The American Blade Cover saluted the Marines’ bicentennial in grand fashion.
A half-century ago, the November-December issue of The American Blade recognized the 200th birthday of the United States Marine Corps with a special commemorative KA-BAR U.S.M.C. fighting/utility knife on the cover.
Paired with the iconic image of U.S. Marines inching their way up the beaches of Iwo Jima during the titanic struggle to take the island from the Japanese during World War II, the cover knife featured a blade with “gold accents” that included the Corps’ founding date of 10 November and 1775-1975, oak leaf patterns and 200th Anniversary under United States Marine Corps in script.
The commemorative’s “top quality leather handle” was an exact duplicate of the handle on the original 1941-45 issue knife. The commemoratives were made in a limited edition of 2,500 with individual MSRPs of $300 for knives serial numbered two through 49, $200 for serial numbers 50 to 99, $150 for serial numbers 100-199, and $100 for serial numbers 200 and up.
More Knife History:
- Walter “Blackie” Collins: Applying The Edge To BLADE Magazine
- American Knives: Legendary Designs From The Land Of The Free
- Antique Switchblades: World War II And Beyond
NEXT STEP: Download Your Free KNIFE GUIDE Issue of BLADE Magazine
BLADE’s annual Knife Guide Issue features the newest knives and sharpeners, plus knife and axe reviews, knife sheaths, kit knives and a Knife Industry Directory.Get your FREE digital PDF instant download of the annual Knife Guide. No, really! We will email it to you right now when you subscribe to the BLADE email newsletter.
