Description
WW2 PAL USN MK2 fighting knife red spacer type with US NAVY-designated blade, early model treaded pommel, original NORD composition scabbard. Rare early-production fighter in very good 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 USN-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 is the hard-to-find first-issue “red spacer” type – only the early-production knives had fancy colored fiber spacer; these were quickly done away with to simplify the wartime production and reduce costs. In 1940 PAL Cutlery has purchased the cutlery division of Remington Arms and moved old Remington equipment and knife stock to Holyoke, MA. Not to miss a good business opportunity, PAL had re-purposed old Remington blades as “private purchase” fighting knives for the American GIs and began manufacturing knives using the left-over stock parts with the Remington emblem (RH stands for Remington Hunter). These “PAL-RH” knives were quite popular with the troops and many thousands were sold.
This specimen is in very good overall condition, considering the age; all early early US Navy-designated “red spacer” Mark 2s are pretty hard to find nowadays. This MK2 is about 12″ / 30.5 cm overall; the blade is about 6-7/8″ / 17.5 cm long. The knife is used but it’s in better than average condition for the type. The blade has not been cleaned, it’s razor-sharp still, including the “false” upper edge; the end of the tip is nicked. The blade has surface rust near the top from poor storage – looks like salt water exposure to me (cleanable). Ricasso is stamped PAL RH-37 . MADE IN USA 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; the guard and the top spacer have a bit of a play; no typical ding marks on the pommel or the spine of the blade – scarce as such.
Original navy-gray NORD composition scabbard was manufactured during the war by Beckwith Manufacturing division of Victory Plastics. Production numbers on the back of the throat indicate June 1944 delivery to the US Navy. The scabbard is in very good overall condition; the webbing is in great shape; no cuts, holes, or mold stains; the keeper is intact and tight; one thin rib crack close to the tip is noted for accuracy. 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 original WW2 PAL USN MK2 fighting knife red spacer type 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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