Another “WWII Kabar” . . . sure!

[DRE66]

Yeah, China Marine, ok ?

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/WWII-USMC-Ka-Bar-Fighting-Knife-Named-to-China-Marine-1st-Marine-Div-R-D-Brunner/202981153685?

[siclfde]

I had no idea what this guy was talking about either.   Looked it up on Wikipedia and did come up with this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China_Marines

 

No idea if listing is dumb or realistic, just that there is apparently was some unit called the China Marines.  Would like to hear other thoughts

[thorin6]

The China Marines are real; after the end of WW2 in the Pacific we sent them up to Peking and Tientsin (spelling may be different depending upon the atlas and era).  I had a scarf from one, and Eugene Sledge (With the Old Breed, and shown in the mini-series The Pacific) was a China Marine and authored a book on it called, mysteriously enough "China Marine."

[DRE66]

It’s not the China Marine part of the story, it’s the modern knife in a modified sheath. 

[manayunkman]

Can someone post a link that works please?

[siclfde]

1 hour ago, DRE66 said:

It’s not the China Marine part of the story, it’s the modern knife in a modified sheath. 

Ah - thank you for that

[mdk0911]

not sure is this is it

https://www.ebay.com/itm/WWII-USMC-Ka-Bar-Fighting-Knife-Named-to-China-Marine-1st-Marine-Div-R-D-Brunner/202981153685?hash=item2f429e9b95:g:BmUAAOSw6Wlerf7C

[DRE66]

That’s the one - thank you. 

[Bob Hudson]

.

 

 

[sactroop]

Some more pictures that make it clear that the knife was made from the mid-70's to the early 90's when Ka-Bar changed the finish to the present coating instead of parkerizing.

Deep stamps on the blade

painted guard

black spacers on either end of the stacked leather

3/8 pommel with a blind pin attaching it to the tang

Also you can plainly see the fine parallel tool marks on the blade bevels. I can't recall seeing that in the knives made during WW2.  

[thorin6]

Note the alignment of the blade with the leather washer grip, this alignment is characteristic of 1970's and beyond Ka-bar marked knives.

[mdk0911]

I let the seller know this and he got back and I hope he updates the listing

[DRE66]

Since the sheath is heavily modified, it could be legit but the knife definitely is a modern production.