OK, so how is.......

[KevininPa]

.........the pommel on a Kabar military knife attached? I need to remove one. It's a classic USMC seven inch fighter style. Even though I'm ex-Navy I'll return it to good shape (just a jab at the grunts here, just kidding. My Pop was a Marine! We won't go there! Semper Fi to you guys!).
The story is that my in-laws were renting their hunting cabin to a drunken slob. It was time for us to get rid of him (which we did, thank God!), and he left a few things behind. I got to claim a Kabar in the clean-out.
The sheath was so moldy it literally fell apart. When I got home I actually used Dawn and a scrubby sponge to clean the knife and handle it was so moldy. One third of the leather handle completely disintegrated! Another third is not far away. But the blade is in great shape! Just some surface rust and a sharp edge! Some discoloring but no pitting! Can you tell I'm excited by the exclamation points!
So now you know why I want to remove the pommel. I also noticed some steel between the leather spacers(?) when it fell apart, but those are no problem, I can deal with those. I'm not super concerned with preserving the pommel. This looks like a fun project. I can use some sites for handle supplies, though the aged red oak in my barn will definitely have a use. Spacer, guard and fastening materials are needed.
I was never one for posting pictures , but I guess I'll have to learn for this one. Have Dremel will Travel!

 

[theotherwaldo]

Having broken a few, I can tell you that most are cross-pinned in place. The true Ka-Bars tend to conceal the pin in the pommel's finish, but other knife makers (like Camillus) leave the pin visible, like the example below (from somebody's sales site):

 

[Beelzy]

IIRC, it is also a Blind pin. Meaning a drill job to remove it.

If it were mine, I would pack it up and send it to Kabar with a good knife story and they
will fix it up like new. Probably for free if the story sounds believable.

 

[theotherwaldo]

-I've usually managed to shear the pin while doing something stupid - like using the pommel as a hammer. I suspect that the pins are blind (as Beelzy says above), but the ones I've dealt with weren't hardened and sheared like a small finishing nail.

 

[hso]

Is it actually a KaBar made knife or are you using the term in the generic sense for any of the USMC Fighting/Utility Knife//USN MkII knives?

As to KaBar fixing it up, maybe. For free? For a knife with a rotted grip found in a trash clean out? Not much reason for them to do that.

 

[KevininPa]

"If it were mine, I would pack it up and send it to Kabar with a good knife story and they
will fix it up like new. Probably for free if the story sounds believable."

Beelzy, I doubt if that will work for a rotten grip. Even my gift of gab can't concoct a good enough story for this handle! Think maybe the old " my dog ate it" will work?


"Is it actually a KaBar made knife or are you using the term in the generic sense for any of the USMC Fighting/Utility Knife//USN MkII knives?"

I believe it's the real deal hso. You could still make the BAR part of Kabar on the sheath and the blade is stamped KA-BAR, Olean NY above the handguard.
USMC on the other side.

 

[Beelzy]

Dudes!

Any Amercian knife maker will fix or repair or even replace a knife that makes it back to
them. Seriously.

I have sent Buck folders in with NO blades because they broke off, and gotten new
replacements. Same for Kershaw, I sent TWO knives that folks had broken the tips off of
(obviously voiding warranty), they sent me new knives to replace them. Try it, you will
be surprised.

Buying American still has some perks.

(PS. Knife dealer so I know how they work)

 

[hso]

Ka-Bar pinned the butt cap to the tang so you should be able to drive the pin out and replace the washers from any knife supply store.

Beelzy, I've been dealing with knife manufacturers for over 30 years. You may have had good luck with new knives that have been broken, but a 10+ year old knife that has been abused may or may not get fixed. I'd call and ask, but I wouldn't bet on it. OTOH, they may repair it for a nominal fee and that beats trying to compress those washers yourself.

 

[KevininPa]

Checked out the Ka-Bar site

They'll replace a knife that broke or suggest someone to repair it if it is not an obvious factory defect. Guess I'll take a look at this blade and make plans. But first on to "Search"............

 

[Beelzy]