Original Item: This is a very nice service used example of the legendary "KA-BAR" fighting knife with a very nice leather sheath. Overall length of this Mark 2 knife is 11 1/2 inches, with a 6 1/2 inch clip-point blade. The markings on the blade are as follows:

This indicates manufacture by Conetta Manufacturing Company of Stamford, Conn., who mostly produced bayonets for the M14 and M16 rifles during the Vietnam Conflict. Conetta only made the Mark 2 from 1968-1970 KA-BAR, so this example is quite rare. The blade marking and straight crossguard are the typical style made during the war. Previously the knives would be marked specifically to the U.S. Navy or Marine Corps. After WWII, there was such a surplus that no additional orders for the knives were made until 1959. Union Cutlery / KA-BAR and Utica received the first orders, with Camillus receiving orders later. 

This knife features original painted leather washer grip, which is in very good condition, with no cracks or splitting, and it has a heavy steel pommel with cross pinned tang. The blade shows quite a bit of wear to the finish, with most of it worn away and replaced by an oxidized patina. However, the factory grind marks can still be seen throughout the blade. It has been sharpened numerous times, especially on the tip, and now is 1/2" shorter due to this. It still has the correct shape however.

The leather sheath is the standard type used with the Mark 2, and is in very good used condition. The leather looks to originally have had a deep brown red "Ox Blood" finish, which was a "special" concoction of advanced fungicide devised by the military. It is mostly worn off the front, but still has a lot present on the back. All of the stitching and rivets are still intact, and it is structurally very sound. The securing strap is intact, and the snap is still functional. This is the typical pattern used during Vietnam, which is very close to the WWII pattern. 

A Very good example of a Vietnam War issues KA-BAR knife, complete with scabbard. No collection is complete without one! Ready to display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 6 1/2"
Blade Style: Clip-point "Bowie" Style
Overall length: 11 1/2“
Crossguard: 2 1/2”
Scabbard Length: 8" with Belt Loop

More on the KA-BAR Knife:
The Mk2 Knife was developed as an improvement over the Mk1 design, which had issues with blade snapping due to the thinner design. Working with Union Cutlery, USMC Colonel John M. Davis and Major Howard E. America contributed several important changes, including a longer, stronger blade, the introduction of a small fuller to lighten the blade, a peened pommel (later replaced by a pinned pommel), a straight (later, slightly curved) steel crossguard, and a stacked leather handle for better grip. The knife was officially known as the 1219C2, but it was commonly called the "Ka-Bar" after the trademark of Union Cutlery that was on the blades of early examples. The first production order went out to Camillus Cutlery Company, who produced the largest number of knives during WWII. The design was subsequently adopted by the Navy as the US Navy Utility Knife, Mark 2, and the USMC adopted it as the USMC Mark 2 Combat Knife, or simply the Knife, Fighting Utility.