Spartan Blades, always close to KA-BAR, has partnered with the venerable Oleans, NY company to produce a high-end version of their most popular fixed blade, the USMC Fighter. The Spartan KA-BAR takes things to the next level with the appearance, for the first time in either company’s lineup, of CPM MagnaCut steel.
In the pantheon of legendary production knives, the KA-BAR USMC occupies a spot near the very top. Entering production at the start of World War II, the knife was adopted by U.S. Armed Forces and saw duty all over the world; after the war ended, the USMC was so ubiquitous that people refer to it as a “KA-BAR” the same way they call the Folding 110 Hunter a “Buck.” The USMC Fighter has remained in production ever since, and served as the muse for more than one other custom maker and production manufacturer (look to 2021’s Hinderer KaBar as a recent example).

The Spartan KA-BAR keeps all the original proportions of the illustrious original. The blade measures 7 inches on the nose, ran out in that unmistakable clip profile. It may have originated as a fighting knife, but its capabilities go well beyond; all sorts of hard work is within the remit of this venerable tool. Its general work capability sees further enhancement here thanks to the presence of MagnaCut steel, which, despite its comparative youth, has already carved out a place for itself in the super steel hall of fame.
The barrel-shaped, striated handle, just as iconic in its way as the blade, is present here, made from Kraton rather than stacked leather. In terms of sheaths, Spartan is giving users the choice between leather or Kydex; on its own, without a sheath, the Spartan KA-BAR weighs 10.8 oz.
The introductory batch of the Spartan KA-BARs went pretty quick when they dropped, but Spartan has confirmed that the line will be entering standard production in the near future.
Knife in Featured Image: Spartan KA-BAR
The information provided by KnifeNews.com (the “Site”) is for general recreational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed on the Site are those of the author or those quoted and do not necessarily reflect the views of any entities they represent. All information on the Site is provided in good faith, however, we make no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, or completeness of the information on the Site. Under no circumstance shall we have any liability to you for any loss or damage as the result of the use of the Site or reliance on any information provided. Your use of the Site and your reliance on any information on the Site is solely at your own risk.
In the last five years, the knife making scene has absolutely exploded, with dozens upon dozens of new names, new talents, and new knives. One shop that gained a...
Hawk Knives delivered deeply sad news to the knife world yesterday: Grant Hawk, one of the most innovative, boundary-pushing knife makers of the 20th century, passed away earlier this...
Among the latest pieces en route from the ever-busy folks at Civivi is the Ryson-E. This is a transfer student from We Knife Co. lineup, with materials and design...
You heard that right, pardners: Blade Show West, the rootin’ tootin’ younger brother to venerable Atlanta’s Blade Show, is upon us. While not as big as its bigger brother,...
There’s a new State & Union piece in the wild, a burly fixed blade called EK103. Descended from a lineage of fighting knives, the EK103 interprets classic military knife...
We Knife Co. has just unleashed the Nexomorph onto the world. This is a high-end knife that transforms between punch dagger and modern locking knife forms. While we have...
The latest Spyderco Product Reveal, the twenty-second since the company adopted this particular format, has dropped – and that means a lot of new knives to look at, so...

0 comments