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USMC fighting/utility handle
- Thread starter pkd3
- Start date
It depends on what you mean by a wet environment. They were carried through several tours in Viet Nam, often with little trouble. They were the first UDT/SEAL dive knives. Some did see the shrinking of some disks after extended use, but if you take care of them, oil or polish them occasionally, they hold up very well. The DOD or Dept. of War, or whatever it was called then knew what they were specifying.
Bruce Woodbury
Bruce Woodbury
Bruce,
Thanks much for your reply, being a knifeaholic and son of a Pogey Bait 6th, I have a special affection for the KaBar. I haven't been able to find out much on it but notice from a search prior to this posting that you are yourself Marine Corp and probably carried one of these a few miles. How often would one treat the handle in order to give it the longest life? Would you use neatsfoot oil? Thanks again
Phil
Thanks much for your reply, being a knifeaholic and son of a Pogey Bait 6th, I have a special affection for the KaBar. I haven't been able to find out much on it but notice from a search prior to this posting that you are yourself Marine Corp and probably carried one of these a few miles. How often would one treat the handle in order to give it the longest life? Would you use neatsfoot oil? Thanks again
Phil
pkd3, you shame me, suh! I was never "USMC" but ARMY! Actually, I turned the Marines down when offered their "Platoon Leader" class and got my Regular Army commission as a "Distinguished Graduate" of ROTC. But I digress. Lots of Army troops carried the fighting/utility knife. It was never issued to us as it was in the "Corps" but we bought them at the PX (Post Exchange). You're right in that it was a popular, inexpensive knife to use and replace if necessary. They used to be about $20 for the Camillus model. Actually, KABAR has not held a military contract to furnish this knife since WWII. The issue knives now are either Camillus or Ontario.
I like to grind the handle slightly smaller, more oval, and with some finger groves on the bottom, drill a hole in the butt cap for a lanyard, all to fit me a little better. Actually I've carried a Randall #14, a Mad Dog ATAK Hunter, and a Camillus fighting/utility and pilot survival knife, all at various times. The Camillus knives were the least expensive though.
I think everyone ought to have at least one fighting/utility in their arsenal, don't you?
The handles of these knives are supposed to be treated with an anti-fungal agent to stop mildew/mold but I do like a bit of neatsfoot oil just after a good cleaning with saddle soap.
Regards,
Bruce
[This message has been edited by bruce (edited 10-18-2000).]
I like to grind the handle slightly smaller, more oval, and with some finger groves on the bottom, drill a hole in the butt cap for a lanyard, all to fit me a little better. Actually I've carried a Randall #14, a Mad Dog ATAK Hunter, and a Camillus fighting/utility and pilot survival knife, all at various times. The Camillus knives were the least expensive though.
I think everyone ought to have at least one fighting/utility in their arsenal, don't you?
The handles of these knives are supposed to be treated with an anti-fungal agent to stop mildew/mold but I do like a bit of neatsfoot oil just after a good cleaning with saddle soap.
Regards,
Bruce
[This message has been edited by bruce (edited 10-18-2000).]
Hey Bruce
Thanks for the info. Sorry about the asumption of the jarhead deal
but as my old Dad would say,"hey we were all over there catching the same bullets" he sure never showed any predjudice. The deal about the lanyard hole certainly appeals to me and as you said since someone like myself has more than one, it might not be a bad idea to give that a try. Thanks again
Phil
Thanks for the info. Sorry about the asumption of the jarhead deal
Phil
pkd3, I'm not a prejudiced as I sound. Your dad was right, the only different between an Army grunt and a USMC trooper rolling in the dirt, looking for a place to hunker down, is the nametag on the BDU!
Are your knives from the Kabar company or from other makers?
Bruce
Are your knives from the Kabar company or from other makers?
Bruce
Bruce,
I just recently got one from Discount Knives, and have an order placed with the Freaky Friday special at 1SKS for 3 more(one more for me and one for the two older brothers).
I got the Kabar brand in hopes of getting a knife that most closely resembles what was issued to my day right before Tarawa. I was trying to find more on the knife so as to get an exact replica. I want to use it as much for utility as I do as a tribute if you know what I mean. From what I can find out, the Kabar #1217 I believe, is suppose to be exactly what was issued. If you have any input by all means let me have it. Thanks for any help
Phil
[This message has been edited by pkd3 (edited 10-19-2000).]
I just recently got one from Discount Knives, and have an order placed with the Freaky Friday special at 1SKS for 3 more(one more for me and one for the two older brothers).
I got the Kabar brand in hopes of getting a knife that most closely resembles what was issued to my day right before Tarawa. I was trying to find more on the knife so as to get an exact replica. I want to use it as much for utility as I do as a tribute if you know what I mean. From what I can find out, the Kabar #1217 I believe, is suppose to be exactly what was issued. If you have any input by all means let me have it. Thanks for any help
Phil
[This message has been edited by pkd3 (edited 10-19-2000).]
- Joined
- Aug 25, 1999
- Messages
- 555
I bought my first Kabar when I was 17 years old now 36! It should hold up well I've leff mine in a cooler with salt water and fish guts for over two weeks it held up just fine! plus all the other abuse in the past!
The width of the tang is on the box of the Kabar. The boxes come with drawings of the knife and dimensions.
The knife has seen some CHANGES since WW2. The WW2 knives had parkerized finishes, not epoxy (the expoxy is more durable and corrosion resistant).
The grind was also more deep (it went all the way to the blood groove, not up 1/16 of an inch away from it). The grind was changed to make the knife tip stronger and less prone to breakage.
If you want a knife that is closer to the WW2 issue original, buy the Camillus dress version (like the black USMC fighting knife, but with a brown leather handle and sheath with a USMC emblem on it). These are made exactly the way they were specified in WW2 (with parkerized blades and the sharper grinds). Camillus was also one of the original WW2 Kabar suppliers.
All that said, the new Kabars are classier looking and probably better knives.
The knife has seen some CHANGES since WW2. The WW2 knives had parkerized finishes, not epoxy (the expoxy is more durable and corrosion resistant).
The grind was also more deep (it went all the way to the blood groove, not up 1/16 of an inch away from it). The grind was changed to make the knife tip stronger and less prone to breakage.
If you want a knife that is closer to the WW2 issue original, buy the Camillus dress version (like the black USMC fighting knife, but with a brown leather handle and sheath with a USMC emblem on it). These are made exactly the way they were specified in WW2 (with parkerized blades and the sharper grinds). Camillus was also one of the original WW2 Kabar suppliers.
All that said, the new Kabars are classier looking and probably better knives.
- Joined
- May 31, 2000
- Messages
- 107
FYI Camillus makes blades for many other knife brands. I grew up in Syracuse, and had a buddy who worked at Camillus cutlery, he could buy knives in the company store which stocked screw-ups...of many brands
Hey Bill,
Thanks for the additionaly info, I am on the Ka-bar website now trying to get a bit more history on the USMC fighting/utility. It appears it will be difficult to know exactly which company maufactured what my dad was issued in 1942-45, but I am getting more than I had thanks to you guys on the forum. I really appreciate this kind of information.
Phil
Thanks for the additionaly info, I am on the Ka-bar website now trying to get a bit more history on the USMC fighting/utility. It appears it will be difficult to know exactly which company maufactured what my dad was issued in 1942-45, but I am getting more than I had thanks to you guys on the forum. I really appreciate this kind of information.
Phil
PKD3
As far as I know, the steel is the same. In the Kabar history it has the steel listed as 1095.
The hardness was originally specified at 52-56. The new Camilluses are 54-56 (probably due to better quality control they can keep tighter specs) and the Kabar brands are 56-58 RC.
As far as I know, the steel is the same. In the Kabar history it has the steel listed as 1095.
The hardness was originally specified at 52-56. The new Camilluses are 54-56 (probably due to better quality control they can keep tighter specs) and the Kabar brands are 56-58 RC.