandblast it and see if Dale Sandburg can add knucks like the center knife (a USN Kabar) that he did for me. It was trashed when I got it -- no leather washers, no guard, and some pitting. Dale brought it back to life. BTW -- all three are his works. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorin6 Posted July 13, 2014 Author Share #11 Posted July 13, 2014 Thanks for the comments. I can get the leather washers from ebay but I'm looking at using some black walnut from a couple of left over rifle stocks to make a pair of grips. I do like the ide of the knuckle grips so I may look out for a pair at a local gun/knife show. I'd like to keep this as inexpensive as possible but I'll consider any good alternatives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorin6 Posted July 13, 2014 Author Share #12 Posted July 13, 2014 I might add that I have a really nice oxblood sheath for it if I can get it looking respectable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sactroop Posted July 13, 2014 Share #13 Posted July 13, 2014 Regarding Dale Sandburg. Is eight dollar mountain foundry still a going concern? Non of my old links are active anymore and I haven't been able to find anything new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim_mi Posted July 13, 2014 Share #14 Posted July 13, 2014 Regarding Dale Sandburg. Is eight dollar mountain foundry still a going concern? Non of my old links are active anymore and I haven't been able to find anything new. I just tried the link that I've always used (edmfknives.com) and it's dead. I "spoke" with Dale via e-mail in early March to order a knife, and he didn't think he'd be able to make it but didn't elaborate. The knives in the post were made by him in March 2013. I hope he's still in business and doing well, but, with the site down I don't know what to think... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Costa Posted July 14, 2014 Share #15 Posted July 14, 2014 KAPUT! TOTE! IT HAS SEEN BETTER DAYS------------ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Sarge Posted July 14, 2014 Share #16 Posted July 14, 2014 Make a bayonet out of it. It's pretty easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ka bar Posted July 15, 2014 Share #17 Posted July 15, 2014 Maybe display it for what it is... A relic!... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Sarge Posted July 15, 2014 Share #18 Posted July 15, 2014 I hate that Mr Dale Sandberg doesn't appear to be taking any more orders. I had two blades I wanted him to put D-guards on. I sent him an email back at the first of the year and he never answered back. I have a bolo he made for me back in 2011 along with grips for an M7 and M9. You couldn't beat the quality of his work or his prices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorin6 Posted July 15, 2014 Author Share #19 Posted July 15, 2014 Maybe display it for what it is... A relic!... Interestingly, out of the same barn storage that the knife came from was also a last ditch T99 Arisaka; the bolt was missing the internals, the barrel was like a sewer, and no trigger guard. I wonder if the knife and T99 are related somehow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tthen Posted July 17, 2014 Share #20 Posted July 17, 2014 Thorin6 If your decision is to make something of this knife requires the removal of the pommel, or if you decide to unload it I'm interested. I have my fathers Ka-bar he was issued while in the Navy during WW2. The pommel is missing, The story goes that he was using it as a hammer to open a bent ammo can and the pommel came off. I'm not sure but I think I would like to replace it. Best of luck with your decision, keep us posted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BelligerentBlue Posted July 17, 2014 Share #21 Posted July 17, 2014 I guess the decision is up to you. Usually I like to keep everything I get as found. But for some reason, I wouldn't mind seeing this ka bar fixed up... I think if you had a back story for a veteran using it post war I'd say keep it as is. But since it doesn't seem like you do, if you want to fix it up and breath new life in to it. Do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorin6 Posted July 18, 2014 Author Share #22 Posted July 18, 2014 Thanks for all the suggestions. My first action will be to get the blade into decent shape and straighten out the guard. If that works out okay, then I'm going to take off the electrical tape and what appears to be rotted leather washers underneath. Once I get to where I have a clean blade and tang, I'll decide what to do about the knife. Right now its behind several other projects which, if all else goes well, should be completed in the next couple of months. I just completed a renovation of a sporterized M1903 with its original 1918 barrel so I'm taking a rest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ka bar Posted July 19, 2014 Share #23 Posted July 19, 2014 I am sure all fans of edged weapons would LOVE to see this as a work in progress topic on this forum. Please consider sharing the process of a rebuild with us (including photos) I have done one before on a blade forum, it is so much fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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