The KA-BAR USN Mark 1 is an updated version of the fixed blade made for the Department of the U.S. Navy during World War II. The original Mark 1 had a design similar to existing hunting knives at the time and varied in specifications depending on the manufacturer making the knife for military use.
This version of the remake takes some liberties with the design to make the classic military knife more versatile and more durable. The 5.125-inch blade is made of 1095 Cro-Van carbon steel with a black coating to help increase its resistance to corrosion and damper the steel's reflective properties.
Instead of the pronounced clip point of the original designs, this clip point profile is more understated for a stronger tip. "KA-BAR" and "OLEAN, NY" are stamped on one side of the blade and USN is stamped on the other.
Unlike the stacked leather handle of the original Mark 1, this version has a Kraton G handle, which is nearly impervious to warping and wear.
The US-made fixed blade comes with a MOLLE compatible hard plastic sheath. You can own a little piece of the past and present with this KA-BAR USN Mark 1 Fighting Knife.
Specifications | |
Blade Color | Black |
Blade Edge | Plain |
Blade Length | 5.13 |
Handle Color | Black |
Handle Material | Kraton |
Knife Type | Fixed Blade |
Point | Clip Point |
Total Length | 9.25 |
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.