KA-BAR INDEX 1975-2022
           
#
DATE
DESCRIPTION
 
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#1- 1975

1ST POST WAR ISSUE OF USMC

UTILITY-FIGHTING KNIFE, COMEMORATING 200 YEARS OF USMC SERVICE TO THE NATION.

 

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#2 - 1977

LIMITED EDITION USMC REPLICA KNIFE.

#5 in the Ka-Bar knife Collectors series a Replica USMC limited edition with an individual numbered certificate of 5000 knives. Shipped in a redwood velour lined box and featuring a deep gun blued blade with leather handle. KA_BAR logo on one side of the ricasso and a version of the USMC with distinctive round "C" on the other.The top clip was sharp but not ground. and the blade grind went almost as high as the fuller.

 

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#3 - 1978

FIRST LIMITED PRODUCTION ISSUE 1978 USING BLADES LEFT OVER FROM THE 1977 USMC REPLICA CLUB ISSUE.

The first post war production issue was in 1978. This issue is unique in so much that what became the standard 3/8 inch thick open recess tang pommell was held on by a pin that went all the way through the pommell the same way that the previous limited edition replica was made and not the later standard half way pin

The handle was the standard leather type with a thin fiber spacer at top and bottom,

The blade was heavily black parkerised and pommell & crossguard painted black, with the early standard Ka Bar.Olean.NY. logo on one side of the ricasso and the early version of the USMC with distinctive round "C" on the other.The top clip was sharp but not ground. and the blade grind went almost as high as the fuller.

The early box which became the standard blueprint design did not have a number on the end like the later one and two printed leaflets were enclosed for description and maintenance later replaced by the single long one AD593 dated 3/78

The Leather sheath with wide letters and spread letter "M" USMC stampings was sown & stapled together with a small .275 staple,

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#4 - 1978-79

2nd LIMITED PRODUCTION ISSUE 1978-79 A TRANSITIONAL ISSUE

 

The 2nd post war production issue was in 1978-79. This issue is a combination of both 3 & 5 in so much that it came with the early box which did not have a number on the end like the later one had a single long leaflet dated 3/78 and can be found with either the first issue knife described in #3 or the revised one in item #5

The handle was the standard leather type with a thin fiber spacer at top and bottom,

The Leather sheath with wide letters and spread letter "M" USMC stampings was sown & stapled together with a small .275 staple,

 

 

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#5 - 1979-1982

SECOND PRODUCTION ISSUE FIRST APPEARED IN THE 1979 PRICE SHEET & CATALOG AS #1217 AND IS WHAT BECAME THE NEWER STANDARD

Production continued through 1982 with the standard 3/8 inch thick open recess tang pommell that was held on by a pin that went half way through the pommell that became standard for all productions..

The handle was the standard leather type with a thin fiber spacer at top and bottom,

The blade, pommell heavily parkerised and the crossguard unfinished metal. with the early standard Ka Bar.Olean.NY. logo on one side of the ricasso and USMC on the other.The top clip was sharp but not ground. and the blade grind went as high as the fuller.

The early box which became the standard blueprint design now had the #1217 number on the end and printed leaflet was enclosed for description and maintenance AD593 3/78.

The Leather sheath with USMC stampings was sown & stapled together with the smaller .275 staples, and the design of the USMC was unchanged .

 

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#6 - 1982-86

 

Production continued through 1982 with the standard 3/8 inch thick open recess tang pommell that was held on by a pin that went half way through the pommell that became standard for all productions..

The handle was the standard leather type with a thin fiber spacer at top and bottom, During the later part of 1983 fiber spacer thickness was greatly increased.

The blade, pommell heavily parkerised and the crossguard unfinished metal. with the early standard Ka Bar.Olean.NY. logo on one side of the ricasso and USMC on the other.The top clip was sharp but not ground. and the blade grind went as high as the fuller.

The early box which became the standard blueprint design now had the #1217 number on the end and new printed leaflets were enclosed for description and maintenance AD-39 a care guide. and a new USMC fighting knife brochure AD615 "KA_BAR REINTRODUCES ITS ORIGINAL WORLD WAR II U.S.M.C FIGHTING KNIfE".

The Leather sheath with USMC stampings was sown & stapled together with THE LARGER .475 staples, and the design of the USMC changed to a more vertical narrower letter.

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#7 - 1986-92

 

PRODUCTION ISSUE 1986-92

Production continued through 1982 with the standard 3/8 inch thick open recess tang pommell that was held on by a pin that went half way through the pommell that became standard for all productions..

The handle was the standard leather type with a thicker fiber spacer at top and bottom,

The blade, pommell heavily parkerised and the crossguard unfinished metal. with the early standard Ka Bar.Olean.NY. logo on one side of the ricasso and USMC on the other.The top clip was sharp but not ground. and the blade grind went almost as high as the fuller.

The early box which became the standard blueprint design now had the #1217 number on the end and a new bar code on the side. new printed leaflets were enclosed for description and maintenance AD-39 a care guide. and a new USMC fighting knife brochure AD615 "KA_BAR REINTRODUCES ITS ORIGINAL WORLD WAR II U.S.M.C FIGHTING KNIGE".

The Leather sheath with USMC stampings was sown & stapled together with THE LARGER .475 staples, and the design of the USMC changed to a more vertical narrower letter.

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#8 - 1992-2002

 

PRODUCTION ISSUE 1992-2002

Production continued through with the standard 3/8 inch thick open recess tang pommell that was held on by a pin that went half way through the pommell that became standard for all productions..

The handle was the standard leather type with a thicker fiber spacer at top and bottom,

The blade, pommell & crossguard now powder coated glossy black . with the early standard Ka Bar.Olean.NY. logo on one side of the ricasso and USMC on the other.The top clip notsharpened. and the blade grind went as lower 3/16" below the fuller.

The early box which became the standard blueprint design now had the #1217 number on the end and the bar code on the side.New revised printed leaflets were enclosed for description and maintenance AD-39 R-10-92 a care guide. AD593 R-10-92 description and a new USMC fighting knife brochure AD615 copyright 1989 R10-92 "THE ORIGINAL U.S.M.C FIGHTING KNIFE AVAILABLE ONLY FROM KA-BAR KNIVES".

The Leather sheath with USMC stampings was sown & now riveted together , and the design of the USMC unchanged with the vertical narrower letter.

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