USMC Mark II 1992

[kootenay joe]

Here is a Case knife & sheath, 7" blade. Is this strictly a Military issue or are they also sold by Case dealers to the civilian market ?
Did Case make a new run every year, this one being marked 1992 ?
Were they made in large numbers making them common and therefore of low value ?
I will enjoy reading any info about this Case Mark II.
thanks, kj

[tongueriver]

Somebody will chime in that knows something, Roland. It is not me. I am waiting to receive a book from Knife magazine (formerly Knife World) discussing military knives, so I should know more, soon. Meanwhile, I don't think that the '1992' is necessarily a year. I think that knife is much older.

[kootenay joe]

Thank you Calvin: " I don't think that the '1992' is necessarily a year. I think that knife is much older."
Yes it does look like examples i have seen from WW II. But perhaps the specs for the Military contract have not changed and it is 'recent' ?
kj

[Gunsil]

1992 is the date. These were made for the civilian market. Case never made any MK2 knives for the government. A soldier could buy one and carry it as a private issue knife like all the modern KA-BAR re-issue MK2s, but they were never a GI knife. Case did make the M3, V-42, V44, and the bowie style misnamed V44 and M4 bayonets for the government in WW2 but they like KA-BAR have not had GI contracts since 1945. They also made a line of utility knives (fixed blade) for sale in PX stores for private sale to military men, and Case made a few pocket knife models for military issue during WW2.

[kootenay joe]

Thank you Gunsil. Very clear explanation.
I am surprised that "USMC" can be used on a civilian knife.
kj

[zzyzzogeton]

If you pay a licensing fee to the USMC, they will grant you permission to use the mark. They will vet whatever the product is before they will grant you a marketing license. Knives - yes. Man-bun scrunchies - Not only NO, but HELL NO.

For more details ---- Here's teh official USMC FAQ on the topic.

https://www.hqmc.marines.mil/ousmcc/Uni ... ogram/FAQ/

[kootenay joe]

Thanks zzy, i'm learning a few things here. I still find it surprising that the U.S. Marines sell their name. What next ? USMC cookies ? Pot cookies ?
kj

[eveled]

1992 is the date. These were made for the civilian market. Case never made any MK2 knives for the government. A soldier could buy one and carry it as a private issue knife like all the modern KA-BAR re-issue MK2s, but they were never a GI knife. Case did make the M3, V-42, V44, and the bowie style misnamed V44 and M4 bayonets for the government in WW2 but they like KA-BAR have not had GI contracts since 1945. They also made a line of utility knives (fixed blade) for sale in PX stores for private sale to military men, and Case made a few pocket knife models for military issue during WW2.

One of my favorite knives is a Case made demo knife or MLK knife. It is the standard dimpled stainless steel 4 blade camp knife usually associated with a Camillus but made by others too. Any way the Case one seems to be scarce I bought the only one I’ve ever seen. Fit and finish is exceptional. I think it must have been for private purchase like the mk2.

[kootenay joe]

The Mark II came out during WW II. Surely these were Military issue not private purchase ?
kj

[Gunsil]

Roland, all the original MK2 knives were strictly military issue knives and not available for civilian purchase during the war. Original makers were Camillus, Union Cut/KA-BAR, Robeson, and PAL. Once the war was over the contracts from the government were cancelled and no more were made. Millions had been made and many thousands became available for civilian purchase in what we called "army-navy" stores which sold all kinds of US military surplus goods. I remember buying new MK 2s for about $2-2.50 and used ones for a dollar less. Of course in the same store I bought a surplus Italian Carcano carbine for $3.50 and an Enfield .303 rifle for a whole six dollars. In 1976 KA-BAR began re-making the MK2 and still does so today. Camillus had a later contract for MK2s and so did Ontario knife. Camillus also made one for civilian sales but I am unsure of the dates.

[Gunsil]

eveled, I would be very suspicious of any Case marked Mil-K knives. Have you asked Steve (Knifaholic) about it? Case never did make any on government contract if my memory serves.

[zzyzzogeton]

IIRC, Case actually did make some during WW2 - 4 to be exact, as samples prior to the contracts being authorized. They did NOT get a contract. No one seems to have seen them since submission to thexaming board. How bad were they, I wonder?

[kootenay joe]

When a person enlists in the Military today are they issued any knives as part of their needed equipment ? If so do you know what knives they are issued ?
kj

[knifeaholic]

IIRC, Case actually did make some during WW2 - 4 to be exact, as samples prior to the contracts being authorized. They did NOT get a contract. No one seems to have seen them since submission to thexaming board. How bad were they, I wonder?

Yes that is my understanding...Case made some prototypes in the WWII era and they are RARE. I have heard of them being sold for high $$

Gunsil is 100% correct - Case made a version strictly for the civilian/collector market. My guess is that either Camillus or Ontario made them for Case, since these companies had the tooling.

Attached image from 1992 Case catalog.

Search Ebay and you will find loads of these - not really high $$.

[knifeaholic]

1992 is the date. These were made for the civilian market. Case never made any MK2 knives for the government. A soldier could buy one and carry it as a private issue knife like all the modern KA-BAR re-issue MK2s, but they were never a GI knife. Case did make the M3, V-42, V44, and the bowie style misnamed V44 and M4 bayonets for the government in WW2 but they like KA-BAR have not had GI contracts since 1945. They also made a line of utility knives (fixed blade) for sale in PX stores for private sale to military men, and Case made a few pocket knife models for military issue during WW2.

One of my favorite knives is a Case made demo knife or MLK knife. It is the standard dimpled stainless steel 4 blade camp knife usually associated with a Camillus but made by others too. Any way the Case one seems to be scarce I bought the only one I’ve ever seen. Fit and finish is exceptional. I think it must have been for private purchase like the mk2.

The Case MLK knives were made on contract by Camillus, early 2000's before Camillus went under. Scarce but not super rare.

[eveled]

What you are saying makes sense. However the Case one I have is made much nicer than any of the Camillus ones I own. Too bad Camillus didn’t make them all that nice.

[Sonny-buck]

I wore a sheath knife quite a lot camping and sometimes around the house when I was a boy scout. When I was in the USMC in Vietnam, I wanted a Kabar sheath knife but could never get issued one. For officers, I was told. So a couple years ago I saw this one at my uncle’s house. I told him this story, he handed it to me and said “now you got one”. Not a Kabar and not Vietnam era, but close enough, eh? 7” blade, 9” overall. 1998 date on the blade. Well made and heavy leather sheath.