The Rarest USMC MK2, the Robeson USMC Combat Knife

Today we will take a look at the rarest USMC MK2 combat knife of World War Two. Robeson Cutlery produced this knife for the United States Marine Corps and several others variants for the US Navy. This early knife has a polished blued finish, red and black spacers and a sheath unique to this version of the knife.

[@waynezieschang5780]

Very pleased to see this knife. I have over 200 1219C2s/USN-MK2s and have never seen a Robeson 1219C2 before. I have always been told that Robeson never made a 1219C2, just the MK2s. Now you have me adding a new knife to my grail list.

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Thanks Wayne Zieschang! It took me years to find this knife and it was pretty expensive, doubtless the most expensive knife in my collection. It is such a great and rare knife that I had to share it.

[@pennsyltuckyden9823]

I can't get enough of these old knives.

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Thanks for watching!

[@alexandarvoncarsteinzarovi3723]

It's not a knife its piece of history! :D

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Indeed it is, my friend! Thanks for watching.

[@jeffsmith6441]

That's a great piece of history right there! I would love to find one for my Dad. He served in Vietnam and loves the Ka-Bar. Thanks for sharing this!

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Thanks for watching Jeff. Ka-Bar sells a Vietnam commemorative knife and there are a bunch of good Ka-Bars out there for reasonable prices. I hope you find one.

[@sackett68]

Very cool! Ive never heard of or seen one of those. Beautiful knife.

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Thanks sackett68. The bluing on this knife really stands out.

[@mfavia620]

Thanks for sharing. Really enjoyed the history on this knife. You brought up some great interesting facts about the Robeson Marine Corp fighting knife. ATB Mike

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Thanks Mike! I think it is one of the most interesting WW2 combat knives out there.

[@lukedawg357SIG]

Awesome knife thanks for sharing.

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Thanks for watching!

[@thelostboyscout1489]

Wow, Very nice. Thanks for the info & video..

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Thanks for the kind words and for watching, J.D.!

[@martyjewell5683]

I have a similar knife that I purchased in late 1960's at a NYC shop, Weiss & Mahoney, for $12. Mine is a USN Mk2, scabbard is almost identical but is black leather. It's still in excellent condition. My sheath has six rivets. Nice to know they have value. Very interesting video, thanks.

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Thanks for watching!

[@greeneggsandham6720]

The early red spacer Ka-Bar USMC Mk-2's also had the peened pommel smoothed out as well. Some would argue they are the rarest. Nice knife you have there.

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

You may be right, of course. I would love to see a Ka-Bar like that. I have a few early Ka-Bars with peened or welded pommels, but none are smoothed out afterwards.

[@shannonreeder1237]

Thought I had 1 but was a mk1. Great video

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

The MK1 is a great knife too! Robeson made thousands of them during WW2.

[@andrewh6034]

Thanks for showing it. your fortunate to have one. They had nice crisp grind lines didn't they. I've noticed quite a few blades from WW2 era that have grinder damage. I have a PAL USMC that looks very similar apart from the pommel attachment and the finish. It also has a false edge with almost no upsweep to it.

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Thanks for watching Andrew. I searched for years before buying this knife. Unfortunately, grinder marks are all too common on knives of this era. I have a PAL USMC as well that I featured in another video. The bluing is almost completely gone on that knife.

[@kirkmillerBO84]

Great knife and the history

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Thanks kirk miller!

[@The-Armed-Pacifist]

When I was a teenager, my neighbor who I did lawn work for gave me a Robeson that belonged to a relative of his. It was dirty with green growth on the leather.I need to check the blade for other markings.

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Well that is a great gift! Robeson made a few different models but check your knife, you may have a real treasure.

[@The-Armed-Pacifist]

@@FreeAmericaChannel It's a treasure to me regardless of the monetary value. It is in my safe with a label as to where it came from.

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

@@The-Armed-Pacifist Very nice my friend. Well said.

[@The-Armed-Pacifist]

@@FreeAmericaChannel Mine is not marked USMC. One side is marked Robeson ShurEdge and the other side says USA. The sheath has 9 rivets.

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

@@The-Armed-Pacifist Thanks Rodney, excellent info. Your knife actually has a 6" blade and was often issued with the sheath for the 7" MK2, but was used by all of the services as a survival knife for air crews and as a utility knife by all of the services. It is a great knife and I hope you take good care of it. Knives like your (in excellent condition) can sell for well over $100.00 or more if they are linked to an individual or a historical event (a specific battle or something.)

[@klmghjelle]

Have a USMC knife that was my grandfathers looks like one you describe in video

[@ricev7071]

That is an interesting theory about the use of the red spacers. The modern Kabar uses black plastic spacers at both ends as well but the original WWII and Vietnam MkII's never had them, as well as the Ontario 498. Maybe Kabar got the idea from Robeson? I have seen the restoration of a couple the stacked leather handles on old beat up Kabar and Camillus blades and the old leather rings are just brittle, I think maybe the plastic rings are there to keep the leather rings compressed because the guard and the buttcap are phosphate coated to prevent rust.

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

You may be right. I do not remember ever seeing spacers on the original spec sheets.

[@johnhall4429]

Came across your video. Very cool indeed. I'm trying to date a KA-BAR I bought back in the 80s. Has the same blade as yours but is parkerized

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Hi John, do you think your Ka-Bar is a WW2 era knife? One of the easy ways to tell is where the markings are on the knife.

[@johnhall4429]

@@FreeAmericaChannel I don't believe it's WW2 I'm thinking it might be from the 70s it's in great condition and I've only had to sharpn it once sense I've had it. I have several different knives but it's always my go to knife

[@lukequinlan4523]

Holy fucking shit I have my great grandfathers and never knew it was worth that much. The sheath is carved with my grandfathers name and the original pommel was removed so I do not know how that would effect the value. Even though I would never sell it!

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Having a knife like that passed down in your family is worth more than any collector could pay. Thanks for sharing that!

[@josephmartino9553]

Great video. I found the exact one at my fathers house in the bottom of a tool box. Where can I send pictures? Is there an email you can be contacted at?

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Yes, Joseph, absolutely. If you go to my channel homepage, click on "About" and down below is a box "Show Email Address". I'm happy to look at your knife and help if I can.

[@centurian318]

Now you need a Singer 1911A1 to go with it.

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Oh yeah! Wouldn't that be awesome.

[@craigthomas2254]

so where are the pictures of the snap

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Damn, you are right. I never put the pictures in. I'll have to go find the images and add them somehow. The snap has a symmetrical pattern around the edge that is distinctive. Thanks for pointing that out.

[@patrickmines8099]

About what is the value on one like you just shared with us Sir?

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Great question. Condition is everything, of course, but these USMC knives are extremely rare. The last one I saw sold for around $3000.00 without the sheath. With the proper sheath, this could be a $3500 - $5000 knife.

[@jatros4948]

I recently acquired one of these knives from my grandfathers belongings(a marine in ww2) However, the blade is coming out of the handle a couple mm causing the guard to be loose. Any suggestions on fixing it?

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

When you say the blade is coming out, what does that mean? It could be that you are missing one or more of the original leather washers. I wonder if you would be willing to send me a picture of it?

[@jatros4948]

@@FreeAmericaChannel sure, how should I send them?

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

@@jatros4948 If you look on my page there is an email address at "business inquiries", click on show email. That is the best way to send them.

[@Moondoggy1941]

I have an old USMC knife that I received from my father, he fought in the Korean Conflict but in the army, It has USMC stamped on one side and looks like CAMILL USMC on the other, one big bummer the very tip of the knife is broken. Any idea on how old it is?

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

That knife is almost certainly a WW2 era manufactured knife. With "USMC" on one side the other says "CAMILLUS NY" which was the manufacturer. Camillus stopped manufacture in 1945 as the war ended and later produced knives with those markings for the civilian market around 1974. Camillus did make knives for the military in the 1960s and 70s, but they did not have USMC markings. WW2 era knives were in the supply system through the end of the Vietnam war - because so many were made during WW2. Broken tips are not uncommon because the knives were used very hard, even to open ammo crates and as pry bars. Sounds like you have a real work horse knife that has been there and done that.

[@Moondoggy1941]

@@FreeAmericaChannel Thanks I had no idea of its history, the steel between the handle and blade is curved it does have the leather case as well. I really appreciate you taking your time to answer my question.

[@williamgunnarsson]

Great ! Looks like whoever had it didn't know much about knives in general. Personally, I would never have put it on a grinder. I do believe your knife has been re-blued, ya think ?

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Yes, if I could go back in time I would slap that guy for grinding on it. Both the early Robeson USMC and USN knives had that beautiful bluing on them. I'm sure this was has not been reblued.

[@williamgunnarsson]

Thanks for getting back. I'll take your word for it. I'll be looking for a Robeson, but I might not live that long. Ha !

[@raynin]

I have one very similar to this is EXCELLENT condition except the wording is different. Mine says "Robeson / Shuredge (in script)" and the opposite site says "U.S.A.". It was my grandfather's and he served in the US Navy. The sheath is in exceptional condition. I wonder its value......

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Hello Ray. I'm sure if you look closely it says "U.S.N." as these knives were issued to the Navy. The leather sheaths also had U.S.N. embossed at the throat of the sheath. They are great, collectable knives and I have seen USN Robisons like the one you mention go for $250 - $400. With the history of your grandfather and his service the knife could sell for even more, especially if you have a picture of him with the knife or just a picture of him during WW2. You can still find these knives for less money when the seller does not know or care about the knife.

[@jamesbarry6248]

the bkade looks short and must have been re-tipped at some point.

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

The blade is correct and unaltered other than the grind mark from an electric sharpener. It is 7 inches in length and the tip profile is correct.

[@tyleringle268]

If you have any idea were I can get the red spacers please message me back .

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Do you mean the plastic spacers for the handle?

[@tyleringle268]

Yes I took my handle of my kabar because it was falling apart I would like to make the original handle if you want help me I would appreciate it!

[@tyleringle268]

If you have any ideas on were I can buy the red spacers please let me know!

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

@@tyleringle268 I have found the red vulcanized material and some spacers on ebay, but check out the knife supply places like Jantz.

[@tyleringle268]

@@FreeAmericaChannel hey I found a company that makes vulcanized rubber spacers. I have a robeson shuredge kabar I need to fix it the handle was falling apart when I bought it I am thinking about bluing the blade will this affect my value of my kabar?

[@clydestamp6970]

Mericka !

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Yes sirrr!

[@clydestamp6970]

Someone took care of that blade. 3n1 oil an american icon as well.

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Balistol is my preservative of choice, but this blade has been well cared for long before I acquired it.

[@tyleringle268]

I got a ka bar made by robeson shuredge check up my Facebook page my name and Tyler ingle the profile picture is a purple heart.

[@marmadoowhereareyou8838]

This 100 percent not the rarest mk2 knife

[@FreeAmericaChannel]

Based on numbers produced in a specific contract, I'm pretty sure it is. Please tell me what is the rarest if not this one.