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)
31 Reviews
-
Customer service and quality
I want to update my thoughts on Spartan Blades after recently working with them, because the experience was nothing short of outstanding. The KA-BAR itself is everything you’d expect from Spartan — tough, reliable, and built with real attention to detail. But what impressed me even more was the way the company handled things when I reached out about a sheath issue. Instead of giving me the runaround or treating it like a hassle, Spartan Blades responded quickly and with genuine professionalism. They made sure the problem was completely resolved, and they went above and beyond to ensure I was satisfied. That kind of response shows a company that doesn’t just stand behind its products, but truly cares about the people who use them. In today’s world, a lot of companies talk about “quality” and “customer service,” but few actually deliver on both. Spartan Blades sets the standard — not only in the craftsmanship of their knives, but in the way they treat their customers. It’s rare to find that combination, and it makes me even more confident in continuing to support them. If you’re considering Spartan Blades, know that you’re not only getting a high-quality knife, but also the peace of mind that the company behind it is committed to excellence in every way
-
Customer service
I want to update my thoughts on Spartan Blades after recently working with them, because the experience was nothing short of outstanding. The KA-BAR itself is everything you’d expect from Spartan — tough, reliable, and built with real attention to detail. But what impressed me even more was the way the company handled things when I reached out about a sheath issue. Instead of giving me the runaround or treating it like a hassle, Spartan Blades responded quickly and with genuine professionalism. They made sure the problem was completely resolved, and they went above and beyond to ensure I was satisfied. That kind of response shows a company that doesn’t just stand behind its products, but truly cares about the people who use them. In today’s world, a lot of companies talk about “quality” and “customer service,” but few actually deliver on both. Spartan Blades sets the standard — not only in the craftsmanship of their knives, but in the way they treat their customers. It’s rare to find that combination, and it makes me even more confident in continuing to support them. If you’re considering Spartan Blades, know that you’re not only getting a high-quality knife, but also the peace of mind that the company behind it is committed to excellence in every way
-
Sheath
I carry this blade daily I love it a lot and the only problem was the sheath that came with it the kydex the dangler or the thing that is wrapped around your belt that broke for me after a couple weeks of wearing it I made a leather sheath from not amazing leather and it’s alright but I wish got the leather sheath from spartan blades instead of the kydex other than that this KABAR. Is phenomenal I would recommend getting that blade any day especially from spartan the quality and work that went into it is beautiful so thank you
-
Knife is very sharp and the leather sheath is a sharp addition the weight and size is very close to my k-bar I wore in the Marines in 1980s and 1990s
a cut above the rest
-
Best KaBar Design Knife Available
Finally a KaBar blade with a highly premium steel built for edge retention and not just toughness. This knife should be in a display case, but that would be disrespectful since it is built to be used. Other KaBar blades I have owned were cheaper steels like D2, and have to be maintained by sharpening and oiling regularly. This one holds its edge like no other KaBar I have owned. The only odd thing is the grip on this one. It has a different grip to it than my leather KaBar grips. You just can't beat the quality of this KaBar Design Knife. It is leaps and bounds above other cheaper blades.
-
KaBar
Very nice knife! Bought as a collector item only. Nice modern upgrade.
-
Best Made Ka-bar
This is the best-made Ka-Bar. Best ever in fact, at least to this point in History. I believe it to be well-worth the price. I have two and love them both. I'm a little traditional, so I prefer the black blade the best. Nevertheless, I have both. Originally, the name of the knife was "Knife: fighting, utility". And that is and should be the use of this style knife. I can't say enough good about Spartan Blades. I've wanted one for years. I love mine. Buy yourself a couple. You will never regret it.
-
Spartan kabar
Excellent knife quality. Sheath of high quality , but extremely tight. Even after loosening screws, I had to use rubber mallet to get it to release. I am hoping that this will improve with use.
-
Best Ka-Bar Ever
This is the finest Ka-Bar ever made to this point in History. I think it's worth the investment. I'm thinking about buying another.
-
Excellent Blade
I had a Ka Bar from Spartan a couple of years back and stupidly sold it. I wont make that mistake again. Just received another. You cannot beat this blade for utility or heaven forbid for an altercation. As I understand it the Magnacut blade is the finest knife steel available. Buy this knife!!
