75 YEARS OF KA BAR MILITARY FIGHTING KNIVES & THEIR KABAR CLONES

KA BAR FIGHTING KNIVES FROM UNION CUTLERY OF OLEAN NEW YORK -
KABAR

[@FuzzyMarineVet]

I was active duty in the Marine Corps from 1976 - 79. In my duties, it was necessary for me to use a Knife, Hunting, Mk II. The one I was issued was made by Camillus and was a piece of crap. When I returned from the field, I went to the PX and bought a genuine Ka-Bar for further use in the field. I was so satisfied with the real deal that I have owned two others since.

[@oldeays5085]

Camillus was the first to make that knife Not k-bar! But, yes. That the only reason why the men love the k- bar more. Cause, it was a better made knife! Yes, union cutlery made the better Mark 2! But, Camillus was the first to make it!

[@QuantumMechanic_88]

I've got Kabars from the 70s - 80s . Found a Camillus 30 years ago just like the one I was issued in 1971 . We removed most of the top guard which makes it a better utility knife , but still works fine as a fighter .... something which rarely happens in combat . Thanks for your video Bob Hudson and all the best .

[@t-bonesteele5829]

Great video. Excellent content and commentary 👍🏻

[@pennsyltuckyden9823]

It is my understanding that KA-BAR had a huge surplus of fighting knives after ww2. You can check out a Korean War era knife I have featured, thanks. Great video BTW

[@williamgunnarsson]

At an antique show, I purchased an old hunting magazine, because it was a November 1948 issue, which is my month and year I was born. Toward the back of the magazine where most of the advertisements were, was one advertising surplus WW2 Ka-Bar knives, including their sheaths. To get a used one, it cost you $1.00 and if you wanted a brand new unissued one it would cost you...wait for it ... ONE DOLLAR AND FIFTY CENTS !!!

[@ricev7071]

Sorry man, but that's not a WW2 Kabar. WW2 Kabars do not have plastic spacers at both ends and also the sheath is wrong for that period. People are being sold old beat up knives saying it's a WW2 kabar and they are being charged ridiculous amounts of money for one. I can tell just by looking at this video is not a WW2 Kabar. If I were you, I'd hunt the guy who sold me this!

[@williamgunnarsson]

My all-time favorite !

[@patoni860]

That hunting knife is a pal brand I recognize the color rings on the handle if you look close at it it will read RN, then some numbers

[@BushcraftknivestothetestBKT]

Nice vid!!

[@BobHudsonVideo]

thanks

[@tonynapoli5549]

Excellent fighting knives oh yes

[@davidhovey5152]

I have a war time Pal cutlary made knife.. my understanding is the name kabar (made by Kabar/Union cutlery) became the "generic name" for the knife as they were the first to actually stamp their name on the knives, where camillus (who I understand actually manufactured larger quantities?) did not till later in the war? so Kabar became the defacto name.. I believe by wars end there were several other manufacturers who were contracted to manufacture the knife.. (like Pal) etc..

[@williamgunnarsson]

Hello David ! Pal Cutlery bought out the entire knife operation from Remington Arms. Pal used what they called Remington transition blades and produced very nice fighting knives stamped with RH 36 and their name Pal within an oval. Those knives were sent to England by the thousands and who knows where else, besides our own military. Unfortunately, Pal went out of business in 1951. Your Pal Ka-Bar goes for a good amount of money, the last I heard about $350.00. The better the shape, the more you can ask, of course..

[@marcjohnson4385]

Issued Mine still got it you take care of it it will take care of YOU

[@michaelk487]

😎cool

[@dannyjackson2062]

i have 2 camillus u.s camillus n.y then a u.s camillus n.y but the guard is curved..i suspose both was before 1970s...i bought the regular one from ebay... the curved guard from an army surplus store

[@robbyritter4245]

I have a WWII "Ka-Bar" made by Colonial/Imperial. It has an oval aluminum pommel and the blade is a bit thinner than an actual Ka-Bar but that thing gets shaving sharp with very little effort.

[@AR15fan]

WW2 makers were Union Cutlery aka Ka-bar, Camillus, PAL Razor Co., and Robeson. I'll have to look up this Colonial/Imperial.

[@richbutler7828]

The Correct name for these Knives is the U.S. Mark 2 Combat Knife. Most of these from WW2 up until the mid 1970's that were made on U.S. Gov. Contract were made by Camillus Cutlery Company. ka bar only had one small contract during WW2 to produce these knives for the U.S. Military. ALL Post WW2 Mark 2 Combat Knives were made by Utica, Camillus, Conetta & Ontario There were NO Mark 2 Combat Knives made on Gov. Contract by ka bar after 1945

[@keithmills1999]

As the USMC used NAVY supply chains the Navy Mk2 was the earlier of the knives. The Corps took them from Navy suppliers once the war got going.

[@rikidozan553]

I have one with "Japan" on the blade. Did they produce these after WWII in license?

[@gabrielmarin6671]

If I have an original us navy knife shown in your video and I want to preserve it, do you recommend any treatment for it like refinishing the black or does that hurt the historic value?

[@BobHudsonVideo]

The only thing I ever remove is active brown rust and if you do it right, there's no harm at all to the blade and it's patina. Here's one of my videos showing the procrss I use: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gZjImKZ9hbGSa9E

[@gabrielmarin6671]

@@BobHudsonVideo thank you.

[@moneystewart5257]

Nice little neck knife

[@martyjewell5683]

Some years ago I found what I think is a Ka-Bar knife in the woods. I cleaned it up and it looks pretty freakin' good. Markings are confusing. Only inscriptions are on the front of the hilt. Top is marked USN MK2 and bottom of hilt is marked ROC. My knifes blade is similar to the third knife you show. The blade top is curved the same. What the heck do I have??? Any idea?????

[@BobHudsonVideo]

It is a late war KaBar style US Navy Mk2 Fighting Knife by Robeson Cutlery - RCC. you will also see WWII fighting knives with ROBESON spelled out.

[@williamgunnarsson]

@@BobHudsonVideo Robeson is one of the most sought after Ka -Bar knives, along with Kinfolks.. very high-dollar. Are you sure that the ROC doesn't stand for Republic Of China ? They have some copy-cats that look ok and Bud-K sold them for about $9 at first, and are now around $19. I saw a man at a gun show with a Chinese one in a Ka-Bar sheath and claimed it was from WW2.

[@AR15fan]

I've caught the Mark 2 bug recently. I've got a Camillus, Ontario, and commercial KA-BAR. I have my eye on a Conetta and a Utica Cut. Co.

[@BobHudsonVideo]

Is that all? Don't forget the mini Ka Bar...

[@AR15fan]

@@BobHudsonVideo Indeed

[@richbutler7828]

@@BobHudsonVideo None of those U.S. Mark 2 Combat Knives made after 1945 by ka bar are military issue.

[@MikeCarr-qo6rj]

Nope, Camillus won the ww2 contract, Ka-bar, Pal, and Robeson made them using Camillus blueprints due to war demand, the name ka-bar became a slang for them, it was a 1219, B,C, or D, or a MK2, so it was easier to refer to them as Ka-bars,

[@Steven-ep3oi]

what about the army fighting knife made by or in ontario?

[@BobHudsonVideo]

Ontario Knife Co. had government fighting knife contracts AFTER WWII

[@christopheclugston]

@@BobHudsonVideo the WW 2 Army knife was the M3 then the MK 2 with also many using Ek Commando knives becaseu they were better in the tropics

[@JK20239]

Bushcraft?

[@fredrosberg4591]

I have a kabar commando from ww2

[@miketaylor5212]

i have one made by connetta.

[@BobHudsonVideo]

Conetta fighting knives are all Vietnam War issue.

[@benewgillian6823]

@@BobHudsonVideo I have an old quite well made and sturdy copy of a Ka-Bar found in an antique shop in the UK , with a bent hand guard on one side , it's written Japan at the base of the blade . Do you have any information about it , is it a Vietnam era style Ka-Bar , or these were made after in the late 70's / 80's ? Greetings from France

[@miketaylor5212]

you forgot a contractor nemed conetta.

[@richbutler7828]

Those made by Conetta are true Military Contract Knives from the 1960's made in low numbers. hang onto it. Any ka bar mark 2 combat knife made after 1945 is a Commercial made knife.

[@17tzujan]

Ka-Barr and Camillus are the same company

[@BobHudsonVideo]

Don't confuse knife makers with the knife style: KA-BAR was a trademark of Union Cutlery Co which made fighting knives in World War II. Camillus Cutlery also made fighting knives, but not any with the KA-BAR trademark. I don't who owns the trademark today, but in WWII it was not Camillus.

[@tonymess3493]

17tzujan Not the same company ..both companies had the contract to make the knife...and before you comment back and make yourself look stupid just Google it.

[@oldeays5085]

Your wrong about who was the first to make the mark 2 fighting knives! Camillus was the first to make the mark 2 and they made to most that sold to the government! And union cutlery,who made the Mark 2 also stamped their k- bar, yes. But, Camillus was the First to make that knife, not union cutlery (k-bar)! So, then in your words,"The k-bar would be the clone then!" Cause, Camillus was the first! 😂 You need to Google it and then remake your video LoL!

[@richbutler7828]

This vid is not Factual.