Hey guys, I'm brand new to the forum, been wanting to join a knife forum for quite some time. I have a USMC KA-BAR that I found in the woods about 10 years ago. It is in good shape, and I am looking for any info on it, mainly when it was manufactured. Knife is stamped KA-BAR Olean,N.Y. on the left side of the blade, and U.S.M.C. on the right side. It has a brown leather sheath with white stitching and the USMC lettering and logo on it. Leather washers on the handle. I have some pictures, but do not see how to post them. Thanks guys and gals!
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New guy would like info
- Thread starter PeCo
- Start date
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- Feb 17, 2013
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To post pics, you need to open an account with one of the free online hosting sites (photobucket, flickr, google photos, etc) and post the host account url of the photo into your post.
That said, with a eagle/globe/anchor (EGA) on the sheath, that puts it into the post-1976 era, as the WW2 sheaths (and the "official issue" sheaths of the non-Kabar versions) never had the EGA symbol or USMC on them (from the manufacturers).
It is possible that you have a WW2 1219C2 that someone put into a newer, replacement sheath that has the EGA. Pics would be helpful in determining that. Kabar's reproductions (1976 and newer) have a couple of immediate tells that separate them from the originals -
If the pommel is pinned on, the originals have pins that go all the way through the pommel and are visible on both sides, and the Kabar post-1976 pommel pin is only visible on one side.
The pommel thickness on the originals that have pinned pommels is 1/4". The Kabar post-1976 pommels are 3/8" thick.
So a thick, pinned pommel is a Kabar post-1976.
The USMC on the originals were stamped in a thin, shorter font with a relatively shallow stamp. The Kabar post-1976 versions have a USMC that taller, thicker font with a significantly deeper stamp than the originals.
That said, with a eagle/globe/anchor (EGA) on the sheath, that puts it into the post-1976 era, as the WW2 sheaths (and the "official issue" sheaths of the non-Kabar versions) never had the EGA symbol or USMC on them (from the manufacturers).
It is possible that you have a WW2 1219C2 that someone put into a newer, replacement sheath that has the EGA. Pics would be helpful in determining that. Kabar's reproductions (1976 and newer) have a couple of immediate tells that separate them from the originals -
If the pommel is pinned on, the originals have pins that go all the way through the pommel and are visible on both sides, and the Kabar post-1976 pommel pin is only visible on one side.
The pommel thickness on the originals that have pinned pommels is 1/4". The Kabar post-1976 pommels are 3/8" thick.
So a thick, pinned pommel is a Kabar post-1976.
The USMC on the originals were stamped in a thin, shorter font with a relatively shallow stamp. The Kabar post-1976 versions have a USMC that taller, thicker font with a significantly deeper stamp than the originals.
Welcome PeCo!
What a lucky find.
I don't figure there are any manufacturer's year markings to make things easy.
But reading up some general information woundn't hurt none at this juncture.
Enjoy your new home.
http://www.usmilitaryknives.com/ka-bar.htm
What a lucky find.
I don't figure there are any manufacturer's year markings to make things easy.
But reading up some general information woundn't hurt none at this juncture.
Enjoy your new home.
http://www.usmilitaryknives.com/ka-bar.htm