The Ka Bar knife was used by braches of the US military. The United States Marine Corps, and the United States Navy. This knife was a utility and or fighting knife. Ka Bar is also a related manufacturing company known for the same 1-¾ inch utility and fighting Bowie knife. The standard knife is about 7 inches. All thought Ka Bar has many different size knives 7 inches is what they are known for. It is made from 1095 carbon steel and the handle is normally made from leather washers. Sometimes it can be made out of a non slip rubber called Kraton.
Ka Bar got its name after a letter that was written to them. It was a very poorly written letter. The author of the letter said how one of there knives saved his life when he was attacked by a bear and his gun was not able to kill it. The only thing that they where able to read was "k a bar" and the knife manufacturer choose to use this as there name. Ka Bar got its break in World War II when the knives the Marines where not what they where looking for so the Marine Corps bought knives for many different knives companies. Quickly rising to the top of the favorites was the Ka Bar knives. It was chosen as the knife that they would continue to purchase. after the War it continued to be issued out to the Marines. The shape that the knives are now as decided on by the Marine Corps. They chose to have a longer blade for combat, a smaller fuller to lighten up the blade, guard and pommel where finished in a non reflective black or gray, instead of the very reflective original polished steel. At the time of World War II millions of these knives where made and by many companies. Case knives, Camillus cutlery, and Ontario Knife Company. The good thing about these knives is they where inexpensive to make, and because of this very easy to replace, and more than adequate for most things. It was used for diving as well, all thought it broke down very quickly in the saltwater. Some forms of this knife are still very popular with outdoor sportsmen like hunters, hikers, and fishermen. Whey are also very popular with the U.S. military.
Originally the company that made Ka Bars was called the Tidioute Cutlery Company. This company was founded in 1897. After its collapse it was taken over and renamed the Union Cutlery Company and then at last renamed to what wee know today the Ka Bar Cutlery Inc. The company calls Olean New York home. Later in 1996 the Alcas Corporation, the parent company of Cutco bought Ka Bar.
