February 20, 20179 yr #1 I collect most U.S. WWII knives with the MARK 2 being my favorite. I really like the WWII KA-BAR MARK 2 Bonderized, (blue wash), finish knives. Bonderized finished blades use a zinc phosphate treatment that produce a light grey colored blade finish as opposed to the more common darker Parkerized blade finish. KA-BAR was the only WWII manufactures to use this blade finish process.
February 20, 20179 yr #7 Wow! Great collection - I see who has been cornering the market on USMC Kabars!!!!
February 20, 20179 yr #9 MK2'S my first choice among all othe knives. love the KA-BARS, marine marked early, mid and late war. navy's nice too!
February 20, 20179 yr Author #11 and----------- space------ now at a premium here. I don't have any of mine on display so that helps. I have them all stored in boxes, 4 to a box.
February 20, 20179 yr #13 Wow Mikedon, hat is off. Nice collection. Let them babies breathe occasionally...
February 21, 20179 yr #15 That is a fantastic collection of Kabar MKII's. I will add that Robeson Shuredge made a USN MKII with the bonderized finish.
February 21, 20179 yr Author #16 That is a fantastic collection of Kabar MKII's. I will add that Robeson Shuredge made a USN MKII with the bonderized finish. I did not know that. I have never seen one. Do you have a picture of one you could post? Have you seen that mentioned in any reference book or article? I did not see it mentioned in Frank Trzaska's August 2006 article in Knife World, "The Military Edge - The USN Mark 2". You learn something every day. Thanks! Now I am just going to have to find one!
February 21, 20179 yr #19 i like the looks and feel of these MK2's, marine and navy. they are well made and designed.
February 21, 20179 yr Author #20 Tag Thank you! Is the blade length on your knife 6" or 7"? Did the tag come with the knife? Very nice knife! Thank you again for posting the pictures. I really like your Dad's new book.
February 21, 20179 yr #22 I can't tell in the picture, do the bonderized blades actually look blue (ish)?
February 21, 20179 yr Author #23 I can't tell in the picture, do the bonderized blades actually look blue (ish)? No, they do not look blue to me, more of a light grey. Frank Trzaska has a good article about the process called "The Color Of Knives" in his Knife Knotes 7. http://www.usmilitaryknives.com/knife_knotes_7.htm I would reproduce it here but I do not know if it is permitted. I will attach a picture of three KA-BAR knives with a Bonderizid, (blue wash) - Parkerized - and blued blade finish, (left to right). Hopefully it will show how the blue wash finish differs from the other two. It is a distinctive finish when you see it in person and it can vary from knife to knife, it is sometimes mottled in appearance. It was only used for a short period of time.
February 22, 20179 yr Author #24 No, they do not look blue to me, more of a light grey. Frank Trzaska has a good article about the process called "The Color Of Knives" in his Knife Knotes 7. http://www.usmilitaryknives.com/knife_knotes_7.htm I would reproduce it here but I do not know if it is permitted. I will attach a picture of three KA-BAR knives with a Bonderizid, (blue wash) - Parkerized - and blued blade finish, (left to right). Hopefully it will show how the blue wash finish differs from the other two. It is a distinctive finish when you see it in person and it can vary from knife to knife, it is sometimes mottled in appearance. It was only used for a short period of time. Two more KA-BAR knives with Bonderized blade finish.
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