The KA Bar Combat Knife

[schooner1]

Hi Gang
So questions about the military issued Ka Bar knife please.
1. How did the knife get its name?
2. What date was it issued to the military services?
3. Why was such a knife needed?

Thanks guys
Happy Holidays to you and yours

svhooner1

[paulrward]

Hello All :

1. How did the knife get its name?

1. In 1923, the manufacturer, Union Cutlery, received a letter from a trapper who had used one of their knives to save his life when he was attacked by a bear. The letter was only partially legible, and the words " to kill a bear " were only readable as " k a b ar " The company adopted the words to describe their knives.

2. What date was it issued to the military services?

2. The first Ka-Bars were private purchases by Marines going into combat for personal use, including members of Edison's Raiders. The USMC, hearing about the knife, had modifications made on the civilian version, and adopted the new knife on November 23, 1942, under the designation "1219C2 ".

3. Why was such a knife needed?

3. To Open Spam Cans and to Gut Japanese soldiers.


Respectfully ;

Paul R. Ward

[Nickdfresh]

Certainly handy due to IJA propensity of infiltration tactics and banzai! charges...

[OpanaPointer]

"There's something about hearing a man's last breath transmitted to you through the medium of a long piece of steel."

[LineDoggie]

Hi Gang
So questions about the military issued Ka Bar knife please.
1. How did the knife get its name?
2. What date was it issued to the military services?
3. Why was such a knife needed?

Thanks guys
Happy Holidays to you and yours

svhooner1

Combat knives are useful tools for other things besides killing other humans.

Cutting roots in fighting positions, sharpening limit stakes, opening ration/ammo cans, boxes, cutting rope, clearing fields of fire, cutting tripwires, etc.

[OpanaPointer]

"Private, how good are you with that knife?"

"Sir, how scared would I be at that time?"

[Carl Schwamberger]

Had one I got for two bucks at a flea market. Nicely balanced & I could throw it fairly well. Might have actually injured someone at two meters. Handy size, more reach and heft that the usual buck knife, butcher knife, or old school switchblade. The steel was very hard, but brittle. Two cm broke off the tip while assisting in butchering a deer.