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WWII USMC Kabar Knife -
The legendary Ka bar fighting knife was issued to US Marines during WWII. This knife was rugged and was used heavily during the island hoping campaigns in the Pacific. The handle was made of leather rings and was capped with a circular metal round piece.

The sample shown here is in exceptional shape. The blade has not been sharpened. This condition is hard to find because these fighting knives were produced as utility tools.

The scabbard is made of brown leather. Rivets and heavy duty white cotton stitching are placed on the perimeter of the scabbard to increase its strngth and ensure durability under heavy use.

In some cases, as shown here, the owner's name was placed on the scabbard. This practice is more common among US Marine Corps units.




This page is a recognition and identification guide for military fighting knives. Multiple detailed photos of a specific sample are provided. Descriptions point out clearly defined points that should be noted.

One of the most commonly asked questions is "How much is my fighting knife worth?". A price guide is included here to address this question. The value of the knives is reviewed over a period of several years. A trend can be observed. The present worth of the edge weapons in the collector's market is illustrated.

This service is provided free of charge to the visitor/enthusiast courtesy of MilitaryItems.com, a company dedicated to the preservation of military history and to providing quality military antiques and collectibles to museums, institutions and the general public.

WANT TO LEARN MORE?
  1. FAQ's
  2. knife anatomy
  3. knife construction materials
  4. knife makers and markings
  5. Fighting knife blade types
  6. Identifying fakes and reproductions
  7. Purchasing a fighting knife
  8. Perspective View







This photo provides a closer look at how the name of the soldier is added to the scabbard. In this case it is black ink stamped.







The initials USMC (United States Marine Corps) have been stamped to one side of the blade. Clearly indicating the branch to which the fighting knife was issued.





The manufacturing brand has been stamped on the side of the throat. The PAL company manufactured many of the top quality fighting knives and bayonets of WWII.

The collectability of these fighting knives has increased over the last few years. Like any other collectible, the deep recession of 2008/2009 has taken some effect on its value. Further discussion on the worth of the fighting knife is discussed at the bottom of the page.








This edge weapon is currently being reproduced. It is becoming more difficult to be able to tell the fake ones from the real ones because the quality of the reproductions is improving. The collector must become familiarized with the construction style and materials employed in the manufacturing of this item. Attention to the details is critical in order to be able to determine the authenticity of the collectible.



If you have an interest is seeing other fighting knives, you can do so by going to our Military Fighting Knives Price Guide identification guide. Where we cover Army, Navy, Army Air Force, USMC and other organizations.





PRICING GUIDE INFORMATION

The value for the Fighting Knives and other military antiques and collectibles is provided as a means to educate the collector community and individuals who have a general interest on the field. The following is an estimated value. Prices may vary in every state and every country. This service is provided courtesy of MilitaryItems.com . The source for military antiques and collectibles in the web.

Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Value $80.00 $120.00 $160.00 $220.00 $250.00 $300.00 $350.00 $400.00 $420.00 $400.00 $350.00 $300.00
Availability Common Common Common Common Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium
Invest Grade A A A A A A A A A A A A

  MARKET ANALYSIS
Jan 4th, 2017
The Kabar knife is a very iconic symbol of WWII. The item featured here is in very good condiiton. The blade has not been sharpened. It is hard to find that. Complete with a named scabbard. A market adjsutment has occurred. However, the value is likely to continue climbing over time.


While the item featured here is not for sale, similar items like it are available for purchase in our website MilitaryItems.com


 
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