The KA-BAR USMC is the American fighting and utility knife issued to the United States Marine Corps in World War II, made today in Olean, New York, with a 7" black-coated 1095 Cro-Van carbon steel clip point blade and a stacked leather handle. These versions come with a hard black glass-filled nylon sheath that is MOLLE compatible, and they are offered here with a straight edge or a partially serrated edge.

Short & Sweet

• Manufacturer: KA-BAR Knives, Inc., Olean, New York
• Overall length: 11.875"
• Blade: 7" 1095 Cro-Van carbon steel clip point, black epoxy powder coat, approx. 58 HRC
• Blade thickness: 0.165"
• Edge options: Straight (5017) or partially serrated (5018)
• Handle: Stacked leather with steel guard and pommel
• Tang stamp: USMC
• Sheath: Black glass-filled nylon hard sheath, MOLLE compatible
• Weight: Approx. 0.7 lb
• Country of origin: USA
• Condition: New

The Knife That Went Ashore With the Marines

When the US entered World War II, the Marine Corps needed a tough, all-purpose combat knife to replace the mix of blades its men were carrying. In 1942 the Corps adopted the design from Union Cutlery of Olean, New York, and it was issued as the "Fighting Utility Knife" alongside Marines from Guadalcanal to Okinawa. Marines used it for everything from close combat to opening ration cans and digging foxholes, and the company's KA-BAR trademark became the everyday name for the knife itself. More than 80 years later it remains in production on the same pattern, with each blade tang stamped "USMC," and it is still one of the most recognized military knives in the world.

1095 Cro-Van Steel & Stacked Leather

The blade is 1095 Cro-Van, a high carbon steel with added chromium and vanadium for toughness and edge holding, hardened to about 58 HRC. It is 0.165" thick with a flat grind and the traditional fuller along the spine side, and its black epoxy powder coat reduces glare and protects the carbon steel from rust. The handle is built from compressed leather washers, a WWII-era design that gives a warm, secure grip in cold weather and with sweaty or wet hands. The steel guard keeps your hand off the edge during hard use, and the pommel can serve as a light hammer. The hard sheath carries the knife vertically or horizontally and mounts to belts or MOLLE webbing.

Beyond the Battlefield

Plenty of KA-BAR owners have never served; they buy it because it is a proven, affordable general-purpose fixed blade. Campers use it to chop and split firewood, then turn around and butcher meat for dinner over the same fire, and hunters lean on it for heavier processing jobs like quartering. The 7" blade and full-size handle also make it a dependable truck, farm, or boat knife. The hard sheath is a practical upgrade over leather for anyone working in wet conditions, since it won't soak up water or trap moisture against the blade. At its price, it costs less than many newer survival knives without the history or the long service record.

Straight Edge or Serrated?

The straight edge (5017) is the classic KA-BAR configuration, easiest to sharpen and best for slicing, carving, and food prep. The partially serrated edge (5018) adds teeth near the guard that cut through synthetic and looped materials like rope, webbing, and strapping more easily, while keeping a plain edge toward the tip for general cutting.