ka-bar story

[Major 2]

Interesting video

[Niederlander]

I still have the K-Bar I bought at the PX as a Midshipman, and then carried in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Somalia.  Great knife!

[Dave T]

Watched that the other day. Interesting story that I didn't know anything about. As they pointed out, the famous K-Bar of WWII was more of a utility knife than a fighting knife. A do everything tool.

Dave

[Capt Quirk]

Very interesting. My wife is a Case from upstate NY, and her mother's family are Browns. I wonder if there is a tie in there.

[reno]

I was issued a KaBar when I was 17 in the Marine Corps, carried it 8 years, and still have it, and they did not teach us to use it as a utility knife. The only knife a person should ever need other than a pocket knife.
Reno

[1961MJS]

Hi

I (sort of) have two Ka-Bars.  The first I received us a WW2 Mk II Navy knife issued to a Pharmacist whose last name was Hyde.  I'm not sure he was a Pharmacist in the Navy or not, but his Mk II had was painted red at the top.  I carried it for years then decided that carrying history was kind of silly so I bought an ARMY Ka-Bar, which is completely made up, but still works well. 

Like I said, SORT OF.  Neither is really a Ka-Bar, but same blade, same grip etc.

Later

[Major 2]

"...decided that carrying history was kind of silly "   

This quote is some puzzling   

Many of us here , I dare say MOST of us here cherish the practice   

[1961MJS]

Hi

I DO have a couple of Krags, but I was using the Mk II to cut open Land's End boxes etc for years.  Back when I got the Army Ka-Bar, it was a whole $30, not $80 like they are now.

Later

[Major 2]

Or more $$ , the prices have escalated

Look at bayonets    some crazy money is asked and realized

[Pay Dirt Norvelle]

I have my father's KaBar that he carried when he was in the Navy.  I am not positive of its age as he was in the Navy from 1926-1956.

[Bat 2919]

This was my stomping grounds in Jr and Sr High school.  Lived in a small town centrally located between Olean, NY (20 miles East), Little Valley, NY (9 miles North) and Bradford, PA (Case knives, 18 miles South East).  Bought my Marine son his first Kay-Bar and latter took him to the Cut Co museum in Olean.   Great info.

[1961MJS]

Hi

I'll reply here since this thread is what caused me to look.  As I said, I have a guy's Mk II Navy Knife from WW2.  He gave it to my neighbor, and he immediately gave it to me.  The family never kept anything. 

Anyway, I've found the relatives from WW2, the locals in Illinois from WW2, but ONLY the army ones.  Is there no database for Navy personnel?  I should also look at the awards, the guy that moved into the "knife" neighbor's house had better medals than Dad.  If memory serves 2 Silver Stars and 2 Purple hearts.   Whoops, missed the 3 Bronze Stars dammit.  Made Tech. Sergeant.

Later

[Major 2]

That is very cool .... I like to find one for my reloading cave wall, I've browsed eBay some.