Customizing a USMC KaBar

hdryden

hdryden

Joined
May 24, 2014
Messages
4
Hi all,

I've been a member of the forum for a little while but a silent observer. As a Marine no longer on active duty and married to my wife of 27yrs who is a retired Marine I feel we've been remiss in not having at least one USMC KaBar in the house. I'm the knife lover, outdoorsman and she is the cook... I suppose she could use it for cooking lol. My question is this, is there anyone on this forum that could 'customize' the KaBar for me? By that I mean, replace the guard and pommel with Damascus and maybe replace the handle material? Any thoughts suggestions are much appreciated.
 
My first thought is to get in contact with a fellow marine, Charlie Mike Charlie Mike , and go from there.

Not saying Matt can do exactly what you're asking for but definitely start there and see where it leads!

(I've tagged him so he should see this thread)
 
LOL, army infantryman... Not a Marine.

Sadly, those are mods I can't do.
 
Some years back the late Chuck Karwan modified a Ka-Bar into a KAR-bar, with a few simple changes you could do yourself. First he drilled a lanyard hole in the butt cap, something you probably do not need to do for a knife to be used in the kitchen. The other two modifications were to cut off the top part of the guard, and to carefully grind the leather washers to a more Oval shape, instead of the production round handle. The last two modifications would make the knife a lot more Kitchen friendly than a stock Ka-Bar. John
 
Thanks for the replies. I think I was a little unclear.. this would not be for the wife to use in the kitchen.. was my attempt at inserting some humor. This would be to have a 'custom' KaBar that's just a little different than what my other USMC friends have.
 
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/damascus-kabar.1258537/

rT7I2IU.jpg
 
John A. Larsen said:
Some years back the late Chuck Karwan modified a Ka-Bar into a KAR-bar, with a few simple changes you could do yourself. First he drilled a lanyard hole in the butt cap, something you probably do not need to do for a knife to be used in the kitchen. The other two modifications were to cut off the top part of the guard, and to carefully grind the leather washers to a more Oval shape, instead of the production round handle. The last two modifications would make the knife a lot more Kitchen friendly than a stock Ka-Bar. John
Click to expand...
Is a photo or photos of these modifications available? Where these can be found?
 
John A. Larsen said:
Some years back the late Chuck Karwan modified a Ka-Bar into a KAR-bar, with a few simple changes you could do yourself. First he drilled a lanyard hole in the butt cap, something you probably do not need to do for a knife to be used in the kitchen. The other two modifications were to cut off the top part of the guard, and to carefully grind the leather washers to a more Oval shape, instead of the production round handle. The last two modifications would make the knife a lot more Kitchen friendly than a stock Ka-Bar. John
Click to expand...

Here's mine from the early '90s. As I recall, I read about it somewhere. Lanyard hole in pommel. level sighting hole in upper guard, plumb bob string notches in blade spine, and clinometers in blade.

USMC%2520KABAR%2520Cleaned%2520Up%2520With%2520Sheath.JPG

USMC%2520KABAR%2520Lanyard%2520Hole.JPG
 
Girlymann, thanks for finding that Blast from the past. I knew Chuck Karwan since I first met him in 1972 in the 10th SFGA. Regardless of what is said in the first part of that posting, the ideas for the modification of the Ka-bar into a KAR-bar were 100% Chuck's ideas, PERIOD. John
 
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I really appreciate all the links and comments on this. It's definitely given me some options! Thanks again to everyone for the input.
 
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