The Most Iconic Military Fighting Knife Ever Gets a New Heritage-Laden Edition

Ka-Bar’s original blade was adopted by the U.S. Marines in 1942, but this version honors the brand’s entire 125-year history.

Close-up of a knife handle with stacked leather rings and a black pommel on a metal surface.

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By Sean Tirman

Published May 12, 2026

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Ka-Bar has been making rock-solid knives for a whopping 125 years. Any way you slice it, that’s a big deal.

To celebrate the milestone, the brand has launched a quartet of configurations of what is probably its single most iconic and significant design, all under the Ka-Bar 125th Anniversary Knives umbrella.

Black KA-BAR 125 Years knife with a wooden handle resting on multiple metal knife blanks. — Beyond the specialty branding, this knife is true to the original design dating back to 1942.

A century and a quarter of heritage

Ka-Bar’s business dates back 1.25 centuries, but these knives are a bit more modern. That’s not to say, however, that they’re not dripping with heritage, as well; they very much are.

As mentioned, the release comprises a quartet of knives, but they differ only slightly. And all four are based on the same iconic silhouette, which itself dates back to 1942.

That silhouette is the Ka-Bar USMC Fighting Knife.

Black KA-BAR knife blade with "125 years" text and stacked leather handle on gray background. — The full-tang blade of all four versions of this knife is crafted from 1095 Cro-Van steel, a tried-and-true classic.

In November of 1942, the United States Marine Corps adopted a Ka-Bar knife as a standard part of every soldier’s loadout. The combo fighting and utility knife quickly became legendary among enlisted folks for its reliability and robustness, and it remains a fixture of the military to this day.

These knives honor that silhouette and much of its time-tested build (with one noteworthy exception). They only differ stylistically in two ways: all four have anniversary branding laser-etched onto the blades, and the sheaths feature insignia unique to their respective branches or uses (the fourth is a non-military version with a different logo).

Three of the four knives come with military branch-specific branding on the sheath, as well.

Ka-Bar

Workhorse wonder

Beyond their stylistic differences, all four of these knives are built largely the same. That starts with a formidable 7.0-inch full-tang 1095 Cro-Van steel blade with a black finish (which adds some extra durability). The crossguard and pommel are also finished in black.

They also all get a classic leather handle, with its natural brown grain offering excellent stylistic contrast against the black steel. Similar leather is used for the knives’ sheaths.

All four [knife configurations] are based on the same iconic silhouette, which itself dates back to 1942.

While they are branch-specific (USMC, Navy, Army), three of the knives are built exactly the same. But the fourth is a non-military version called the Dog’s Head.

This fourth knife is intended for outdoor survival and bushcraft use and has a slightly different pommel design, which has a protrusion with a hole through it, suitable for paracord or other thin rope, which can be added for additional handle grip, to be used to attach the knife to the end of a spear and more.

KA-BAR 125 Years black blade knife with stacked leather handle and tan leather sheath in a wooden box. — The fourth and final version of this knife is a non-military edition with a slightly different build intended for survival and bushcraft use.

Availability and pricing

All four of Ka-Bar’s 125th Anniversary Knives are now available on the brand’s site for $166 apiece, including their leather sheaths.

Black KA-BAR knife blade with "125 years" text and stacked brown leather handle with black spacers.

Ka Bar 125th Anniversary Knife

$166 at Ka-Bar

About the Author: Sean Tirman is an associate editor at Gear Patrol who specializes in EDC, cannabis and outdoor gear.

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