KA-BARs Anybody out there

[hardgainer]

Anybody onsite with a passion for USA pre 70s vintage military utility KA- BAR blades. If there are any out there lets see a pic or two.
Any of the versions from KA-BAR/ Camillus/Pal ect would be great or if no pics lets hear what your've got in the treasure chest.

[DavidM]

Hi Tony

Here is one of the earliest KA-BARS

[hardgainer]

Love that blade David.....The blade support looks a bit Calcium deficient.....your treasure chest looks a bit Skeletal.

[cave_canem]

My two KA-BARS.

[flyne]

I use to run a usmc kbar for my sticking knife and always wanted a wart hog just thort they looked sweet

[hardgainer]

Like that tanto bladed unit

[stickslinger]

I use to run a usmc kbar for my sticking knife and always wanted a wart hog just thort they looked sweet

I was lucky enough to be issued on of these when i was in the USMC, I used to use it for a throwing knife when we got bored in the field. It's the best knife i've ever owned. I left it back in "the states". I'll have to grab it next time i go back there.

[hardgainer]

You should hang onto that knife Stickslinger it must have a bit of personal history for you and is genuine USMC issue.(so much junk around) The most copied knife in history. I have assembled a few with good provenance including some from your old cor' that visited WW2 Korea Vietnam even the middle east. A few of the sheaths still hold the name and rank of original owners long gone . I have traced a few back through the US military data banks . The history of the US cutlers that produced these blades for wartime issue is a real interesting story.
Tony S

[Frisky]

This isn't a Ka Bar and really isn't even a fighting knife, but it is a PAL hunting knife, made by the company that supplied many WWII troops. It's similar to the Mark 1 Navy knife in size and shape. This one is shown in the ebay photo from an auction I won, but the blade has a mirror finish you can't see here. I don't think it was ever used. It was probably manufactured in 50' to 52'. LIke all Pals I've seen, it has a lousy sheath. I forgot to mention this is a PAL RH50.

Joe

[hardgainer]

Very nice Joe... that Pal looks pretty pristine. What a history. During WW2 their entire production was evidently dedicated to military knives .
You are correct it is a virtual lookalike to the USN Mark 1 (M H Cole 114).
I will dig out a couple I have and post.
Thanks for showing.
Tony S

[Frisky]

I'd like to see them! This one needed very minor cleanup, mainly the small steel guard, and now looks close to new. I might take another pic of it. I have not found another in as good a shape. 17 people bid on it and I won the auction at $28! That was in March of 2009. The blade is carbon steel. At first, I thought it was stainless due to the polished finish. Neither PAL or Remington left records of their steel, but Bernard Levine said it's probably O1 or 1095 and takes a polish. It has an excellent blade for both field dressing and skinning game. It fits perfectly in a high quality Marbles sheath. I might take it hunting this fall so it sees some use. It must have sat in a drawer for 60 years. The quality of the knife seems too good to be war production and many of the war RH50s I've seen had wooden pommels. I really like the new Ka Bar Mark 1 Navy knife. At 4.5", the PAL has a shorter blade than the new Ka Bar. I assume you know this stuff, but I mention it in case someone else needs info. Added- I just read at a website the USN Mark 1 version made by PAL was their RH35.

Joe

[hardgainer]

This is my treasured Red Stripe Pal RH (Remington Hunting) 37 with parkerized blade. Has not seen a lot of use for a est' 1943 issue.
It has USN stamped sheath with US Navy stamped on the Ricasso. I thought I had a M4 Pal but no can find (senior moment).
Often wonder about the owners over the years of these blades must be some storys there.
Got this from a guy in NY who I had dealt with previous and was pretty much straight up.
Joe if in your travels come across a M4 with the original wooden handle keep me in mind I am trying to complete the set.
I would have liked to have got a few M3 's (trench/fighting knife) together but they are a restricted import down here so went for M4/ M1 attachment. Being a Bayonet they are legal. Same M3 blade go figure.

Tony S

[Frisky]

That's a beauty! I'll watch for an M4 PAL. I've been reading on Navy knives and it looks like the Navy never issued an RH50. The RH35 was the Navy knife. I think the PAL RH50s with wooden pommels were probably made before or just after the war for the hunting market.

Joe

[Carl_SlayR]

I have a new in box KA-BAR. Got a vietnam era M7 bayonet though and a Lan-Cay M9 bayonet (New Unissued).

[Jim]

I have one of these little Ka-Bars. Handy little knife. Also my first ever post here

[Stickbow Hunter]

Welcome to Ozbow Jim. I like the blade on your knife and while overall it isn't pretty it looks very practical.

Jeff

[Jim]

Cheers Jeff. Mine is even uglier than that one because I have wrapped the handle in strapping tape for a bit better grip. It should have 'slippery when wet' engraved in the handle But it weighs about as much as a teabag (well, a teabag wrapped in strapping tape!).

[Stickbow Hunter]

t should have 'slippery when wet' engraved in the handle But it weighs about as much as a teabag (well, a teabag wrapped in strapping tape!).

Jeff

[Buranurra]

check out this badboy