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.

 

The other side:

 

Now the blade marking that wasn't ground off:

And finally the peened, thick pommel:

 

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.

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.

Aren't I seeing " ...BAR" at the base of the blade?

Oh, sorry, you said it was a KA-BAR.

Make up a good story to go with it.

 

Just kidding.

 

Maybe you could find some leather washers ?

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

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.

I might add that I have a really nice oxblood sheath for it if I can get it looking respectable.

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.

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...

KAPUT! TOTE! IT HAS SEEN BETTER DAYS------------

Make a bayonet out of it. It's pretty easy.

Maybe display it for what it is...

 

A relic!...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.