Greg Robinson Posted November 22, 2006 Share #1 Posted November 22, 2006 During 1943, Union Cutlery produced some of these knives that lacked the branch of service markings on the blade. They just had the KA-BAR maker mark. In the case of the shown example it has the early OLEAN NY mark and pommel peened to a round blade tang so it's an "early" knife. It's entirely possible that both the Marines and Navy bought these but this example is USMC issue all the way with the unmarked leather scabbard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Robinson Posted November 28, 2006 Author Share #2 Posted November 28, 2006 A later variation of this pattern marked on one side of blade "KA-BAR" without the "OLEAN NY". Some will have the early round blade tang and some will have the rectangular blade tang. All of this pattern had the early thick heavy pommel which I'm sure prompted many a Marine to use it as a hammer. This example came is a leather scabbard lightly stamped USMC/ BOYT/43 so it's a Marine piece. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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