A working guide to military knives and blades.

The fighting / utility distinction

Most "military knives" are dual purpose. The USMC KA-BAR Mark 2, adopted in 1942, was built as a fighting and utility knife simultaneously, strong enough to pry, sharp enough to cut, with a heavy clip point useful for both roles. Pure fighting knives (V-42, Fairbairn-Sykes) trade utility for thrust geometry.

Common field knives you'll see

KA-BAR (USMC, USN), MK3 Mod 0 (US Navy SEALs), Ontario M7 bayonet, M9 bayonet, Gerber Mark II (Vietnam era commercial military), Pilot survival knife (USAF). Each has identifying marks, manufacturer, contract era, sometimes a unit stamp.

Bayonets vs. knives

A bayonet is built to mount on a rifle. It will have a muzzle ring on the guard and a locking mechanism on the grip. Bayonets often double as utility knives in the field but are typically heavier and less ergonomic than purpose built combat knives.

Reading the ricasso

The ricasso (the unsharpened flat between the guard and the edge) is where manufacturers stamp marks. KA-BAR, Camillus, Ontario, Imperial, Utica, each has decades of marks. Bossert's knife case is sorted by manufacturer and era; we can identify almost any US contract blade from the ricasso alone.

Care

Carbon steel blades (most pre 1990 USGI) will patina and rust. Oil after every use. Stainless blades (later issue) are more forgiving. Sheaths: leather sheaths kept oiled with mink oil, kydex sheaths just need a wipe down.