Ka Bar by Conetta

[wood714]

Been looking for a Vietnam era Ka Bar and found a pretty nice one made by Conetta. I've read they only made them from 68-70.

Anyone ever heard of them?

 

[AJ]

Had a brand new one in the early '70's. A friend in supply had a whole box of them and gave them out to all his neighbors in base housing. My Wife found mine and dug a garden with it, pretty much ruined it. Traded if off at some point. Now have an 1980's Kabar and a WW II Camillus.

 

[wood714]

Had a brand new one in the early '70's. A friend in supply had a whole box of them and gave them out to all his neighbors in base housing. My Wife found mine and dug a garden with it, pretty much ruined it. Traded if off at some point. Now have an 1980's Kabar and a WW II Camillus.

Do you have any idea if these were actually issued to troops in Vietnam?

 

[Ματθιας]

I think that's a USN MK 2.

Ka-Bar is a brand name and generic name for that style of knife.

Looking at the knife I hope you didn't pay too much for the condition of that knife.

 

[wood714]

I think that's a USN MK 2.

Ka-Bar is a brand name and generic name for that style of knife.

Looking at the knife I hope you didn't pay too much for the condition of that knife.

I knew that, haven't bought it yet.

They want $90 for it.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

CONETTA made a lot of Bayonets.

 

[Ματθιας]

At best, it's in "fair" condition. If I REALLY REALLY wanted that knife, I'd be willing to pay $50. More than that and my interest drops to zero.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Found and checked mine.
It is a CONETTA. Appears to be unused.
Don't recall how much I paid, probably not that much.

 

[swagmeister]

I would love to have one, but, as previously mentioned, $50 would be the tops for me also in that condition. At one time awhile back, I had a Camillus that was U.S. marked that looked similar to that. Good luck.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Well, if it's any "consolation", I paid $40 two weeks ago for a standard M6 with scabbard. KaBars are probably "cooler".

 

[wood714]

Well, if it's any "consolation", I paid $40 two weeks ago for a standard M6 with scabbard. KaBars are probably "cooler".

Look those up on eBay, and you'll be most happy!

I posted a link, but thought that was against the rules.

There is just a M6 sheath for $350. The knife with sheath range from $700 to $2,600.

 

[Narragansett]

Had a brand new one in the early '70's. A friend in supply had a whole box of them and gave them out to all his neighbors in base housing. My Wife found mine and dug a garden with it, pretty much ruined it. Traded if off at some point. Now have an 1980's Kabar and a WW II Camillus.

Should have traded wife off. . I had wife that used to stir paint with my files and screwdrivers. Bought tool chest and locked them up

 

[AJ]

Should have traded wife off. . I had wife that used to stir paint with my files and screwdrivers. Bought tool chest and locked them up

Kept the Wife, that was 50 years ago.

Do you have any idea if these were actually issued to troops in Vietnam?

May have been, do not remember.

 

[Skyhunter]

Should have traded wife off. . I had wife that used to stir paint with my files and screwdrivers. Bought tool chest and locked them up

LOL! My tools AND cast iron cookware - former wife had no respect for either! I thought I'd solved the problem by providing a set of "His & Her's" for tools and cast iron. Didn't really work out.
That's just part of why she's a "former wife"!

WYT-P
Skyhunter

 

[old bear]

Kevin, don't SETTLE. Wait for the one you Really want in the condition you want it in.

 

[jpage]

Hey Old Bear, are we talking a out wives or tools ?

 

[wood714]

Kevin, don't SETTLE. Wait for the one you Really want in the condition you want it in.

I could easily buy a new one, but I'd love to have one that had spent time in Vietnam.

KA-BAR: KA-BAR(R) USMC, Straight Edge

 

[gunbarrel]

The correct names for a "Ka-bar" knife were:

- U.S.N. Mark 2

- U.S.M.C. 1219C2 Fighting Utility knife

From WWII to the present, manufacturers were:

> Camillus Cutlery Co.
> ***Conetta***
> M.S.I.
> Ontario Knife Co.
> PAL Blade Co.
> Robeson Shuredge
> Union Cutlery Co. ("Ka-bar" brand)
> Utica Cutlery

Note that this model knife was called a "Ka-bar," like a copier is called a "Xerox" machine. In other words, the Union Cutlery trade name Ka-bar became the term used to describe the item

Conetta made them during the Viet-Nam War, and some in unused condition were still left over and used at the beginning of the war with Iraq. Ontario still makes the real thing.

For more information on Post WWII 1219C2 knives, click on this link and scroll down to Post #14 by "sactroop." Frank Trzaska is the world's expert on these knives:

Two nice fighting knives this AM - EDGED WEAPONS - U.S. Militaria Forum

 

[wood714]

The correct names for a "Ka-bar" knife were:

- U.S.N. Mark 2

- U.S.M.C. 1219C2 Fighting Utility knife

From WWII to the present, manufacturers were:

> Camillus Cutlery Co.
> ***Conetta***
> M.S.I.
> Ontario Knife Co.
> PAL Blade Co.
> Robeson Shuredge
> Union Cutlery Co. ("Ka-bar" brand)
> Utica Cutlery

Note that this model knife was called a "Ka-bar," like a copier is called a "Xerox" machine. In other words, the Union Cutlery trade name Ka-bar became the term used to describe the item

Conetta made them during the Viet-Nam War, and some in unused condition were still left over and used at the beginning of the war with Iraq. Ontario still makes the real thing.

For more information on Post WWII 1219C2 knives, click on this link and scroll down to Post #14 by "sactroop." Frank Trzaska is the world's expert on these knives:

Two nice fighting knives this AM - EDGED WEAPONS - U.S. Militaria Forum

I read that yesterday.

Every blade forum I've been on mentions Frank Trzaska.

I also read this yesterday.

Conetta was contracted by the US Government for Mark 2 fighting knives as well as other variations of edged weapons. Conetta made the Mark 2 from 1968-1970. Since it had an extremely short production time, the Conetta Mark 2 is one of the most collectable Vietnam Era fighting knives ever.

 

[Ματθιας]

OP if you think that Mk2 is worth the asking price for whatever reason, like maker mark, by all means get it!

As far as it spending time in Vietnam, unless one personally got it from a reliable source, like the vet, there's no way of knowing its history one way or another. For all we know, that thing could have been surplused decades ago and got all that wear/abuse stateside by who knows how many previous owners.

Haggle with them, the worse that can happen is they say no.

 

[AJ]

OP if you think that Mk2 is worth the asking price for whatever reason, like maker mark, by all means get it!

As far as it spending time in Vietnam, unless one personally got it from a reliable source, like the vet, there's no way of knowing its history one way or another. For all we know, that thing could have been surplused decades ago and got all that wear/abuse stateside by who knows how many previous owners.

Haggle with them, the worse that can happen is they say no.

I will second that. There is no way of knowing where the knife was. I have a WW II Camillus that the same Marine carried it in WW II and Korea. How do I know this?? Well he gave it to me as he had no sons he thought deserved it and I am a retired Marine. It will go to my Grandson, who was in the Corps also.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Knife on bottom is mine.
Carried it in SEA.
Knife on top is one of the original Navy Knives which has a longer blade.
Probably carried by some unknown Navy guy.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Okay, now I have to ask, bending this thread a little more, because I am not a bayonet expert by any means - - - the following is an online picture of a bayonet similar to the one that I bought but mine doesn't have that big loop on it:

vietnam eraamerican army bayonets - Bing

This is the bayonet:

The bayonet has no markings. The sheath or scabbard or whatever name definitely says USM8A1 with a PWH underneath.

What do I actually have?

 

[RGallaher]

I purchased this Kabar at an auction for $100.

 

[gunbarrel]

Okay, now I have to ask, bending this thread a little more, because I am not a bayonet expert by any means - - - the following is an online picture of a bayonet similar to the one that I bought but mine doesn't have that big loop on it:

vietnam eraamerican army bayonets - Bing

This is the bayonet:

The bayonet has no markings. The sheath or scabbard or whatever name definitely says USM8A1 with a PWH underneath.

What do I actually have?

That is a picture of an M5, or M5A1 bayonet for the M1 Garand. Click on the link and scroll down. If it doesn't have a loop for the barrel, it's a knife made from parts from that model bayonet. You'll see pictures of it on the same write-up.

Bayo Points 5

 

[gunbarrel]

Knife on bottom is mine.
Carried it in SEA.
Knife on top is one of the original Navy Knives which has a longer blade.
Probably carried by some unknown Navy guy.

Those are not "Ka-bars." They are Jet Pilot Knives. The early ones had a longer 6" blade. You can read about them here:

The Jet Pilots Survival Knife - EDGED WEAPONS - U.S. Militaria Forum

 

[Glenn R. McMannly]

I enjoy the Ka-Bar fighting knife.

 

[AJ]

I enjoy the Ka-Bar fighting knife.

They are a bit big for a camp knife. If it comes down to it, would rather have an e-tool.

 

[VaTom]

The correct names for a "Ka-bar" knife were:

- U.S.N. Mark 2

- U.S.M.C. 1219C2 Fighting Utility knife

From WWII to the present, manufacturers were:

> Camillus Cutlery Co.
> ***Conetta***
> M.S.I.
> Ontario Knife Co.
> PAL Blade Co.
> Robeson Shuredge
> Union Cutlery Co. ("Ka-bar" brand)
> Utica Cutlery

Note that this model knife was called a "Ka-bar," like a copier is called a "Xerox" machine. In other words, the Union Cutlery trade name Ka-bar became the term used to describe the item

Conetta made them during the Viet-Nam War, and some in unused condition were still left over and used at the beginning of the war with Iraq. Ontario still makes the real thing.

For more information on Post WWII 1219C2 knives, click on this link and scroll down to Post #14 by "sactroop." Frank Trzaska is the world's expert on these knives:

Two nice fighting knives this AM - EDGED WEAPONS - U.S. Militaria Forum

So if Ka-Bar is stamped on the handguard of a USN MK2 then it was made by Union Cutlery? See pictures of mine.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

That would be a YES Tom.
Ka-Bar was a brand name owned by Union Cutlery.
The name came from, so the story goes, Kill a Bear.
Union Cutlery started using it in 1923.