Identify - Korean War Era "Presentation Grade" USMC KA-BAR

[sac troop]

 

[sassafrassdogs]

If no one else, I thank you for the name of the book. I'm going to see if I can find one.

 

[sac troop]

The book is still in print. IMHO, it looks like that may not still be the case much longer. It's good to shop around for a copy in order to find the best price. You should be able to find a "New" copy at this time for about $60 or even a little less. There are opportunities to get a used copy for less, if the purpose for the book is solely for reference that can be a real good way to go.
The book covers more than just "Theater" knives, depending on how you define the term. Knives from many small U.S. makers are included, as well as pieces made in Australia and New Zealand. Good reference material is often worth the price, if it's used well. Books vary a lot in how good the information in them is. IMHO, when this book does go out of print, the asking price for a copy will go way up.

Collecting "Theater knives" is especially hard. The fundamental problem is being able to determine if it was made during the time frame that the piece seems to represent or if it was made in someones garage in the recent past.
This book is not going to be able to help much in working thru that problem. If you are looking for a single source to help you to do that, well I haven't seen one.
If your still interested in the book, IMHO Amazon and Ebay are where I'd start shopping for a copy.
OBTW, in looking thru my copy I didn't find an exact match to your Grandfathers knife. Not surprising when it comes to "theater knives".

 

[sassafrassdogs]

I found the book for under $60.00 on the big auction place. It was the last one THAT seller had though. Thanks again.

 

[BladeScout]

That is a beauty and of vast nostalgic value as it was handed down to you from your father.

Dont try to 'restore' it - you will only destroy the finish etc, as others have said.

Only preserve - dont 'restore.'

Your knife is a notch (if not several notches) above other such knives.

You will see them pop up with regular intervals on for example eflay - Ive seen many there over the years. Though few as well executed as your knife.

Just because he got it during the Korean War does not mean it would not have been GI. When WW2 ended, the Navy and Marines had enough to last until 1960 before needing to order more. "Theater" knives, those modified after being issued by some one "in the field". have been being made since the first soldier was issued a knife even back in the Bronze Age. Your father's was not modded in the field, per se, on the front lines or in a camp, but by an REMF that had access to a machine shop, either at a base or on a Navy ship. The plastic used frequently came from aircraft cock pits, truck tail lights, miscellaneous GI components that had extra plastic stuff that wasn't being used at the time. Any aluminum used could have come from aircraft skins, scrap metal or machine shop stock. Brass, when used, sometimes came from shell casings, scrap, etc.

It would most likely be a 1 off mod, unless the modder did several at one time. If it was done as a "presentation" knife for whatever reason, a singleton would make more sense, except if the "presentation" reason was for multiple individuals for doing the same thing, whatever the "thing" was. Someone took a lot of time to make that one, making sure the plastic and metal discs of the handle match up well. It also looks like it has a pommel nut. The modder might have threaded the tang to hold every thing together with a nut, or it could just be peened back together. Is the pommel peened or does it have a threaded nut?

Take a look at the various "commemorative" 1219C2s/USN-MK2s Kabar has made over the last 20 years. They are all made just like the original (well, almost - they have pinned thick pommels, which were NEVER made during WW2 - one of the ways Kabar makes them so they can't be claimed to be real WW2 knives).

I concur.