World War II, Camillus USN Mark II Fighting Knife

On this Way Back Wednesday we take a look at an iconic WW II fighting knife. Enjoy!

[@IvIidnight]

What an absolute gorgeous piece on history!

[@knifedelights7473]

It is!

[@deanP.]

A great knife for way back Wednesday. I think you are right to get the rust off and leave the petina. Thanks Tom

[@knifedelights7473]

You're welcome, Dean! I appreciate your feedback and your support.

[@JoseGonzalez-yx6vm]

As you say just a light cleaning, a very interesting piece, thanks for sharing it, Tom.

[@knifedelights7473]

Thanks for your feedback, Jose. I appreciate you stopping by, my friend.

[@jeremyspaulding7735]

An excellent piece of knife history! Great video 👍

[@knifedelights7473]

You're welcome, Jeremy! Thanks for watching, my friend.

[@bigjsknives]

What a great blade, this is right up Jesse McJames alley. I sent this video to him as well. He knows everything about these.. Thanks for sharing this one Tom!!

[@knifedelights7473]

Thanks, Big J. I would love any tips that would "clean" the knife without taking away any of the finish, etc. I appreciate you watching, my friend.

[@bigjsknives]

@@knifedelights7473 I sent this video his way.

[@davidkurle5418]

I would definitely take the rust off and leave the patina on. 👍Great piece, buddy!

[@knifedelights7473]

Thanks for the feedback, David. This is quite the knife.

[@phillipw58]

Beautiful knifes! I got a kabar like that that was my grandfather. Great video!

[@knifedelights7473]

You have a treasure, Phillip. Thanks for sharing that with us, my friend.

[@rasputinscastle]

What a treat. Thanks for that piece of history Tom. 😊

[@knifedelights7473]

You're welcome, Rasputin. I am grateful that my boss gave it to me on loan. Keep charging, my friend.

[@rwa123]

That MK II is a beautiful knife. What a piece of American history. Thanks for showing Tom. I would leave it just as it is. Have a fantastic Wednesday! Cheers, RW

[@knifedelights7473]

Thanks for your feedback, Dubya! History indeed. I appreciate you stopping by, my friend.

[@cdn2862]

Great knife! Don't think I'd do a full restoration. Just try to remove some of the rust as you are. Great video, and thanks for sharing.

[@knifedelights7473]

Thanks, CDN. I appreciate your feedback. Thanks for watching, my friend.

[@michealshaffer6223]

I got one my grandfather had during world war 2 it's identical to the one you are showing. I left it the same way my grandfather gave it to me.

[@knifedelights7473]

That's a special knife, Micheal. Glad you that have your grandfather's knife. Thanks for watching, my friend.

[@IvIidnight]

It depends on whether or not he wants a showpiece or to retain it's value. If you want to maintain value, do as little as possible. 🙂

[@knifedelights7473]

Thanks for your feedback and opinion. I tend to agree with your assessment. I appreciate you stopping by, my friend.

[@emb8153]

Hello. Thanks for showing the Mk2. On your question of full restore vs cleaning up, based on the cutting edge, it has been sharpened quite a bit. You can't replace what is missing (cutting edge steel) so best to clean it up as you were don't in the video. Those that believe it best to leave it alone don't understand that pretty much all of the rust and use has occurred since the end of WW2. It may have also been used in Korea or Nam but based on the story told not so much. It was intended to be cleaned and lightly oiled per original protocol. Doing so is the way to go. And, unless you have the tools to restore it you will most likely ruin what is there. Just my opinion. Good luck either way.

[@knifedelights7473]

You're welcome, emb! Thanks for all of your great info. I did a light cleaning on the knife, and removed most of the paint on the scabbard. I did a video on it. I basically just used some mineral oil to remove the rust, and the character of the knife wasn't disturbed. I was very careful with it, especially since it isn't my knife. I appreciate you dropping by, and have a Delightful Day!

[@TimsSchoolOfFish]

Fantastic knife! Good stuff as always Tom👊🏻

[@knifedelights7473]

Thanks, Tim! I appreciate you stopping by, my friend.

[@TimsSchoolOfFish]

@@knifedelights7473 You’re welcome!

[@richbutler7828]

We were still using the Camillus Combat Knife during my Service years in the early 1980's but ours had black grips & sheath. Later Ontario Knife supplied them to the Military.

[@knifedelights7473]

Thanks for sharing this info. Great stuff, Rich. I appreciate you watching, my friend.

[@kirbycreekmo]

If you read it on the internet, it must be true. If it was in better condition I would leave it alone. In the condition it appears to be in, and with some evidence that it was used post war, I'd clean it up. In the early 70's those were commonly available and inexpensive compared to the Kabar version and other fixed blade knives. I picked up a few along the way. Great knife, especially with that sheath.

[@knifedelights7473]

Thanks for your input, KCO! I really appreciate your opinion. I also appreciate all the support you've given me. Keep charging, my friend.

[@TravisMcKnight-lk7gg]

The sheath is a fiberglass model issued around 1967 and it could be a WW2 fighter and used in Vietnam too ! Possibly? Because it's a bayonet scabbard for the M-16 bayonet and Marines would stick to other fighting knives in that style scabbard on occasion.

[@knifedelights7473]

Thanks for the info, Travis! Its always nice to be able to learn more. I appreciate you stopping by, my friend.

[@bdh3949]

I certainly do not represent knife collectors just me. I always remove any rust, dirt or anything that will further deteriorate the knife. As for removing the old patina and shining up the blade, probably not...unless most of the knife is already that way. BTW Tom, have you tried one of those rubber rust erasers? They do an admirable job and no harm is done to the knife at all. Thanks for showing us a real piece of history.

[@knifedelights7473]

I have not tried the rust erasers. I always forget to order one. I think I'll remedy that situation! Thanks for reminding me, BDH!

[@gizmocarr3093]

Lots of names for this knife design but in simple terms it is KA-Bar, I guess you could clean off the red rust and leave it at that. Wax it with a protective wax and stop any further rusting. I have one from WW2 that was my Grandfathers I cleaned it and polished the blade but I am not worried about resale value because i would never sell it. He was an Army MP drafted for the duration of the War. I use it once in a while and look at it often to remember who carried it. I was a Marine and I call it what Marines called it. I bought a KA-BAR sheath made of a polmar it snaps in like it was a new model.🤣👍

[@knifedelights7473]

Great story Gizmo! I enjoyed reading your reply. Thanks for watching my friend

[@richbutler7828]

The Mark 2 Combat Knives were made by several companies during there service life. kabar (Union Cutlery) just happen to be one of them from 1942-45 Camillus designed the Mark 2 knife and made the majority of them for the military up until the late 1970's kabar had No contract to produce these for the U.S. Military after 1945 Ontario Knife Co. is now the sole U.S. Military Contractor for the Mark 2 Combat Knife.

[@mikecurtis2585]

I would keep it like it is! Just stop the rust! Have a wonderful day!!!

[@knifedelights7473]

Thanks for your input, Mike! You have a Delightful Day, my friend.

[@terrillschneider3778]

Looks like a saber grind with a huge fuller It’s always a quandary with a valuable antique whether to attempt restoration

[@knifedelights7473]

I believe that I will go the "preservation" route, and not "restoration." Thanks for you input, Terrill!

[@thomasodell8841]

I think those came with a sheath that was for a bayonet. Great video Stay Safe. I just saw you bring out the sheath, I've seen those at knife shows many years ago.

[@knifedelights7473]

Thanks for your feedback, Thomas. I've not seen these in any antique stores, but if I do see one, I'm getting it! I appreciate you watching, my friend.

[@richbutler7828]

No that scabbard he has was made for the Mark 2 Combat Knives. it's why they are stamped MK. 2 USN Nord. U.S. Bayonets used The U.S. M8A1 Scabbard

[@jeffjackson5331]

Very nice! Thanks for sharing with us. That is a hard call to make Tom.

[@knifedelights7473]

Thanks, Jeff. You're right, it's hard to know what to do for sure. I appreciate you dropping by, my friend.

[@jeffjackson5331]

@@knifedelights7473 you are very welcome! Ultimately it should be up to your boss how far he wants you to go on it. It is my pleasure my friend.

[@IvIidnight]

So the algorithm'd be pleased.

[@knifedelights7473]

Very nice! I appreciate your help, my friend.

[@IvIidnight]

On top of Old Smokeys...

[@knifedelights7473]

Great tune!

[@bobbrown2705]

I have one that was my Great Uncles

[@knifedelights7473]

Bob, you have a treasure! Thanks for dropping by, my friend.

[@terrillschneider3778]

It’s a beauty Tom

[@knifedelights7473]

It sure is, Terrill! Thanks for watching, my friend.

[@turbodog2189]

These had parkerized and bonderized. I’ve never seen production numbers on the finishes. The safest thing to do with these is use 0000 steel wool and oil to remove any active rust then coat with Renaissance Wax (museums use it). These were designated the 1219C vs the 1217 USMC (different model # for the modern Ka-bar Mk2). Even the Navy versions were 1219C. I can’t get into my old email account that has a written summary on these. But that’s a decent example of a WW2 Camillus USN Mk2. Definitely DO NOT restore it. “Preservation and Conversation, not Restoration”. Thanks for sharing!!!! Great video.

[@knifedelights7473]

Thanks for the feedback, TD!. I know that the 0000 steel wool is very fine, but I am still concerned with leaving scratch marks. Do you know if Evaporust would remove the rust without affecting the finish? I totally agree with you about preservation vice restoration. I appreciate you dropping by, my friend.

[@turbodog2189]

@@knifedelights7473 Evaporust will leave a dead “hue” to the finish so I certainly wouldn’t recommend that. Vinegar is even worse. You could try (and I do this from time to time) a VERY well worn scrub pad like on a sponge. Just enough abrasive left to deactivate the rust. Then keep it well oiled. I also don’t know much about saddle soap, but, using such oils as Neatsfoot or Mink oil on the leather can cause the connective fibers to deteriorate. It does wonders for making it “look” rejuvenated but for older items like this it’s actually very bad for it and makes it more susceptible to deterioration.

[@knifedelights7473]

So for the leather, you would recommend just the saddle soap? I used a cotton patch with a small amount of No 7 rubbing compound and it seemed to remove the rust with just some very light rubbing. I appreciate you sharing your knowledge with me.

[@turbodog2189]

@@knifedelights7473 yeah saddle soap should be fine as long as it doesn’t have any acidic additives in it.

[@turbodog2189]

@@knifedelights7473 never mind, saddle soap is apparently very bad. I found this article. I thought saddle soap was the same thing as Pecard’s

[@LegionTacticoolCutlery]

WOW! If that knife cout talk...

[@knifedelights7473]

Exactly, LTC! I always get the "shivers" when I hold such a historical knife. Thanks for watching, my friend.

[@dannyjackson2062]

Nice

[@knifedelights7473]

I love holding history in my hand! Thanks for watching Danny.

[@IvIidnight]

I left these four comments...

[@knifedelights7473]

It's very much appreciated, my friend.

[@IvIidnight]

All covered in cheese.

[@knifedelights7473]

And a cherry on top ....

[@user-hf2wb7vr4f]

I have one just like it that I carried in Viet Nam. Mine says USMC on the guard. My sheath is all leather, and I wonder if your sheath is intended for a bayonnet.

[@knifedelights7473]

I think some of the earlier versions came with leather sheaths, but this one came with the scabbard. I believe post WW II models were stamped differently. I appreciate you stopping by, my friend.

[@dannyjackson2062]

i bought a u.s camillus n.y....my guard is s typ but is it usmc...army...navy...not one posted gave me leads

[@knifedelights7473]

That's fantastic. Glad you were able to pick one up. Thanks for watching, my friend.