Are military issued knives copyrighted?

[idaho]

I wonder

Are m3 knife, mk1, mk2 knives and so one, m9 bayonet copyrighted?

Of if I wanted to make and sell the knife with same size and shape I am free to do it?

 

[RevDevil]

So you want to manufacture copies of existing designs?

 

[Wanimator]

They very well may be.

 

[idaho]

Yes.
I would like to make lets say copy of mk2 Ka-bar knife. Not exact copy, with g10 handle, different blade material and finish, different grind, kydex sheath. It would be different knife, but it would still very similar.

They very well may be.

AFAIR "everything" US goverment makes or order to be produced gets to public domain. That is why I wonder.

 

[Thomas Linton]

Copyright applies to literature and other intellectual property.

Knives may be patented. It's a matter of public record accessible via Google.

 

[Quiet]

Yes.
I would like to make lets say copy of mk2 Ka-bar knife. Not exact copy, with g10 handle, different blade material and finish, different grind, kydex sheath. It would be different knife, but it would still very similar.



AFAIR "everything" US goverment makes or order to be produced gets to public domain. That is why I wonder.

Why not come up with your own designs?

 

[rajincagin]

Copyright applies to literature and other intellectual property.

Knives may be patented. It's a matter of public record accessible via Google.

Dang! Beat me to it!

Good luck in your knife making

 

[RevDevil]

Yes.
I would like to make lets say copy of mk2 Ka-bar knife. Not exact copy, with g10 handle, different blade material and finish, different grind, kydex sheath. It would be different knife, but it would still very similar.

AFAIR "everything" US goverment makes or order to be produced gets to public domain. That is why I wonder.

I'm not an attorney, but my guess is that a design like that may be not subject to specific copyright laws. The government didn't design the Ka-Bar MK2 as far as I know, it was a design that followed what Lt. Col Cliff Shuey had started. I mean, Cold Steel has a design similar to that, as do many other companies. I'm going to guess the design might be one of the most copied in the last 60+ years (fixed blade clip point).

 

[Bastid]

Might not be the best of ideas depending upon the actual knife. Not many knife collectors who are actually active in the actual knife community beyond the internet are going to be open to buying an exact copy legal or not. I know I would not no matter how much I liked it. It might be better to track down the original designer or the representative and ask permission first. In the case of say a "k-bar" sure that is not an issue, but there is a lot of competition out there on what might be considered a generic design.

On more identifiable designs and unique features, the best thing to do would be to ask permission. That is the type of action that I have experienced and have come to expect from the folks I get to see face to face.

 

[tltt]

You'll be fine for most.

Custom and commercial replicas of every standard widely used military knife have been made, you'll be fine on the 1219C2, the Mark 1 models, the 1918 Trench knife, the M-3, etc.... it's not an issue. The only thing I'd be careful of are commercial designs that where then co-opted for military use, and custom designs that were put into service.