Overview
On December 9, 1942, amid the onset of World War II, KA-BAR submitted a knife to the United States Marine Corps with the hope that it would become the standard issue for that military branch. Collaborating with the Marine Quartermaster Department, the initial design underwent revisions, leading to the production of an enhanced fighting and utility knife tailored for the Marines.
As the war progressed, USMC KA-BAR knives gained widespread recognition for their quality and abundance, with "KABAR" becoming a colloquial term for this knife pattern, regardless of its manufacturing origin.
The USMC KA-BAR found adoption not only within the Marines but also across the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, and Underwater Demolition Teams. Long after World War II, these knives were unofficially reactivated in subsequent conflicts such as the Korean War, Vietnam War, Desert Storm, and The Global War on Terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In 2019, KA-Bar expanded its horizons by partnering with Spartan Blades, LLC to establish Pineland Cutlery, Inc. This collaboration aimed to fulfill the vision of John Stitt, CEO of both KA-Bar and Pineland Cutlery, to produce an upgraded version of the iconic "KA-BAR" knife, boasting enhanced edge retention, toughness, and corrosion resistance. The result of this endeavor was the Spartan-KA-BAR.
CPM MagnaCut® was the chosen stainless steel for this project. Manufactured by Crucible Industries, a renowned American company specializing in specialty steels, CPM MagnaCut® was specifically developed for the cutlery industry and the exacting needs of discerning cutlers. Spartan Blades, assigned with the task of developing this knife, employed state-of-the-art processes such as CNC machining, deep cryogenic treatment, and PVD coatings.
Please note: A Flat Dark Earth (FDE) coated blade may exhibit streaking or staining when inserted and removed from the black leather sheath due to dye transfer. This is not permanent and can be cleaned with acetone, reoiled (WD40 or light oil), and wiped dry with a clean cloth to restore the original clean coatings finish.
Specifications:
- Knife Name: Spartan-KA-BAR
- Designer(s): KA-BAR Knives®
- Overall Length: 12”
- Blade Length: 7”
- Blade Thickness: 0.165”
- Blade Steel: CPM MagnaCut®
- Blade Hardness: 61-63 HRC
- Blade Style: Fixed, Flat Saber ground Clip Point
- Coating: PVD – Tungsten DLC (Flat Black) or ZrN (Flat Dark Earth)
- Handle Material: Kraton G®
- Butt Cap/Guard: 301 Stainless Steel, PVD – Tungsten DLC (Flat Black)
- Weight: 10.8 OZ (Knife)
Comes with original box, papers, and leather sheath. Has a couple light scuffs, excellent condition otherwise.
