KA-BARS in the Service....

[Moosez45]

My first "real knife" was a Korean era USMC F/U knife.

My uncle gave it to me, and he was a ground pounder during the Korean War. He outlived the war, but not the memories, he had problems, lets say.

Anyway, just holding that knife, said it had "been there, and done that", and it looked that way too.

Parkerized blade, beat to hell, worn from many a sharpening, and much work.

Well, that knife is way gone, for me. It broke many years back, but I would like to see some if ya'll have any pics of them.

SO, since I don't request much here, I would like to see some old, wartime KA-BARS, please.

Pics would be great, and if you got a story to tell, that would be even better.

Thanks.

Moose

 

[Vanguard41xx]

My Dad carried a Kabar in Korea. Served him very well. Unfortunately, he got hit in the head by an airplane propeller and the knife ended up going missing (might have been stolen during his stay at the hospital).

A good friend of mine carried a Kabar pocket knife when he was a Police Officer in NYC. But, he ended up losing his knife then his life on 9/11.

 

[JNieporte]

I'll see what I can come up with. I'll have to remove some faces from photos.

 

[wildmanh]

Hey Moose, does a WWII Issue Western made Ka-Bar count? If so I can add it to this post. BTW I'm heading out back in a bit with it to work on my bow drill stuff. Shall I get pics?

Edit - I was wore out from yard work and trying to make a friction fire that I forgot to post the pics so I've added them in a new post below.

 

[Moosez45]

Hey Moose, does a WWII Issue Western made Ka-Bar count? If so I can add it to this post. BTW I'm heading out back in a bit with it to work on my bow drill stuff. Shall I get pics?

Please do, H. I just wanna see some of them old combat knives.

Moose

 

[Maddogg774]

My story is the same as moose!?! I also have a proto type from the olean factory purchased in '51 in all stainless given to me by a neighbor.

 

[Moosez45]

My story is the same as moose!?! I also have a proto type from the olean factory purchased in '51 in all stainless given to me by a neighbor.

Post some pics of that thing. Damn, that's the stuff right there.

Moose

 

[wildmanh]

Here's a picture of my Western L46-6 Shark knife. Westerns Short version of the Mark II. They also made a L46-8 8" version which a friend of mine has a few. This one has seen lots of use over the years, there are 2 nicks in the edge, tons of sharpening marks, the stacked leather handle had some dry rot and the sheath is all but worn out. The factory bluing was gone, there's some patina and rust damage. But man is it a great user!

Picture of my Sage Hearth board and Ka-Bar Mule since this is the Ka-Bar forum

Here are some close up shots of the knife:

The Blue color you see in the pictures is the natural patina from the knife cutting up veggies in the kitchen. Hoping with more use in the kitchen I can get more of the blade to turn blue.

 

[Jerry D.]

Here's a picture of my Western L46-6 Shark knife. Westerns Short version of the Mark II....

Here are some close up shots of the knife:

I have the same knife sitting in my night stand. Mine has a wood handle my dad helped me make for it when I was younger. He found the knife in one of their houses shortly after moving in when he was young. I found it one day in the garage and started using it in the woods. The two slabs of wood held together with electrical tape weren't cutting it, so he helped me make these wood scales for it. 15 years later, I still have it. The sheath has all but deteriorated, but it is still one of my favorite blades.