KA-BAR Military Series

[Liveitloud]

I'll admit I don't know too much about KA-BAR other than the Dozier I have. On the military series of knives what came first the chicken or the egg? Was this style/look originally invented by KA-BAR or did KA-BAR have so much success because they did the knife right? Was just looking around and saw one made by another knife company that looked an awful lot like a KA-BAR and it gt me curious as to the origins of the knife style.

 

[wildmanh]

The USMC Mark II known today as the Kabar fighting knife was developed by the military based off of hunting knives of the day. Most notibly the Marbles Ideal Hunter. Camillus got the first contract, could not meet demand so other companies were called in to build them. Kabar (Union Cutlery), Western Case and others. Union Cutlery stamped their's Kabar and had the best Marketing so people started calling it a Kabar. Camillus made more then Kabar but it's still called the Kabar F/U do to the better marketing.

Western had two versions of the Mark II, a 6" version model 46-6 and an 8" version 46-8. They are sometimes refered to as shark knives.

There is a recent thread about Cold Steel's version of the Mark II that goes into the History a little.

 

[Liveitloud]

The USMC Mark II known today as the Kabar fighting knife was developed by the military based off of hunting knives of the day. Most notibly the Marbles Ideal Hunter. Camillus got the first contract, could not meet demand so other companies were called in to build them. Kabar (Union Cutlery), Western Case and others. Union Cutlery stamped their's Kabar and had the best Marketing so people started calling it a Kabar. Camillus made more then Kabar but it's still called the Kabar F/U do to the better marketing.

Western had two versions of the Mark II, a 6" version model 46-6 and an 8" version 46-8. They are sometimes refered to as shark knives.

There is a recent thread about Cold Steel's version of the Mark II that goes into the History a little.

Thanks for all the information. Much appreciated. I saw one made by Boker earlier today and wasn't sure if it was a rip off, homage or just a popular style of military blade. I'll poke around somemore and read up on some of the older threads.

 

[wildmanh]

The USMC Mark II is kind of like the M1911. Designed by or for the military, first produced by one company then others were called in to help fill the demand and now anyone can make them.

 

[Moosez45]

The USMC Mark II is kind of like the M1911. Designed by or for the military, first produced by one company then others were called in to help fill the demand and now anyone can make them.

I will argue one point, and that's "designed by the military". I would say spec'd by the Military, but not designed. Kinda what JMB did, he designed the gun based on the caliber that was spec'd, then it went through a few revisions.

I would say the same for the Kabar USMC F/U knife. It was spec'd to length, width, weight, and material, but the design that was finalized, was up to the industry designers. And it underwent a few revisions during testing that made it what it is today, mostly to the buttcap attachment.

Great knives though.

Moose

 

[wildmanh]

I will argue one point, and that's "designed by the military". I would say spec'd by the Military, but not designed. Kinda what JMB did, he designed the gun based on the caliber that was spec'd, then it went through a few revisions.

I would say the same for the Kabar USMC F/U knife. It was spec'd to length, width, weight, and material, but the design that was finalized, was up to the industry designers. And it underwent a few revisions during testing that made it what it is today, mostly to the buttcap attachment.

Great knives though.

Moose

My history is a little fuzzy and can't remember exactly how it went down, that is why I included the "For the Military". As you say, great knives!