On December 9, 1942, amid the onset of World War II, KA-BAR submitted a knife to the United States Marine Corps with the hope that it would become the standard issue for that military branch. Collaborating with the Marine Quartermaster Department, the initial design underwent revisions, leading to the production of an enhanced fighting and utility knife tailored for the Marines.
As the war progressed, USMC KA-BAR knives gained widespread recognition for their quality and abundance, with "KABAR" becoming a colloquial term for this knife pattern, regardless of its manufacturing origin.
The USMC KA-BAR found adoption not only within the Marines but also across the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, and Underwater Demolition Teams. Long after World War II, these knives were unofficially reactivated in subsequent conflicts such as the Korean War, Vietnam War, Desert Storm, and The Global War on Terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In 2019, KA-Bar expanded its horizons by partnering with Spartan Blades, LLC to establish Pineland Cutlery, Inc. This collaboration aimed to fulfill the vision of John Stitt, CEO of both KA-Bar and Pineland Cutlery, to produce an upgraded version of the iconic "KA-BAR" knife, boasting enhanced edge retention, toughness, and corrosion resistance. The result of this endeavor was the Spartan-KA-BAR.
CPM MagnaCut® was the chosen stainless steel for this project. Manufactured by Crucible Industries, a renowned American company specializing in specialty steels, CPM MagnaCut® was specifically developed for the cutlery industry and the exacting needs of discerning cutlers. Spartan Blades, assigned with the task of developing this knife, employed state-of-the-art processes such as CNC machining, deep cryogenic treatment, and PVD coatings.
Please note: A Flat Dark Earth (FDE) coated blade may exhibit streaking or staining when inserted and removed from the black leather sheath due to dye transfer. This is not permanent and can be cleaned with acetone, reoiled (WD40 or light oil), and wiped dry with a clean cloth to restore the original clean coatings finish.
Specifications:
- Knife Name: Spartan-KA-BAR
- Designer(s): KA-BAR Knives®
- Overall Length: 12”
- Blade Length: 7”
- Blade Thickness: 0.165”
- Blade Steel: CPM MagnaCut®
- Blade Hardness: 61-63 HRC
- Blade Style: Fixed, Flat Saber ground Clip Point
- Coating: PVD – Tungsten DLC (Flat Black) or ZrN (Flat Dark Earth)
- Handle Material: Kraton G®
- Butt Cap/Guard: 301 Stainless Steel, PVD – Tungsten DLC (Flat Black)
- Weight: 10.8 OZ (Knife)
21 Reviews
-
Spartan Kabar
I got the all blacked out versions, and I absolutely love it. They fixed the issue with the weak tang and weak steel. It’s in magnacut and just simply has a way better tang. I’ve dug this knife through tires, brush, whole nine yards, and it has held up perfectly. Only complaint I have is with the sheath but that doesn’t matter a whole lot to me a I mostly use this as a backpack mounted knife
-
Magnacut Ka-Bar
Beautiful knife and excellent craftsmanship. The customer service was great from them emailing when it was shipped and expected, to a hand written note in the box. Not only will I recommend this company to others, but I’ll be buying from them again for sure.
-
Spartan Ka-bar
Slowly becoming one of my favorite knives that I own. Especially, if you’re a fan of the Mark II. The quality is absolutely outstanding.. cannot say enough good things about the blade, simply remarkable craftsmanship. Should’ve bought two!! Fantastic job, spartan blades.
-
Killer knife!!!
The Spartan Ka-bar is one of my favorite fixes blades. Punches well above its weight class. I really like the FDE option because I wanted something different, has a great handle/plenty grippy, and at a great price!!!
-
USMC Fighting Utility Knife
The Spartan/KA-BAR version of the USMC Fighting Utility knife is the highest quality manufacture version of this classic on the market. Made in the USA using the premium steel Magnacut, this blade will hold an edge and remain tough even in corrosive environments. As a U.S. Marine a have a small collection of this fighting utility knife, but the Spartan-KA-BAR is the one that is now the field user. The excellent Kydex sheath matches the design of the traditional leather sheath by where the belt attachment loop is positioned. The Kydex provides a secure retention yet still assessable deployment of the knife. The knife and sheath are an integrated system. Modern premium materials with traditional design make this a masterpiece.
-
Leather sheath.
I just left a review but also if you can have Chattanooga leather works make a sheath for this in brown that would be that the cherry on the cake.
-
The Ka-bar we’ve always wanted
I’ve been in the Marine Corps for 20+ years. I always wanted a Ka-bar but just couldn’t get over the fact that it was a sub-$100 knife that at some point was made in another country so I never bought one. I’ve used the Spartan Harsey folder for years and have a Difensa on my war belt and they are without a doubt a working man’s knife. So when I found out Spartan Blades my favorite knife was producing a premium version made entirely in the US i jumped on it. I felt like I was just paying my electric or water bill it’s a resource. Got it in today and it’s about as good as it gets for a USMC fighting knife sans a authentic K-bar used in WW2, Korea, or Vietnam however those are not available everyday and even then it’s a relics that deserves a display. I am absolutely going to abuse this bad boy. However to the guys at spartan if you ever decide to to a stacked leather handle and polished pommel please offer it as a “send your knife back for upgrade”. It’s easily worth $100+ for that service.
-
The Ka-bar we’ve always wanted
I’ve been in the Marine Corps for 20+ years. I always wanted a Ka-bar but just couldn’t get over the fact that it was a sub-$100 knife that at some point was made in another country so I never bought one. I’ve used the Spartan Harsey folder for years and have a Difensa on my war belt and they are without a doubt a working man’s knife. So when I found out Spartan Blades my favorite knife was producing a premium version made entirely in the US i jumped on it. I felt like I was just paying my electric or water bill it’s a resource. Got it in today and it’s about as good as it gets for a USMC fighting knife sans a authentic K-bar used in WW2, Korea, or Vietnam however those are not available everyday and even then it’s a relics that deserves a display. I am absolutely going to abuse this bad boy. However to the guys at spartan if you ever decide to to a stacked leather handle and polished pommel please offer it as a “send your knife back for upgrade”. It’s easily worth $100+ for that service.
-
Spartan-KA-BAR FDE
Excellent describes this the best. Great feel & weight. Congrats on a job Well Done.
-
Not Surprised
I'm not surprised this blade sold out so quickly. I'm just glad I ordered mine when I did. This is a fantastic knife. Slightly heavier, I think, than a regular ka bar and I really like the kraton handle. I don't know anything about Magnacut, but the proportions of this blade are are about as close in my opinion as a knife can get to perfection.. Spartan has made an iconic blade even more iconic.
