https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ka-BarAfter their first combat, many Marines in the 2nd Raider Battalion exchanged their Raider stilettos for
No. 17 and No. 18 Collins general-purpose short machetes (machetes pequeños) purchased with unit funds.[11] The Collins machetes,[12] which superficially resembled a large Bowie knife, were also issued to some Army air crews as part of the Jungle Emergency Sustenance Kit of 1939.[11]
In the absence of suitable official-issue knives, a number of Marines deploying for combat in 1942 obtained their personal knives through private purchase, usually hunting/utility patterns such as
Western States Cutlery Co.'s pre-war L76 and L77 pattern knives, both of which had 7-inch (180 mm) Bowie type clip blades and leather handles.[2] The Western States L77 was stocked at the San Diego Base Exchange at the onset of the war, and knives of this pattern were carried by many Marines in the 1st Marine Division as well as by Marine Raiders in the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion commanded by Lt. Col. Evans F. Carlson.[2][10]
In response to a specification requesting a modern individual fighting knife design for the U.S. Marines, ordnance and quartermaster officials requested submissions from several military knife and tool suppliers to develop a suitable fighting and utility knife for individual Marines, using the U.S. Navy Mark 1 utility knife and existing civilian hunting/utility knives such as
Western's L77 as a basis for further improvements.[1]
Working with Union Cutlery, USMC Colonel John M. Davis and Major Howard E. America contributed several important changes, including a longer, stronger blade, the introduction of a small fuller to lighten the blade, a peened pommel (later replaced by a pinned pommel), a straight (later, slightly curved) steel crossguard, and a stacked leather handle for better grip.[1][2]
The blade, guard, and pommel were Parkerized instead of the bright polished steel of the prototype.[1] The design was given the designation of 1219C2[1] The knife used a thicker blade stock than that of the USN Mark 1 utility knife, and featured a clip point.[1] After extensive trials, the prototype was recommended for adoption.[13] The Marines' Quartermaster at the time initially refused to order the knives, but his decision was overruled by the Commandant.[14][15][16] The Marine Corps adopted the knife on November 23, 1942.[2]
