During the height of World War II, the U.S. Marines sought a fighting and utility knife that could meet the needs of the elite fighting force. That's where the legendary KA-BAR Fighting Utility Knife comes into the picture.
With the quality that you can expect from a standard issue knife for the Marines, the KA-BAR has many of the features that made it a constant carry for numerous armed servicemen and women both at home and abroad.
But before we jump into the admirable specs of the knife, to understand why the knife is truly formidable, we must first take a look at its rich history.
In response to a request for a modern fighting knife for the Marines, USMC Colonel John M. Davis and Major Howard E. America worked with what would become KA-Bar Knives to develop the knife we know today.
The 7-inch carbon steel blade features a black, non-reflective epoxy coating and an edge that comes razor sharp right out of the box.
Its stacked leather handle was designed to offer a better and more comfortable grip while the steel crossguard prevents the knife from slipping out of your hand in tough weather conditions.
All of these unique features, coupled with the included leather sheath, add up to create a knife that is perfectly stealthy and suitable for jobs that require the utmost precision and efficiency.
| Specifications | |
| Blade Thickness | 0.165 |
| Brand | KA-BAR |
| Model | KA-BAR Fighting Knife |
| Model Number | 1217 |
| Blade Color | Black |
| Blade Edge | Plain |
| Blade Length | 7 |
| Blade Material | 1095 Cro-Van |
| Country of Origin | USA |
| Handle Color | Brown |
| Handle Material | Leather |
| Knife Weight | 11.2 |
| Knife Type | Fixed Blade |
| Point | Clip |
| Sheath Include | Yes |
| Sheath Included | Yes |
| Sheath Material | Leather |
| Total Length | 11.88 |
Making a quality KA-BAR product requires the talent of experienced craftspeople performing dozens of processes with precision and skill. Each knife undergoes specific manufacturing processes to ensure corrosion resistance, strength, edge holding ability, and an out-of-the-box razor sharp cutting edge.
Soon after its introduction in the mid-1920's, the KA-BAR trademark became widely known and respected. There have been many versions of how the KA-BAR name came to be, but all evidence points to a letter received from a fur trapper. This particular fur trapper's testimonial turned out to be the most significant ever received by the company.
He wrote, in very rough English, that his gun had jammed and that he had therefore relied on his knife to kill a wounded bear that was attacking him. In thanking the company for their quality product the trapper described using his knife to kill the bear. All that was legible of his scrawled writing was 'k a bar'. The company was so honored by this testimonial that they adopted this phrase and used it as their trademark, KA-BAR.
You may also like