For those who have answered the call of services in the USMC, there are many items and memorabilia that trigger memories. Chief among these is the Ka-bar fighting knife. The Ka-bar slowly made its entrance into the military world in 1942 for the Marine Corps and has become a coveted self-defense piece, ever since.

Let’s take a look at the extensive history of the Ka-bar Knife and why it’s been such a useful tool for the Marine Corps and more importantly, we will also take a closer look at why knife collectors in California are looking to add these pieces to their growing collection.

The Usage Of The Ka-bar

The Ka-bar is a larger knife that typically has a 7-inch blade, adorned with a clip point tip. The design of the handle is very robust, which makes for a utilitarian piece to use in combat. The blade measurements come in at 1.2 inches wide and about .165 inches thick.

Rest assured, this knife does not sacrifice functionality due to its sleek design. Following the conclusion of WW1, close quarter combat was becoming more and more commonplace. The Kabar was designed to be a fighting knife. 

The design makes it very useful for slicing and defending yourself against enemies. Due to its length, the blade is penetrable from any angle.

Apart from its conventional use in combat, the Ka-bar can double as an everyday tool. The knife is an essential piece for cutting through branches, smaller trees, digging holes, you can even drive tent stakes. 

It’s a working class knife that is a force multiplier for our men & women in the marine corps and makes for a great piece for dedicated knife collectors in California.

Timeline Of The Ka-bar

As previously mentioned, The Ka-bar was adopted by the USMC in 1942, but its history has pre-existed the popularity within the USMC. The Ka-bar is the name of the design and the company that created the knife. 

During the prime years of creation, the company was putting out a plethora of knives. The phrase “k a bar” was translated to kill a bear, which became the inspiration for the name Ka-bar. 

This iteration of the naming derives from a story of a man who went toe to toe with a bear. When his rifle failed to inflict any damage, he finished the bear off with his knife.

The knife still holds its value, post WWII. Many former USMC veterans and knife collectors in California have these items stowed away in safe spaces. Today they are unissued tools, but you can find many of them contained in their original leather sheaths.

These days, a fighting knife isn’t as pivotal of a tool as it once was during war time. While more prominent knives exist, the Ka-bar has never lost its stance within the military and collector community, respectively. 

Are you interested in getting an informed education about knife collecting in California and having access to some of the most valuable collectibles? Visit Exquisite Knives  to see which pieces are available to purchase.