Vietnam Marine Knife?

[Brady556]

What type of knife would a Marine M60 machine gunner usually have carried in the Vietnam War? 

[doyler]

could be any variety of WW2 or korea era "Kabars" left in inventory..

 

I have a Utica Cutlery marked kabar that was issued in 1961-1962 to a USMC vet who was a machine gunner. He was also on deck for the Bay of Pigs. Utica only produced the kabar post WW2

 

CAMILLUS also made the kabar. Typically see them with a dark scabbard reffered to as "oxblood color" in the Vietnam era.The blade marking changed in the mid  70s so you would have to find the earlier one.

 

The Buck sheath knives were very popular as well as the MKII Gerber knoioves as far as private purchase.There was a host of other private purchase knives as well.The Kabar company actually had a knife for sale that was used and sold in the PXs then also.

 

 

 

 

[Doctorofwar]

USMC issued WW2 contract combat knives “KA-BARs” made by various manufacturers until supplies were exhausted during Vietnam, most WW2 contract knives I’ve seen used in Vietnam were the last styles made during WW2 (Camillus with guard marked USMC and “fat handle” KA-BAR with pinned thin pommel and “small” USMC blade marking) but they could be anything left after WW2 and Korea.  The first post WW2 contract went to Utica like doyler states above.  If you are looking for a Vietnam era contracted knife, get a Utica, Conetta or Camillus with the first blade marking style from the 1960s- US stamped over Camillus, NY on the blade.  In the 1970s “NY” was dropped after Camillus.