I picked up a Ka-Bar mk2 knife with a sheath I can't find pics of anywhere

[Twoawnry]

I bought this knife at an estate sale with the intention of reselling it.I have bought and sold several mk2 knives always came with a plastic sheath with the webbed stap .this one is different .Its in pretty rough shape but what it looks like is the plastic sheath covered in leather . Knife fits in tight like it should.I have just never seen one like this before . I do not claim to be an expert.I found a thread about identifying ww2 era by the pin through the pommel which helped identify my knife as ww2.
Any help would be appreciated thank you

 

[NMpops]

We need pictures and some one will help.

 

[Twoawnry]

having trouble figuring out how to load images from my iPad.i have it up on eBay item # 182037872564 price is kinda high if it doesn't go first time around I'll lower starting price.

 

[KingMC]

Use an image hosting website like imgur or photobucket, they allow you to upload it there and then just share the direct link to the pictures here in link form or embedded

 

[sac troop]

Here are the pictures from eBay:

 

[Twoawnry]

thank you sac troop

 

[gunsil]

Knife is definitely a WW2 knife, only the WW2 ones have the markings on the guard. KA-BAR only re-makes the blade marked knives. The sheath is not an issue sheath, it is a modified sheath that looks like an original fiberglass or plastic sheath was modified but by whom or when will likely never be known. In my opinion it would be worth more if it had an original non-modified sheath. Not all WW2 KA-BARS had the plastic sheaths, the early ones and all USMC ones came in leather sheaths, and those original leather sheaths look nothing like the one you show.

 

[sac troop]

Your welcome. The guard marked knives are from the later production period of WW2. The sheath body could have been the one issued with this knife as the Navy adapted that plastic sheath and was commonly delivered with the knives by early in 1944. The circumstances of when and where the sheath got it's leather make over would be purely speculative.

 

[zzyzzogeton]

The "fancy work", i.e., the woven light line at the throat of the sheath, was "most likely" done by a sailor, probably a Deck Department Boatswain's Mate (rating BM). The BMs do all the fancy work for the Quarterdeck area, weave the monkey fists used in line throwing, etc. The "when" is obviously after 1944, and most likely before the early 1970s, when MK1s and MK2s were dropped from general usage by ship's boat crews. (They went to ship's store sold Buck 110s and Schrade LB7s). The same work could be done tomorrow by a BM3 or above.

 

[gunsil]

I agree with you guys on the date of the knife, but ZZY, I have friends who worked on ships who were never in the navy who can do such knots and we even learned it in our BSA troop. It is fairly easy to do and could have been done anywhere at any time by anybody, and not necessarily by any navy personnel. It has become merely an aftermarket modified sheath and I gotta agree with SAC that any attempt to ID it's origin is mere speculation.

 

[zzyzzogeton]

You are correct in that it can be (and has been) done by non-Navy personnel. It's just that in MY experience I have seldom seen fancy work done by anyone other than Navy (or Merchant Marine) personnel.

And yes, you (and sactroop) are correct about any attempts to ID the origin is speculative.

I was simply identifying what that particular piece of work was and my 2 cents worth of speculation on the MOST LIKELY time such work could have been done and by whom. I will withhold any other comments about this vastly overpriced knife.

 

[gunsil]

Don't worry ZZY, I agree that much such work was done by seamen, but we were taught it in my BSA troop and I think such work is explained in the older BSA manuals, but I can't seem to find mine to check it out.

 

[sac troop]

Sailors do seem to have a penchant towards self expression that translates into tradition.

 

[gunsil]

Here's my infantry knife with turk's knot decorations. Could have been traded to a sailor, could've been done by a soldier who learned the knots in the BSA, could've been done after the war, too many could haves, but I like it.

 

[Zemapeli]

View attachment 619463 Here's my infantry knife with turk's knot decorations. Could have been traded to a sailor, could've been done by a soldier who learned the knots in the BSA, could've been done after the war, too many could haves, but I like it.

Sailors do seem to have a penchant towards self expression that translates into tradition.

Here are the pictures from eBay:

Love them all. Thanks for sharing. All the best,,,
Zemapeli