I have a question regarding the blade stamped USN Mk2 Ka-Bar knives. I have seen them with just KA-BAR, and I have seen Ka-Bar over Olean NY. What is the time frame of these markings ? Which is the older marking ?
Thanks to all.
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I have a question regarding the blade stamped USN Mk2 Ka-Bar knives. I have seen them with just KA-BAR, and I have seen Ka-Bar over Olean NY. What is the time frame of these markings ? Which is the older marking ?
Thanks to all.
The earliest WW2 Mark 2 Ka-Bar fighting knives were marked "Ka-bar" over "Olean NY." These have a thick pommel that is most often peened on to the blade.
The later WW2 Mark 2s were marked "Ka-bar" only on one side of the blade, and these usually have a thin pommel that is pinned to the blade.
Let me clarify that both of the Ka-bars I mentioned above also are marked "USN" on the opposite side of the blade.
Also, there was a short time during the War when Ka-bar marked the knives "Ka-bar" only with no "USN" marking on them.
Thank you Tom,The knife I have is blade marked KA-BAR on one side, and USN MK2 on the other. It has the thick pommel that is peened, not pinned. Any way to date that setup ?
Thanks again.
Jim
Don't know that I have seen a complete breakdown of the Ka-Bar marking dates, but I believe that Ka-Bar and USN Mark 2 on the blade would be circa 1944.