Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > General Topics > Firearms & Knives: Other Brands & General Gun Topics
o

Notices

Firearms & Knives: Other Brands & General Gun Topics Post Your General Gun Topics and Non-S&W Gun and Blade Topics Here


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 01-03-2017, 12:49 PM
VaTom VaTom is offline
Member
Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath  
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: SW Virginia
Posts: 2,012
Likes: 9,137
Liked 5,177 Times in 1,309 Posts
Default Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath

I have a WWII era KA-Bar USN MK2 with sheath. I purchased at an auction last year. It is in excellent condition. It has a stamping of M17 on the sheath as well as the blade (see pictures).

Does anyone know what this stamping means or for what purpose?

Thanks,

VaTom

Last edited by VaTom; 01-11-2017 at 04:07 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 01-03-2017, 02:08 PM
jlrhiner's Avatar
jlrhiner jlrhiner is offline
US Veteran
Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath  
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Arnold, Missouri
Posts: 4,818
Likes: 7,179
Liked 6,595 Times in 2,117 Posts
Default

Wild stabbing guess? An issue number for unit tracking.
__________________
James L. "Jim" Rhiner
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #3  
Old 01-04-2017, 08:42 AM
VaTom VaTom is offline
Member
Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath  
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: SW Virginia
Posts: 2,012
Likes: 9,137
Liked 5,177 Times in 1,309 Posts
Default

Thats what I figure also. Thanks!
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 01-04-2017, 12:51 PM
retiredbadge8091's Avatar
retiredbadge8091 retiredbadge8091 is offline
Member
Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath  
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Utah
Posts: 1,310
Likes: 2,916
Liked 3,099 Times in 859 Posts
Default

Where is the knife stamped and in what configuration? Also, where is the sheath stamped and what does it read? More pictures would help. I'm no expert, more student, but this information would help. More pictures would be nice too.
__________________
Join the NRA today

Last edited by retiredbadge8091; 01-04-2017 at 12:53 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 01-04-2017, 02:26 PM
cmansguns's Avatar
cmansguns cmansguns is offline
US Veteran
Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath  
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Hanover, Virginia
Posts: 1,911
Likes: 3,164
Liked 5,636 Times in 1,398 Posts
Default

I am no expert in any way, but have looked at a couple "Ka-Bars" over the years, never saw one marked M17

I guess the first thing to do is to make sure it isn't a fake. I saw at usmilitaryknives.com some years back where they have a page called The KaBar page that has pictures about "the most faked knife in the world" or some such.

A "real" Ka-Bar is for sure stamped Olean New York on one side. There were 3 other official manufacturers of the USN Mark 2 Fighting Knife, but only 1 has the claim of Ka-Bar, so the OPs could for sure be a real WWII Mark 2 USN knife, but the sheath would be gray and certainly not marked M17.

There were some post 1977 commemoratives issued with a 3/8" thick pommel that are the basis for a lot of the fakes around according to the fake page

Like other posts say....more photos and descriptions of all other marks on both the knife and the sheath may help and their is a bunch of guys on this forum that are really into these Ka-Bars so real expert help will be along soon.
__________________
Charlie B
SWCA#3083, SWHF#570
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 01-04-2017, 03:54 PM
VaTom VaTom is offline
Member
Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath  
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: SW Virginia
Posts: 2,012
Likes: 9,137
Liked 5,177 Times in 1,309 Posts
Default

Here are some better pictures. It is an authentic Ka-Bar to my knowledge. The stamping "M17" looks like it was done at the unit or armory level and not by the manufacturer. Thanks for everyone's interest

Last edited by VaTom; 01-11-2017 at 04:07 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 01-04-2017, 05:53 PM
retiredbadge8091's Avatar
retiredbadge8091 retiredbadge8091 is offline
Member
Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath  
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Utah
Posts: 1,310
Likes: 2,916
Liked 3,099 Times in 859 Posts
Default

What is on the other side of the sheath. USN MK2 on one side, the other should have manufacturer info. and NORD numbers I believe. The two line KA-BAR is desirable and may give some incentive to replicate.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 20161110_140133.jpg (84.0 KB, 33 views)
File Type: jpg 20161110_140145.jpg (89.4 KB, 35 views)
__________________
Join the NRA today

Last edited by retiredbadge8091; 01-04-2017 at 05:56 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 01-04-2017, 06:30 PM
VaTom VaTom is offline
Member
Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath  
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: SW Virginia
Posts: 2,012
Likes: 9,137
Liked 5,177 Times in 1,309 Posts
Default

Yes - The other side of the sheath is marked the same as in the photo you posted.

I bought this at a large auction of Militaria items that a deceased collector had accumulated over 60 years. All items were original so I trust that everything is correct on this piece. Also in the same lot with the Ka-Bar was an Air Force survival knife from the 1970's and a very poor condition M1 Carbine bayonet.

I sold those two to another collector several days later and kept the Ka-Bar and covered the cost of the purchase.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 01-05-2017, 06:54 AM
spacestuff4me's Avatar
spacestuff4me spacestuff4me is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 25
Likes: 12
Liked 21 Times in 12 Posts
Default

Good news, your knife is authentic and is an inventory control number stamped on USN Divers and UDT Kabar knives from the Korea or Vietnam war period. Each diver or UDT checked out their knives, the rack number was recorded in a book to the individual sailor and then checked back in.

Nice piece, worth in the $100-125 range.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #10  
Old 01-05-2017, 10:04 AM
VaTom VaTom is offline
Member
Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath Ka-Bar USN MK2 - Stampings on blade and sheath  
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: SW Virginia
Posts: 2,012
Likes: 9,137
Liked 5,177 Times in 1,309 Posts
Default

Thanks - Great information!!!
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
DATE A VINTAGE MARBLES WOODCRAFT FIXED BLADE SHEATH KNIFE chief38 Firearms & Knives: Other Brands & General Gun Topics 18 04-05-2016 05:53 AM
IWB Fixed Blade Sheath Mexistrat Firearms & Knives: Other Brands & General Gun Topics 10 08-24-2015 11:16 AM
I have never seen these stampings before ... . phnx S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present 3 02-10-2014 05:28 PM
.455 Mk II stampings...any help? S&W_aussie S&W Hand Ejectors: 1896 to 1961 18 03-11-2012 01:51 AM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:47 AM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)