Are Ka-Bar's issued to Marines???

crazy nicky

crazy nicky

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Anyone know? My friend wants to get his bro a knife when he his done at Paris Island and I suggested a Ka-Bar since he is in the Marines. So are the issued??
 
Kabars havent been issued since korea. Kabar stopped making them for the military after world war 2 (the left over ones were exhausted until they ran out, around the time of korea). The ones you see know are made by ontario, they've held the contract since the early 80's before that it was camillus. Pal, robeson, conetta, kabar and many others have made this knife. I carried the ontario model for 8 years in the AF. Many will put these knives down because there are those that are much better quality, but they do get the job done! (and there are many still around to prove that!!).

I know that you can usually by the kabar models in most px, or aafes exchanges on most any military base. The issue ontarios, kabar, the camillus ones, can be bought fairly inexpenisve for around 23-34 dollars.

As far as what is issued the f/u knife has a nsn (national stock number) so it is available to all service branches.
 
Crazy nicky...have a look at this from Practical Tactical forum ...

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=252611

Written by Greg Walker (Kuwait 14.9.03)

Knife Stuff from Iraq
Okay -

Ain't technology great

First, Andy Prisco and the American Tomahawk Company will be happy to know I got a great picture of my ATC VN Tomahawk outside Saddam's palace home in downtown Baghdad. Here's to you, Andy - thanks for your excellent support of our effort here.

Rob Simonich RAVENS are doing the job here. Those that have 'em love 'em, and those that see 'em want 'em.

Have been working my Emerson CQC7 and Strider tac-folder to death. For everything... Both models keep on tickin' and require only daily checks to keep the fine grit out (impossible but fun trying) and honing about once a week due to hard use.

Cutlery Shoppe Gryphon boot knife always handy and rides nicely off Eagle drop holster leg straps. Very quick for emergencies of any sort. Nothing faster than a fixed blade out of the sheath if properly mounted and carried.

Many, many KA-Bars here. Traditional USMC the most popular. All worn proudly.
 
My father-in-law is a Marine; he fought in the Pacific in WWII, and briefly was assigned to duties in China until 1947.

At the age of 77, he had to have extensive back surgery. A few days before this procedure, I bought him a Kabar that was advertised as the same knife issued to Marines. To boot, it was made on the same machines and from the same blueprints as those originals.

My f-i-l handled his knife and said, "Boy, nice knife. This is my first Kabar." Needless to say, that brought questions.

He continued, "Even though we were in the front all through Pacific battles, Kabars were pretty scarce. We shared the ones we had. They were never as nice as this one you gave me."
 
Camillus is also a "supplemental contractor"- they still supply the fignthing/utility to the military on occasion.

I have heard on the forums several times that knife acceptability depends a lot on one's unit. Some units permit their folks to carry whatever blade they want, while others have big restrictions. It would probably be best if your friend waits for his bro to get to his unit, and then get him a knife.

As far as a recommendation, I would add the Becker 7 to the list. I think it would make a fantastic field knife, and is only something like $50.
 
They didn't issue me one. I was on active duty from 77-81. Don't think they issue them now either.
 
"C" (Charlie) Company, 4th Tank Battalion, USMCR in Boise Idaho has a fighting/utility knife (don't know the maker -- Camillus, Ontario, KaBar, etc.) for every Marine in the unit, stored in the arms room, ready to issue when deployed. They were issued and deployed during the first Gulf war.
 
I got out in '99. If you were issued an M16, you were given a M7 bayonet. If you had a M9 pistol, you got a Ka-Bar.
 
Fixed Blades are nice, but generally the carry of one is very unit dependant. I would recomend a nice higher end folder. Much more discreete in carry and have never had any higher-ups complain. I have gotten grief about fixed blades as small as 3". I also have been allowed to carry 6"-7" fixed. All depended on the guy in charge. Being here at Eglin I know a few spec-ops types from Hurlbert Feild and the Ranger training camp. They pretty much confirm it depends on the commander as to the carry of a fixed blade. No one has ever mentioned a problem with a folder. Also consider a good multi-tool with locking blades, ie Leatherman Wave. These can be the most useful thing to have in the field. Remember most of us GI's that go in "harms way" are issued Rifles and bullets for self defense. Knives tend to be used as tools. A folder will most likely be able to be carried reguardless of who is in charge a fixed blade may need to be left home.

Droopy
 
I am a Marine Corps Infantryman currently on Active Duty. Here's the way it works with regards to issued knives.

When you check into a unit you are assigned a line number on that units' table of organization and equipment. You then receive the equipment associated with that line number. For example:

- Infantry Rifleman receive an M16A2 and an M7 Bayonet

- Medium Machine Gunners receive an M240G, an M9 Pistol, and a Camillus USMC Fighting Knife (black handle and sheath)

Anyone else who carries a pistol i.e. Company First Sergeant, Company Commander, Company Gunnery Sergeant, Antitank Assaultman, Mortarmen all receive an M9 Pistol with a Camillus USMC Fighting Knife (black handle and sheath).

Specialty units like Recon Battalion issue their folks dive knives and such as required.

Regular Marine Corps Infantrymen are issued either an M7 Bayonet or a Camillus USMC Fighting Knife depending on what their line number on the table of organization and equipment says.

When you rotate from unit to unit the knife DOES NOT go with you.

Usually if you carry an M7 bayonet you'll carry it on your vest with a personal knife on your belt. If you carry a Camillus USMC Fighting Knife you usually leave it in the armory and carry your personal knife on your belt. I always left back my Camillus USMC Fighting Knife in favor of my Newt Livesay RTAK.

Also it depends on your units SOP what you are / are not allowed to carry. The mission will dictate things too. For example I once went on a mucho politically sensitive operation and I was forced to keep my RTAK in my pack because the image of a Marine carrying a 10" bladed jungle knife wasn't going to go over well with the media.

Hope that helped...

-Stanley White
 
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I was in during the 70s and 80s, and we were issued the MCK in Boot Camp, right before the ITS phase. Did you go to PI or Diego for Boot Camp? What did they issue you for a knife? How did you train in CQC?

At PI, were were issued a presentation grade MCK upon graduation (were were the honor platoon), in addition to the standard issue. One of my sons is a Marine and he was issued one as well, and they are still issued in the Corps. He is in the 2/2 and did a tour in Iraq. I have another son in the Army, and he was issued the M-9 Bayonet, but they are allowed to purchase and carry a MCK if they want. He is in the 101st Airborne at Fort Campbell, Ky. He has done 2 tours in Afghanistan and Iraq.

I don't know why you didn't get issued one, but maybe they were trying to cut back on money (they do that sometimes) and expected you to purchase your own. I dunno. I was just a grunt....

Semper Fi.

Danbo said:
They didn't issue me one. I was on active duty from 77-81. Don't think they issue them now either.
Click to expand...
 
Gigmaster said:
I was in during the 70s and 80s, and we were issued the MCK in Boot Camp, right before the ITS phase. Did you go to PI or Diego for Boot Camp? What did they issue you for a knife? How did you train in CQC?

At PI, were were issued a presentation grade MCK upon graduation (were were the honor platoon), in addition to the standard issue. One of my sons is a Marine and he was issued one as well, and they are still issued in the Corps. He is in the 2/2 and did a tour in Iraq. I have another son in the Army, and he was issued the M-9 Bayonet, but they are allowed to purchase and carry a MCK if they want. He is in the 101st Airborne at Fort Campbell, Ky. He has done 2 tours in Afghanistan and Iraq.

I don't know why you didn't get issued one, but maybe they were trying to cut back on money (they do that sometimes) and expected you to purchase your own. I dunno. I was just a grunt....

Semper Fi.
Click to expand...

Blast from the past! This threads 13 years old lol
 
Thirteen years is long enough for the USMC to have changed suppliers 3 times or more. And the original poster has probably been banned for a decade.
 
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