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USMC Kabar Original?


Navybean
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I picked this Kabar Knife a number of years ago at a antique store. It is in excellent plus condition, it has a thick butt, taper leather handles, blade is marked USMC on one side and KA-BAR then OLEAN. N.Y.

Scabbard has silverfish rivets. no markings on the scabbard. Nice knife any thoughts?

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It is what I have heard called a "transition" KA-BAR. In early 1943 the first version with the red spacers, narrow guard, and thin pommel was replaced with the thick pommel version with leather washer handle and no red spacers. I remember reading only a few thousand were made like that before they Bonderized, then Parkerized the blades. The "Olean, N.Y." was dropped when they started Parkerizing the blades. I have one example of one that has a Bonderized finish and no "Olean, N.Y." though.

 

Frank Trazka and Bill Walters, (I am sure others also), are experts on these knives. There is a lot of information in Frank's December 2005 Knife World Article, "The USMC 1219C of WWII".

 

They are very hard to find and you have an excellent example. The ones I have seen sold in excellent condition were very expensive.

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Most collectors call these third generation Kabar . Its a hard knife to find especially In that condition with the proper sheath . Congratulations on a nice find .

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Thanks everybody for the affirmation of the originality it's good to hear. I purchased this about 10 years ago thinking at the time it was good but it is so nice just wanted other opinions thanks

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