USMC KA-BAR

[Ridgegrass]

Got this today in a 10 knife deal. Is it legit? Sheath legit? What era? Iron guard and pommel, sheath snap replaced and broken, Blade in good shape, shows use but not abuse. Thanks for any info. I'll trade it or sell it. Not my wheel-house. J.O'.

[Gunsil]

J.O", you got a real WW2 one. Early one, 1943, fat peened pommel. fat grips. WW2 sheath too.

[Ridgegrass]

Thanks Gene. Took a chance in a pawn shop. Just felt right. Wanted to hear it from you. J.O'.

[Gunsil]

Glad to help. It's easy to tell the 1976-now ones from the originals. The re-issues have thicker letters on the blade and all the re-issues have a fat pommel that has a pin going halfway through it. None of the originals with a fat pommel used a pin to secure the pommel and the later originals with a pinned pommel had thinner pommels and the pin went all the way through.

[eveled]

Good info Gunsil. The smaller Ricasso on the originals always jumps out at me too.

[Ridgegrass]

I'm not a fan or player of e-bay. I've been looking today and the range is ridiculous, I won't quote them here, but they are puzzling to a flea-market , second hand store, pawn shop denizen like me. J.O'.