Spartan Blades Spartan-Ka-Bar Blk Kraton G (7″ Magnacut FDE) SB54DEBKLTBK

On December 9, 1942, KA-BAR submitted a knife to the United States Marine Corps with the hope that it would become standard issue for the military branch. Collaborating with the Marine Quartermaster Department, the original design was refined and production began on an enhanced combat and utility knife specifically for Marines.

During World War II, the USMC KA-BAR knives gained widespread recognition for their exceptional quality and were so plentiful that they became commonly referred to as “KABAR” knives, regardless of whether they were produced at the official KA-BAR facility.

The USMC KA-BAR knife was not only adopted by Marines but also by other branches of the military including the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, and Underwater Demolition Teams. In subsequent years after World War II, many KA-BAR knives were informally recommissioned during conflicts such as Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan in The Global War on Terrorism.

In 2019, KA-Bar took a significant step forward by partnering with Spartan Blades, LLC to establish Pineland Cutlery, Inc. This venture was driven by the vision of John Stitt, CEO of both KA-Bar and Pineland Cutlery, who sought to create an enhanced version of the iconic “KA-BAR” knife. The goal was to improve edge retention, toughness, and corrosion resistance.

During the research and development phase, a metallurgist named Larrin Thomas made significant breakthroughs in his studies on a particle metal that possessed all the desired qualities. This remarkable steel was none other than CPM MagnaCut®, manufactured by Crucible Industries. Crucible Industries is highly regarded for its specialization in producing specialty steels, and CPM MagnaCut® was specifically designed to meet the rigorous demands of the cutlery industry.

Taking charge of this project were Spartan Blades, tasked with employing top-of-the-line processes such as CNC machining, deep cryogenic treating, and PVD coatings to craft this extraordinary knife. The end result? The birth of the Spartan-KA-BAR – a true testament to innovation and craftsmanship in the cutlery world.

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