Hey guys,
Just got something cool in the mail this past week, so I thought Id post here to share with the rest of you Ive been collecting edged implements for the better part of 25+ years and I have somewhat of a penchant for military blades. Ive always liked the American Marine ka-bar style knives and have had several pass through my hands over the years. Ive just recently found a renewed interest in them, and as such have taken to looking for specimens that peak my interest. The one that I am showing in the pics was purchased on-line and was delivered this week. It is a military issue knife in the recognizable Mark2 style (stacked leather handle, steel cross guard, and bowie style blade) made by the Ontario Knife Company in the mid 80s (Im assuming for a U.S.M.C. contract). This particular knife came still sealed in its foil/waxed paper packing - that is at least until I liberated it from its long hibernation. Fit and finish on the knife is pretty much a utility grade one - as would be expected on a mass produced, military issued cutting implement. Thats not to say it isnt a solid knife - the individual parts seem to be quite nicely (read - tightly) assembled. Its just not as "pretty" or polished as any of the civilian offerings you see on the market (for example the retail versions made by Ka-Bar, etc ). The handle appears to have been coated with some sort of black weatherproofing - which extends over the pommel. The cross guard and blade have been parkerized. The black leather sheath was spotted with a waxy white substance when I first pulled it from the packaging. I initially thought it to be mould, but on closer inspection while cleaning, it seems to be some sort of wax that has leached out of the leather - possibly used to impregnate the sheath for better weather protection?? In any event, the white stuff cleaned off pretty easily, and a good dose of neutral boot polish brought the sheath back to life. All of the brass hardware on the sheath - including the button snap and the reinforcing rivets still had their black oxide type coating intact. After cleaning the sheath up, I oiled the metal bits and trimmed some of the excess leather flashing that was left on the knife handle during manufacture. Thats pretty much it in a nutshell. Ive attached a bunch of pics that I took both when I was opening the packaging, and of the knife/sheath after I cleaned them up. Hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I did unwrapping this new addition to my collection
Cheers,
hsld.
Just got something cool in the mail this past week, so I thought Id post here to share with the rest of you Ive been collecting edged implements for the better part of 25+ years and I have somewhat of a penchant for military blades. Ive always liked the American Marine ka-bar style knives and have had several pass through my hands over the years. Ive just recently found a renewed interest in them, and as such have taken to looking for specimens that peak my interest. The one that I am showing in the pics was purchased on-line and was delivered this week. It is a military issue knife in the recognizable Mark2 style (stacked leather handle, steel cross guard, and bowie style blade) made by the Ontario Knife Company in the mid 80s (Im assuming for a U.S.M.C. contract). This particular knife came still sealed in its foil/waxed paper packing - that is at least until I liberated it from its long hibernation. Fit and finish on the knife is pretty much a utility grade one - as would be expected on a mass produced, military issued cutting implement. Thats not to say it isnt a solid knife - the individual parts seem to be quite nicely (read - tightly) assembled. Its just not as "pretty" or polished as any of the civilian offerings you see on the market (for example the retail versions made by Ka-Bar, etc ). The handle appears to have been coated with some sort of black weatherproofing - which extends over the pommel. The cross guard and blade have been parkerized. The black leather sheath was spotted with a waxy white substance when I first pulled it from the packaging. I initially thought it to be mould, but on closer inspection while cleaning, it seems to be some sort of wax that has leached out of the leather - possibly used to impregnate the sheath for better weather protection?? In any event, the white stuff cleaned off pretty easily, and a good dose of neutral boot polish brought the sheath back to life. All of the brass hardware on the sheath - including the button snap and the reinforcing rivets still had their black oxide type coating intact. After cleaning the sheath up, I oiled the metal bits and trimmed some of the excess leather flashing that was left on the knife handle during manufacture. Thats pretty much it in a nutshell. Ive attached a bunch of pics that I took both when I was opening the packaging, and of the knife/sheath after I cleaned them up. Hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I did unwrapping this new addition to my collection
Cheers,
hsld.
