what knives were issued to naval air crews during wwii

(USMC) Knife, Fighting Utility (USN Marking ii utility knife)
Commemorative USMC Ka-Bar knife
Type	Knife
Place of origin	United States
Service history
Used past	Usa Marine Corps Us Navy
Wars	World War II Korean State of war Vietnam State of war Invasion of Grenada Functioning Just Cause Gulf War War in Afghanistan Iraq War
Production history
Designed	23 Nov 1942
Manufacturer	Camillus Cutlery Co. Union Cutlery Co. Pal Cutlery Co. Robeson (ShurEdge) Cutlery Co.
Produced	1943–present
Specifications
Weight	1.23 pounds (0.56 kg)
Length	11.875 inches (30.16 cm)
Bract length	7 inches (18 cm)
Bract type	Bowie
Hilt type	Stacked leather washers
Scabbard/sheath	Leather (USMC) or Plastic (USN)

KA-BAR (trademarked every bit KA-BAR, capitalized) is the gimmicky popular name for the combat knife showtime adopted by the United States Marine Corps in November 1942 as the 1219C2 gainsay pocketknife (later designated the USMC Mark ii gainsay knife or Knife, Fighting Utility), and later on adopted past the United States Navy equally the U.Southward. Navy utility pocketknife, Marking 2.^{[1] [ii] [3]} Additionally, KA-BAR is the trademark and namesake of a related knife manufacturing visitor, KA-BAR Knives., Inc. (formerly Wedlock Cutlery Co.) of Olean, New York, a subsidiary of the Cutco Corporation.

Although KA-BAR Knives, Inc. currently makes a broad variety of knives and cutlery, it is all-time known for the KA-BAR Fighting/Utility knife, which has traditionally used a 7 in. (178 mm) 1095 carbon steel clip point blade and leather-washer handle. Other, more modern versions of this knife feature unmarried or dual-edge blades and constructed handles made of Kraton (a not-slip rubber substitute).^[4]

Contents

• 1 History
  • 1.1 Earth War II
• 2 Manufacturers and the "KA-BAR" name
• 3 Service
• 4 See also
• 5 References
• half-dozen External links

History

The possessor of KA-BAR trademark, the Wedlock Cutlery Co. of Olean, New York, began using the name on its knives and in its advertising in 1923^[five] afterwards receiving a testimonial letter from a fur trapper, who used the knife to impale a wounded deport that attacked him afterward his rifle jammed.^[vi] According to company records, the alphabetic character was only partially legible, with "ka bar" readable as fragments of the phrase "kill a bear".^{[seven] [8] [ix] [6] [10] [11]} In 1923, the visitor adopted the name KA-BAR from the "bear story" every bit their trademark.^{[5] [6]} Beginning in 1923, the KA-BAR trademark was used as a ricasso stamp by Wedlock Cutlery Co. on its line of automatic switchblade pocket knives, including the KA-BAR Grizzly, KA-BAR Baby Grizzly, and KA-BAR Model 6110 Lever Release knives.^[12]

Globe State of war Two

After the United States' entry into World State of war II, complaints arose from Regular army soldiers^{[xiii] [xiv]} and Marines^[15] issued World State of war I-era bronze or blend-handled trench knives such every bit the U.S. Mark I trench knife for use in hand-to-hand fighting. The Mark I was relatively expensive and time-consuming to manufacture, and reports from the field indicated that the knife's large 'brass-knuckle' fingerguard handle fabricated it difficult to secure in conventional scabbards while limiting the range of useful fighting grip positions.^{[4] [16]} Another criticism was that the Mark I'southward relatively thin bract was prone to breakage when used for common utility tasks such as cutting wire, opening ammunition crates and ration tins.^[4] A last impetus came from the War Department, which had adamant the need for a new multipurpose knife capable of fulfilling the roles of both a fighting and a utility pocketknife, while at the same time conserving strategic metal resources.^[17]

The Marine Corps authorized express issuance of a fighting knife with a stiletto blade design, the Marine Raider Stiletto designed by Lt. Col. Clifford H. Shuey, a Marine Corps engineering officer. Shuey's pattern was essentially a re-create of the Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife with altered material specifications designed to reduce dependence on critical strategic metals. The Raider stiletto was initially issued to elite Marine forces, including the entire 1st Marine Raider Battalion commanded by Colonel Merritt A. Edson,^[xviii] the USMC 1st Parachute Battalion, and to Marines of the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion allowable by Lt. Col. Evans F. Carlson.^[19] Primarily intended every bit a thrusting (stabbing) weapon, the Marines of the 1st Raider battalion found the Raider stiletto to be well designed for silent killing, but was of fiddling use for any other purpose, and too frail for general utility tasks.^[eighteen] After their beginning combat, many Marines in the 2nd Raider Battalion exchanged their Raider stilettos for No. 17 and No. 18 Collins full general-purpose curt machetes (machetes pequeños) purchased with unit funds.^[xix] The Collins machetes,^[xx] which superficially resembled a big Bowie knife, were also issued to some Army air crews equally part of the Jungle Emergency Sustenance Kit of 1939.^[19]

In the absenteeism of suitable officially issued knives, a number of Marines deploying for gainsay in 1942 obtained their personal knives through private purchase, usually hunting/utility patterns such as Western States Cutlery Co.'s pre-state of war L76 and L77 design knives, both of which had 7-inch (180 mm) Bowie blazon prune blades and leather handles.^[two] The Western States L77 was stocked at the San Diego Base Exchange at the onset of the war, and knives of this blueprint were carried by many Marines in the 1st Marine Partition also every bit by Marine Raiders in the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion commanded by Lt. Col. Evans F. Carlson.^{[2] [18]}

In response to a specification requesting for a modernistic individual fighting knife blueprint for the U.S. Marines, ordnance and quartermaster officials requested submissions from several military machine pocketknife and tool suppliers to develop a suitable fighting and utility pocketknife for individual Marines, using the U.S. Navy Marking 1 utility knife and existing civilian hunting/utility knives such as Western's L77 every bit a basis for further improvements.^[i] Working with Union Cutlery, USMC Colonel John Thousand. Davis and Major Howard E. America contributed several important changes, including a longer, stronger bract, the introduction of a small fuller to lighten the blade, a peened pommel (afterwards replaced by a pinned pommel), a straight (after, slightly curved) steel crossguard, and a stacked leather handle for ameliorate grip.^{[1] [two]} The blade, guard, and pommel were coated with a non-reflective matte phosphate finish instead of the brightly polished steel of the original prototype.^[ane] The design was given the designation of 1219C2.^[1] Notably, the 1219C2 used a thicker blade stock than that of the USN Mark 1 utility pocketknife, and featured a stout prune point.^[1] Later on extensive trials, the 1219C2 prototype was recommended for adoption.^[21] The Marines' Quartermaster at the time initially refused to order the knives, just his decision was overruled by the Commandant.^{[8] [9] [ten]} The Marine Corps adopted the new pocketknife on November 23, 1942, nonetheless under the designation 1219C2.^[2]

The 1219C2 proved easy to manufacture; the commencement production run was shipped past Camillus Cutlery Co. on January 27, 1943.^[two] After the U.S. Navy became disenchanted with blade failures on the USN Mark 1 utility knife, the latter service adopted the 1219C2 equally the US Navy Utility Knife, Marking 2.^[22] The Marine Corps in plow re-designated the 1219C2 as either the USMC Mark two Combat Pocketknife, or merely the Knife, Fighting Utility. In naval service, the knife was used as a diving and utility knife from late 1943 onward, though the stacked leather handle tended to rot and disintegrate speedily in saltwater.

The Marine Corps issued USMC Mark 2 combat/fighting utility knife throughout Marine forces, with early deliveries going primarily to elite formations. In late 1943 the 1219C2 replaced the Marine Raider Stiletto in service, a change welcomed by the marines of Col. Edson'southward 1st Raider Battalion, who establish the Raider stiletto ideal for silent killing but of piddling use for annihilation else.^[eighteen] As the knife went into large-scale product, the Marines issued the Marking 2 Gainsay/Fighting Utility pocketknife to reconnaissance and engineering science units and to any Marine armed with the pistol, M1 carbine, BAR, or coiffure-served automobile gun (rifle-armed Marines were typically issued a bayonet). Marines were often issued knives with "U.S.N. Mark ii" markings when Navy-issued Marker 2 knives were all that was bachelor.^[2] By 1944 the USMC Mark two Gainsay/Fighting Utility knife was issued to near any Marine in the gainsay branches who desired 1, and was in utilize by Marine Corps shut combat instructors for training new recruits.^[23] Different the prior Marine Raider stiletto, Marines were taught to use their new knife primarily as a slashing weapon in the initial phases of paw-to-manus gainsay.^[24]

As its new proper name unsaid, the "Pocketknife, Fighting Utility" was designed from the outset equally a dual-purpose knife: it was both an constructive combat knife and a utility tool, well-suited to the type of jungle warfare encountered by Marines in the Pacific theater.^[23] This dual-purpose design resulted in some initial criticism of the pattern as being less than ideal for knife fighting, but gainsay feel of returning veterans as well equally field reports from the battleground soon dispelled any doubts nigh its gainsay effectiveness.^{[23] [25]}

Later on the Second World War, the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps connected to employ the Marker ii Combat/Fighting Utility knife. In addition to military contract knives, the knife was produced for the civilian market place, and the design enjoyed some popularity as a general-purpose hunting and utility knife.^[26]

Manufacturers and the "KA-BAR" name

Camillus Cutlery Co., the first manufacturer to supply the 1219C2 gainsay knife under contract, also produced the largest number of such knives, producing over 1 million examples marked "Camillus.North.Y." on the bract's ricasso before the war concluded.^[two] As well Camillus, the Union Cutlery Co., Robeson (ShurEdge) Cutlery Co., and the PAL Cutlery Co. all produced the Marking ii gainsay/fighting utility pocketknife under military machine contract during Earth State of war 2.^[27] The Spousal relationship Cutlery Company, the first visitor to manufacture a knife trademarked KA-BAR, was founded in 1897 equally the Tidioute Cutlery Co.^[5] The Tidioute Cutlery Co. was dissolved and its assets taken over by Wallace R. Brown, who renamed the company Spousal relationship Razor Co. which shortly thereafter became the Matrimony Cutlery Company in 1909, headquartered in Olean, New York.^[five]

Of the 4 wartime manufacturers, Union Cutlery Co. was the sole wartime knife manufacturer to stamp all Marker 2 Combat/Fighting Utility knives they fabricated for the war machine with their "KA-BAR" trademark on the blade's ricasso, and was second only to Camillus in terms of production, producing about i meg knives during the wartime contract.^[2] Because of this prominent trademark, Marines as early every bit 1944 began universally referring to their new gainsay knife as the "KA-BAR", regardless of manufacturer.^{[23] [28]} The popular designation of the pocketknife every bit the "KA-BAR" may also have resulted from contact with Marine Corps close combat instructors in San Diego, who appear to have used the term "KA-BAR" when training recruits in the skill of knife fighting.^[23]

Afterward the end of Earth War 2, Utica Cutlery Co., Conetta Cutlery Co., Camillus Cutlery Co., and (beginning effectually 1980) the Ontario Knife Co. all produced the Mark 2 nether contract for the U.S. military.^[2] From approximately 1945-1952, Weske Cutlery Co. of Sandusky, Ohio purchased leftover and overrun parts from wartime Mark 2 knife contractors and assembled them into knives for commercial sale, polishing out the original manufacturer and military markings, and plumbing equipment them with ungrooved leather handles.^[29] Though West.R. Case made two paradigm 1219C2 knives as part of a contract submission in 1942-43, no contract was ever awarded to Example for the production of military Marker 2 Combat/Fighting Utility knives, either during or subsequently World War II. In 1992, Instance would release a modern commemorative of these prototypes, the Case 20 USMC Fighting Utility Pocketknife. The Case 20 USMC Fighting Utility knife is really manufactured for Case by Ontario Pocketknife Co^{[ commendation needed ]}.

From 1923 until 1952, KA-BAR remained a legal trademark of Union Cutlery Company. However, in 1952 Spousal relationship Cutlery renamed itself KA-BAR Cutlery Inc. in order to capitalize on widespread public recognition of the "KA-BAR" name and trademark, which had by then become synonymous with the well-regarded only confusingly titled USMC Mark 2 Gainsay Knife or Knife, Fighting Utility of the late state of war.^[two] While the company proper noun changed, KA-BAR, Inc.'south headquarters are still located in Olean, New York. Cutco Corporation, manufacturer of Cutco Cutlery, acquired the company in 1996.^[30]

Knifemaker Duane Dwyer of Strider Knives has made custom versions of the USMC Fighting Utility knife featuring pattern welded blades.^[31]

Service

In USMC service in Iraq, 2005.

KA-BAR makes Ground forces and Navy versions as well equally USMC versions.^[i] They are the same every bit the Marine version except for different initials at the bottom of the blade and different symbols on the sheath. Marines today frequently give the blades, guards and pommels of their knives a few coats of not-reflective matte black spray paint to reduce reflected light and requite them a little more than protection against saltwater corrosion.^[1] Its moderate carbon and low chromium steel mixture allows the blade to concur an edge very well. The 1095 chrome-vanadium steel^{[ citation needed ]} used in the blades of gimmicky KA-Bars has a hardness of 56–58 HRC, while the baby-sit and pommel are fabricated from sintered 1095 carbon steel. Besides use every bit a fighting pocketknife, the Mark ii has proven its usefulness equally a utility pocketknife, used for opening cans, digging trenches, and cutting wood, roots, wire, and cable.^[i] In 1995, the design was updated with a tool steel blade, synthetic handle, and synthetic sheath marketed as "The Next Generation".^[iv] As of June 2012 the "Next Generation" models have been discontinued.

See as well

• Combat knife
• Knife fight
• Mark I trench pocketknife
• M3 fighting knife

References

1. ↑ ^{one.0 1.1 i.2 1.3 one.4 1.5 one.half-dozen 1.7 1.8} Walker, Greg (2001). KA-BAR: The Side by side Generation of the Ultimate Fighting Knife. Bedrock, Colorado: Paladin Press. pp. 13–20, 77. ISBN 1-58160-120-4.
2. ↑ ^{2.00 two.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 ii.08 2.09 two.10} Shackleford, Steve (ed.), Blade's Guide To Knives And Their Values (7th ed.), Iola, WI: Krause Publications, ISBN 1-4402-0387-3, ISBN 978-1-4402-0387-9 (2009), p. 387
3. ↑ Petzal, David East., The xx Best Knives Ever Made: The Jar-Head Favorite, Ka-Bar Marine Corps Fighting Knife, Field & Stream Magazine, Vol. CXIII, No. 2 (June 2008), p. 73: The USMC 1219C2 was first manufactured in Jan 1943 past the Camillus Cutlery Company of Camillus, New York
4. ↑ ^{iv.0 iv.1 4.2 four.3} Walker (2001)pp. 5-8 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "Walker_NG" defined multiple times with unlike content
5. ↑ ^{v.0 5.1 five.2 five.3} Shackleford, Steve (ed.), Bract's Guide To Knives And Their Values (seventh ed.), Iola, WI: Krause Publications, ISBN 978-ane-4402-0387-ix, p. 143
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.ane six.2} How KA-BAR Got Its Name
7. ↑ Freeth, Nick (2005). Made in America: from Levis to Barbie to Google. St. Paul, MN: MBI Publishing Company. p. 32. ISBN 978-0-7603-2270-3.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.ane} Rottman, Gordon L. (2006). U.s.a. Marine Rifleman 1939-45: Pacific Theater. London: Osprey Publishing. p. 32. ISBN 978-ane-84176-972-1.
9. ↑ ^{ix.0 ix.1} Rottman, Gordon L. (2007). FUBAR: soldier slang of World State of war Ii. London: Osprey Publishing. p. 67. ISBN 978-ane-84603-175-5.
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.one} Rottman, Gordon Fifty.; Derrick Wright (2008). Hell in the Pacific: The Battle for Iwo Jima. London: Osprey Publishing. p. 46. ISBN 978-1-84603-335-3.
11. ↑ The legend of KA-BAR, Field & Stream Magazine, Vol. 83, No. 6 (Oct 1978), p.154
12. ↑ Erickson, Mark, Antique American Switchblades, Chapter 22: KA-BAR, a trademark of Union Cutlery Co., Olean, NY, Krause Publications, ISBN 0-87349-753-eight (2004)
13. ↑ KNIFE – U.S. KNIFE MODEL 1918 MKI TRENCH Springfield Armory Museum – Collection Record
14. ↑ Canfield, Bruce N., U.S. INFANTRY WEAPONS OF WORLD State of war II, Lincoln, RI: Andrew Mowbray Publishers, ISBN 0-917218-67-one, ISBN 978-0-917218-67-5 (1994)
15. ↑ Shackleford, Steve, ed. (2009), Blade's Guide To Knives And Their Values, Krause Publications, ISBN 978-1-4402-0387-ix, p. 387: In addition to use by aristocracy Army units such as the Rangers and U.Due south. airborne forces, some marines serving in Marine Raider battalions during 1942 and 1943 carried U.S. Mark I trench knives.
16. ↑ Cassidy, William Fifty., The Complete Book Of Pocketknife Fighting, ISBN 0-87364-029-2, ISBN 978-0-87364-029-9 (1997), p. 47
17. ↑ Blending Metals to Arm Our Fighting Men, Popular Science, Vol. 142 No. half dozen (June 1943), p. 104: Demands for a modern fighting knife somewhen resulted in the U.S. Army's adoption of the M3 trench pocketknife in 1943.
18. ↑ ^{eighteen.0 eighteen.1 eighteen.two eighteen.3} Alexander, Joseph H., Edson's Raiders: The 1st Marine Raider Battalion in Globe War 2, Annapolis Doc: Naval Constitute Press, ISBN 1-55750-020-7 (2001), p. 67
19. ↑ ^{19.0 nineteen.1 19.2} Rila, Carter, Military Myths and Misconceptions #three: The Little Machetes, Carter'south Cutlery Commentarires (2005), retrieved 23 July 2011
20. ↑ Rila, Carter: The Collins brusk machetes were usually referred to by the second Raiders equally "Gung Ho Knives".
21. ↑ Sledge, Due east.B. (2007). With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa. New York: Random House. pp. 21–25. ISBN 978-0-89141-919-eight.
22. ↑ Trzaska, Frank, The USN Mark 2, Pocketknife World, (August 2006): The original specifications designated the pocketknife as the "Fighting Knife Mark 2".
23. ↑ ^{23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4} Sledge, Due east.B., With The Old Breed: At Peleleiu and Okinawa, Presidio Press, ISBN 978-0-89141-919-8 (2007),pp. 21-22: "We were introduced to the Marine's foxhole companion, the KA-BAR knife."
24. ↑ MCRP 3-02B: Close Gainsay, Washington, D.C.: Section Of The Navy, Headquarters Usa Marine Corps, 12 February 1999: "Marines use slashing techniques to close with an enemy. Slashing techniques distract or harm an opponent so Marines can close in."
25. ↑ American Rifleman, C.B. Lister (ed.), Vol. 92, No. i (January 1944), p. 26: "Not an ideal fighting knife, it is nevertheless a highly effective weapon in jungle fighting, and, too, a sturdy tool in time of need for digging a play tricks pigsty or for opening a tin can of "D"ration (sic)."
26. ↑ Kertzman, Joe (2007). Sporting Knives: Folders, Stock-still Blades, Pocket, Military, Gent'due south Knives, Multi-Tools, Swords. Iola, WI: Krause Publications. p. 69. ISBN 978-0-87349-430-4.
27. ↑ Shackleford, Steve (ed.), Blade'south Guide To Knives And Their Values (7th ed.), Iola, WI: Krause Publications, ISBN 978-ane-4402-0387-9, p. 387: Cattaraugus, Example, Western, Kinfolks, and others fabricated huge numbers of vi-inch (150 mm) 225Q Quartermaster utility knives for the USN Quartermaster Department for opening and endmost wooden crates; these knives are sometimes erroneously identified as Mark 2 Gainsay or Fighting Utility knives.
28. ↑ Green, Michael, and Stewart, Greg, Weapons of the Mod Marines, Zenith Imprint Press, ISBN 0-7603-1697-X, 9780760316979 (2004), p. 19
29. ↑ Trzaska, Frank, "Rumors and Urban Legends", Pocketknife World (March 2002)
30. ↑ "KA-BAR History – A Timeline". KA-BAR Knives Inc. https://www.kabar.com/history.jsp.
31. ↑ Warner, Ken (1998). Knives '98. Iola, WI: Krause. pp. 109–111. ISBN 978-0-87349-195-2.

External links

• Official KA-BAR site
• Alcas Corporation website, parent corporation of KA-BAR

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Source: https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Ka-Bar

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