Marine KaBar question

[Ridgegrass]

Can anyone say if this knife is Marine issued? Model #? Date? Thanks.J.O'.

[Gunsil]

The Marines were only ever issued one KA-BAR knife, the MK2. Your knife is maybe the most common hunting knife KA-BAR made. It is a pre-war model 572, the 5 for the leather handle and the 72 is the model number. They were available with 4&1/2" or 5&1/2" blades with the former being the most often found. There was also a 172 (same blade, thistle top handle), a 272 split stag handle, 372 wood handle, 472 fiber washer handle, and 872 smooth natural bone handle. There were some made with KA-BAR's patent handle which was a wood core with a thin celluloid cover. 6 was for jigged bone and 7 was for genuine pearl which model 72s did not have. Yours with the finger grooves is a later made one, the early ones didn't have them and the finger grooves only appear on the leather handles. Stag handle ones usually had the aluminum pommel but were available for a time with a stag pommel which would be model 272-G. In the early brochures this knife was called "Trusty". I have a 5&1/2" one etched "Scout Trusty". These also had a different aluminum pommel on the earliest ones so there are a lot of variations out there. I think I have around 20 different ones so it is possible to have a nice collection of model 72s. They did make some with stainless steel, they are pretty scarce.

[Ridgegrass]

Thanks Gene. You are the source. I thought the ad was erroneous. Bought it anyway, good shape, good price, nice sheath. John

[tongueriver]

Wow, Gene; you are one heckuva encyclopedic source. Meanwhile, that Woodcraft pattern by anyone is always nice to see. Thanks, Ridgegrass!

[Ridgegrass]

J.O'.

[Gunsil]

Thanks Cal and John! I could have gone a little deeper and included photos of every variation mentioned but I guess I got lazy.