Description
WW2 PAL MK2 fighting knife, rare USN “red spacer” type; original early issue all-leather scabbard is GI-signed BRIDGES. Scarce type in great overall condition, considering the age.
Original WW2 era famous US Navy Mark 2 “Ka-Bar” fighting knife (the link is a courtesy of Wikipedia) manufactured early in the war by PAL Cutlery. This is the scarce and desirable early-production “red spacer” type Mark 2 with the scarce US NAVY designated blade. MK2 is a classic American WW2 era fighting knife; this type was used in combat by the US Army and the Navy men alike in all theaters of the War.
This MK2 is the hard-to-find first-issue “red spacer” type – only the very early production MK2s came with leather scabbards and red fiber spacers handles. Fancy colored fiber spacers were quickly done away with to simplify the wartime production and reduce costs. Also, early leather scabbards were too fragile in the field – the leather would simply rot away after contact with seawater. Moving forward, the US armed forces procurement had quickly replaced the leather with the more durable composite composition scabbards. This specimen is in great overall condition, considering the age. An early US Marine Corps-designated Mark 2 “red spacer” with original and correct all-leather sheath is VERY hard to find nowadays.
This MK2 is about 12-1/4″ / 31 cm overall; the blade is about 7″ / 17.8 cm long. The knife is only slightly used; the edge is factory-original – this specimen is in better than average condition for the type. The blade has not been cleaned or re-sharpened, it’s razor-sharp still, including the “false” upper edge; the tip is intact. Ricasso is stamped PAL / RH-37 on one side and U.S. NAVY on the other. Stacked leather washers handle with red and black fiber spacers on both ends. An early double-thickness threaded round hammer-like steel pommel and slightly curved handguard. The handle is tight; all parts are solid with no play; no typical ding marks on the pommel or nicks on the spine of the blade – rare as such.
Original all-leather scabbard is in very good condition, considering the typical wear and tear in the field. The original keeper, staples and stitching are intact. The leather is a bit stiff with a few dryness-related scuff marks but it’s in very good overall condition. A couple of scratches on the front panel are noted for accuracy; the throat is stamped BRIDGES in large letters that obviously were made by standard lettering dies. During the war most of MK2s were used in the field as intended; these early “red spacer” MK2s are VERY hard to find – a rare find and a great addition to any collection. This attractive ” red spacer” type WW2 PAL MK2 fighting knife has not been cleaned or tampered with in any way, it is in 100% original “as is” condition. These are the actual photos; spent brass is not included with the lot 😉
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