Military issue Ka-bar switchblade... Fact or fiction?

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effengee

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Recently I had an friend of mine tell me that his friend is in the Vermont National Guard and that he was issued a combat Ka-bar that was an automatic knife or what I always used to call a switchblade, Mmmm Hmm. :D
He vehemently swore that it said Ka-bar on the blade and was issued to the troops directly for combat with their other gear and that they are supposed to return the knife when they get back but that this guy kept his and smuggled it home.

The story reeked of B.S. but I didn't want to embarass him until I was sure.
I did a search of the web after I talked to the guy but I didn't turn up anything so here I am...
I'm no knife expert, and I'm a novice military buff, but I'm pretty sure the ANG doesn't issue switchblades to the troops, or do they?

Thanks in advance for you time.

PS I asked about a dozen questions but this kid seemed adamant that what his friend has is a Ka-bar issued automatic knife.
 
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Units may issue knives that are not general issue. It's not uncommon for a unit to issue pocket knives, especially ones purchased by unit funds, or donated by a sponsor.

Part of the story sounds unlikely, but it's not unlikely that (1)the soldier was issued an automatic knife, and (2)it was made by another company, not Kabar. I'm not aware of a Kabar auto.

But I've been wrong.

John
 
I think I recall some paratrooper knives being auto, but not sure. I've seen some in catalogs that gave a FSN (Fed. Stock #) to be ordered by the military.

I have a gravity knife that was issued to airborne troops, but they were Germans, and it's WWII vintage. :rolleyes:
 
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Yeah, I had to take a call, but I was going to suggest that it might have actually been a Benchmade. It's also possible that the troop was issued some sort of assisted opener. Benchmade is a popular knife brand, and does make some of these.
 
The story reeked of B.S.
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It is.

KaBar hasn't made a switchblade in a loooong time since the days of the Grizzly and Lever models and doesn't today.

Is this guy's buddy supposed to be some old vet or is he another youngster?
 
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The only part that really makes no sense is the maker- the rest isn't especially farfetched.
 
John, I agree. Plenty of guys with switchblades being issued to them in theater (that they're expected to turn back in) these days from Benchmade and Gerber. Heck, even Spyderco makes an auto now.

Not from Ka-Bar, but that's no surprise since they don't make one.
 
Where do you put the spring? Since the blade is as wide as the handle, how does it retract?

I don't think there every was a switch blade Kabar.

WWII Kabar below Replica Kabar

ModernKabarnexttoUSNMKIIbyKabar.gif
 
We were told in theater that we couldn't ship any auto knives back. In fact, anything that *looked* like it might be issue gear was a no-go, even if it was in fact personally owned.
 
I don't think there every was a switch blade Kabar.
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You are thinking of only one Ka-Bar knife model.

Ka-Bar has made many,many types of knives . Including autos.

As hso already stated..

KaBar hasn't made a switchblade in a loooong time since the days of the Grizzly and Lever
Click to expand...

Way back before the laws changed almost every major knife company offered autos. The original "one hand opener".

They weren't always "evil" knives.
 
Slamfire1,

Ka-Bar is a company that has produced knives for decades. They produced a few switchblade knives (one of which is so unique that the mechanism is referred to as the "Grizzly mechanism").

What is called a "KaBar" knife is actually a USMC Fighting Utility Knife or a USN Mk2 knife. First made by Camillus, it was made by several companies, Ka-Bar included.
 
I would like to have been in one of these units that issued all these rad knives when I was in the USMC. The only knife I got issued was my bayonet, and other than playing mumbelty peg, it pretty much sucked. I had to buy my own Kabar, even.
 
Why does the military not let people bring back auto openers? I've have a auto opening Benchmade on the desk in front of me right now and carry it every day. My girlfriends mom bought it for me from a downtown store.

If they are commercially available at sporting goods stores why does the armed forces care?
 
We were not allowed to *ship* autos out. The "smuggle" part of the original story would have to do with keeping unit property, though I believe all the units I've been aware of, gave the pocket knives to the troops: they weren't an accountable item.
 
Yep. Most of the major knife companies made autos before the fetid congress critters decided they were the tools of gangs and thugs especially made for murder and mayhem. Of course, the facts didn't really bear that out, but, when did the facts ever stop congress critters from enacting stoopid legislation?:cuss:

I remember seeing a couple of .gov issue switchblades when I was in the USMC. One had orange and the other had black phenolic handles and each had about 3 1/2" blades. They were issued to technicians and/or dirt darts, IIRC.
Man, middle age is not being kind to my memory. Jeez...:eek:
 
Prior to the Gulf War the autos issued by the US military were the MC-1 survival folders with the orange plastic scales. They went to pilots and parachute troops. They had a shroud line cutter that was manual and a clip point blade that was auto. It always seemed strange that the auto part was the knife instead of the shroud cutter.
ItemGraphicA731.gif


John makes an interesting point in that the Gerbers and Benchmades being given to troops may not exactly be "issued". They're not part of the equipment profile for anyone but paras and pilots so they may not be issue items.
 
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Why does the military not let people bring back auto openers? I've have a auto opening Benchmade on the desk in front of me right now and carry it every day. My girlfriends mom bought it for me from a downtown store.

If they are commercially available at sporting goods stores why does the armed forces care?
Click to expand...

If you live in Arizona or South Dakota or Idaho it's not a big deal... in any other state they are either illegal, or cannot be concealed without a CWP.
 
The military doesn't allow you to bring them back because importation of any auto is a customs violation, illegal. You have to have a US sales receipt or invoice showing you bought it in the US to comply with the law.
 
HEY! Thanks for the pics, hso! Haven't seen one of those in ~30 years.
Now, I'm wondering who has the current contract for making them since Camillus went belly up a couple of years ago.:( That was truly sad for me because they made a wonderful array of knives from Becker's to outstanding collaborations with well known knife makers like Darrel Ralph. They also made an excellent version of the "KABAR".
 
I just spoke with Eighth and I. I could sense the ol' Master Gunnery Sgt. smiling a little over the phone. His reply was "Probably not tomorrow and certainly not today"....
 
The military doesn't allow you to bring them back because importation of any auto is a customs violation, illegal.
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Sort of true...that applies to privately owned autos. Many units today mass purchase auto-openers (like Benchmade) for issue to their troops. Prior to return from deployment, the unit SJA ("JAG") can produce a Theater authorized memo, signed by the commander of a battalion level (or equivalent type unit), which describes a roster of personnel issued the knife by the unit and authorized to return with said blade. Essentially, the authorization says that the knives (and occasionally ASP-type batons) are military property (and may not be confiscated). The memo is held until the unit clears US Customs and generally given to the inspection supervisor. Happens every week in Kuwait and other locations.

I was under the impression that the military bypassed customs..
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Military members returning from combat most assuredly do process through a very stringent US Customs inspection (often conducted by Military Police from any of the Services who are "deputized" as US Customs Agents). This procedure normally occurs before leaving theater and arriving in the US. All containers, bags, baggage, and individual person are inspected in detail (as in... remove everything from your bags, walk through wands, dogs, metal detectors, etc.). It's probably one of the least pleasant aspects of an end to a combat tour...hundreds of Sailors, Marines, Soldiers, and Airmen herded like sheep through a lengthy inspection and then into a sanitized post inspection holding area. They then wait many hours for for outbound transport. You can bring back your Bowie knife with no paperwork, but not a little 3" auto (unless you have a command generated authorizing memo).
 
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