I am new to the forum and collecting of MK2 knives from WWII. I have found pictures of a few MK2 knives without any manufacturer stamp or military branch, i.e. USMC or USN, on the blade.  These blades don't seem to have been altered or modified after original manufacture.   Are these sterile blades worth collecting?  

 

And why did Ka-Bar and Pal make MK2 knives that have manufacturer stamps on one side and nothing on the other side?  They both seem to be exceptions to the many variations and manufacturers of the MK2 knives made during WWII.  

Mark 2's without markings (sterile) may have been intended for the commercial market and not  USGI ? 

 

KABAR was probably just experimenting with the different variation possibilities.

hi it is noted in Bill Walters book2 on page 381 that there is known variations of unmarked ka bar  as i have several variations in my collection

TY!

hi i also believe that these are not post war knives put together with left over parts for commercial use because the ones noted in bill walters book and the ones that i own in my collection all have the thick early peened pommel knives . if there  were ones  put together post war i would think they would have been put together with the later thinner pinned pommel  knives with left over parts .

The first Kabars can be found without the US NAVY or USMC markings.  Not a variation as much as a result of just getting started and more interest in getting them into the system despite some errors.  You'll find some early MK1s (5-inch blades) without the USN markings as well.  The early Kabars will most likely have circular peened pommels.

 

As for PAL, after their contract ran out in 1943 they made some knives found in Bill Walter's book on page 384-386 called "PAL Blank Blades" without US NAVY or USMC markings that were removed.  They have the eagle beak pommels found on the PAL RH 36 blades and smooth handles (a rare variant has grooved handles).

 

There are also what are called Pattern Blade knives where unknown makers made knifes that imitate existing factory blades like the Kabar, etc.

 

Finally, there are cases where the US markings were removed by the owner in the belief that if they were found with marked knives, they might be accused of stealing them.

 

Here's one of my PAL Blank Blades (I have four, one PAL marked (USMC) and three PAL RH 37 marked (US NAVY) all with smooth handles):