F/S/Ka-Bar

[sdh1911]

Attached is a quick pic for Steve.

The KA-Bars are a Robeson Suredge/U.S.M.C. and a very first run red spacer Ka-bar/U.S.M.C.

The F/S's are a fat handle type two and an Indian marked type three.

This is just a little example of what is to come. I am going to enlist the help of my partner in crime for sake of a more balanced presentation. My collection is insignificant by comparison to his, we've been at it near 30 years and this is the first time we can show it off, safely-SDH

Information

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[unsub]

Is that F/S on the right one with the knurled grip like an epee? The F/S knives got a short shift because the later knives were made with shortcuts for wartime manufacture. I even heard a rumor that some of the US made ones were purposely sabotaged by german sympathisers in the cutlery industry.

[sdh1911]

The one on the right is a type #3 with the type 2 forged blade and marked with the broad arrow and "I" (India) stamped in the guard.The one on the left is the fat handled type 2 marked with the broad head and #2 on the handle.SDH/PIC

[sdh1911]

Attached are some better pics on the knives posted above. One is the very first issued Kabar U.S.M.C. with red spacers and the second is the Robeson U.S.M.C.. The first FS is the fat handle type 2 as described above and the second is the Forged blade type 3 India marked. Many more pic to be coming over the next few months-SDH

[PIC]

the first one seems to be the Robeson and the second the first pattern Kabar(be sure to thank your brother in law for this info)

[Claven2]

Is the second Kabar supposed to have a bent hilt? Kind of reminds me of BUCK KNIVES' hunting knives. Gues we know who they copied...

[Stevo]

Nice pics, sdh. Thanks!

[sdh1911]

I have found many Kabars that hit the field, had there crossguards "adjusted". The un-issued Kabars came with straight crossguards. These knives were designed and produced in stages ranging from very thin handles with large rounded pummels to fat handled thin pummels. The very first production had red spacers in them to keep the leather from getting rotted from the compression next to the steel. As production went along the idea was dropped as being the effects were not significant. Red spacers are the ones bringing the big bucks these days. My partner in crime has many of these examples, Mfgs' ranging from Kabar to Pal. I'd like to think he has them all but, you never know whats under some rock someplace. HTH-SDH

[Claven2]

What did the bending accomplish? Retightening handles where the leather shrank?

[sdh1911]

Very well could have been to tighten the handle, I could never really figure it out, but it was done frequently-SDH