My KA-BAR familiy

[spydie fanatic]

Here are my KA-BARS, #5 is being delivered as we speak

If you look at the stamps on the two USMC marked sheaths, they are different. The newer style sheath (3/4 kabar) stamp of the "Globe and Laurel" has an outer line connecting all the inner pieces, whereas the 7" kabar sheath (had around 8 yrs) is different as it does not have a connecting outter line and the inner pieces have space between them. I noticed the newer 3/4 and mark I sheaths appear to be treated differently, they are very soft and pliable, and when I got the 7" model (1 year after I graduated HS) I remember it was never that soft; anyone agree on these thoughts? Also on the 3/4 and Mark I, the plastic spacer underneath the guard is not flush with the guard as on the older 7" model; if you look at the pics there is an obvious two line gash into the leather where the spacer hits. The 7" sheath just shows a rub mark from the guard and doesn't cut into the leather. I now put a piece of tape on the back of the metal snap to keep it from rubbing on the leather handle, as the 7" model shows what the metal snap does eventually (I've handled this one infrequently for the most part).

 

[Moosez45]

Freakin' awesome family you got there, spydie!!!

I do love that Commando, sweet looking knife.

Moose

 

[abrasion]

I've been really looking at the MK1 a lot lately. Gotta have it in the leather handle and sheath combo too! Dirty that thing up and tell us what you think!

 

[Chris Pierce]

What knife is that between the 3/4 kabar and the usmc kabar?

 

[spydie fanatic]

What knife is that between the 3/4 kabar and the usmc kabar?

It is a 6" KA-BAR commando model. From what I can gather it was a civilian model made in the 40s?-60s?. There were two versions, the one I have which has no fuller/blood grove, has a full flat grind and a dark coated blade; the other might have been chromed or something, as the pictures I've seen they are very shiny and look to be polished...these ones had a fuller/blood grove, grind of the 7" model (but were 6" like the other). I have heard they were either donated to the military early in the war when there was a need or picked up by military personnel through private purchases. I have actually seen a WWII era photo of a marine smoking a cigarette and huddled together talking to comrades and he had one of these models

I will post pictures of this 2nd type of commando within a week hopefully...I picked one up today on eBay for $53!! I apologize if anyone was bidding LOL It didn't help the seller only listed it as "kabar hinting knife"; I suppose they meant to type hunting; anyone searching specifically for this model wouldn't have found it unless they looked through everything listed under just the search "kabar". You can find these models either usually listed as "commando" or "old kabar hunting". The dark coated versions can go for up to $175 w/ the sheath and $120-$140 for the shiny model, at least from the auction/buy it nows of late. I bought both of mine from sellers who didn't know what model they were, just that is was an old kabar knife.

 

[Chris Pierce]

Nice deal! I'd like to see a pic. They sound like a nice alternative to the USMC KarBar's if price isn't a issue.

 

[spydie fanatic]

As promised, here are pictures of the other variant of the ole kabar commando model I said was incoming off eBay; it has more surface rust than pictures show:

next to other commando:

next to 7" kabar (about 8yr old/same as current model):

All 3 next to each other:

The whole family:

The sheath the commando came it (very rough shape, hence its age):

 

[spydie fanatic]

One thing I must say is, I really like the full flat grind of the commando version which came with the darkened blade; it really makes for more of a slicer as the current reproduction USN mark I is proving to be.

I really do like the 6" knifes just as much as the 5" & 7" models. I had a marine hunter, but I sold it off; I just wasn't as impressed as with the US made models.