Silver Bayonet Kilt Pins - Good Idea?

[Richland]

As I understand it:
K-BAR stands for "Knife, Browning Automatic Rifle."
As the BAR did not have a bayonet lug. BAR gunners needed a general purpose knife that others used their bayonet for. It is not actually a Marine Corp Specific item.
But Marines are far more attached to the design than the Army...
I carried one on my web gear in the 82nd Airborne div in the 80s.

[kiltimabar]

As I understand it:
K-BAR stands for "Knife, Browning Automatic Rifle."
As the BAR did not have a bayonet lug. BAR gunners needed a general purpose knife that others used their bayonet for. It is not actually a Marine Corp Specific item.
But Marines are far more attached to the design than the Army...
I carried one on my web gear in the 82nd Airborne div in the 80s.

Never heard that story. Most accounts consider the name to have come from the Kabar Cutlery Co, the name of one of the principal suppliers of the knife. Kabar Cutlery (formerly Union Cutlery and other names) claims to have adopted the name from a letter received from a semi-literate mountaineer proudly proclaiming that he "kilt a bar" with one of the company's knives. (No, it wasn't Davey Crockett*, though there seems to be a common thread.) For a time Kabar used a logo depicting a man single-handedly fighting a bear with a knife.

*Yeah, that's where I got my forum name, though I haven't killed any bears, with knives or otherwise--we just share a first name and a Scottish heritage.

[CelticSire]

I carried one on my web gear in the 82nd Airborne div in the 80s.

As did I for my tour in OIF 04-05. Had to explain what it was to a 2LT, though, as he had never seen one before.

[James MacMillan]

As I understand it:
K-BAR stands for "Knife, Browning Automatic Rifle."
As the BAR did not have a bayonet lug. BAR gunners needed a general purpose knife that others used their bayonet for. It is not actually a Marine Corp Specific item.
But Marines are far more attached to the design than the Army...
I carried one on my web gear in the 82nd Airborne div in the 80s.

The company that makes the Kabar has a version of it's naming history ..here..

[Riverkilt]

Don't mean to side track - it sort of on track - but Kathy Lare's husband Rob had taken the aluminum replica KBars sold as letter openers and added a leather sheath with the EGA and sold them as sgian dubhs.

I love mine. Its decorative, not functional, but that distinctive handle poking out of the top of kilt hose certainly sends a loud message.

To stay on track, I don't know that he's experienced huge sales. Just me, but seems the KBar sgian dubh would sell more than a similar kilt pin....?



Ron

[James MacMillan]

If I could find a real knife patterned after the Kabar that was sized to the sgian dubh - like no longer than six inches, I would quickly order one. I have a letter opener that is similar to the one you picture Ron, but it’s just not worth carrying in the sock as it can’t cut anything - - It just doesn’t cut it …

For me, if I could find one, with the personal sentimental value attached to that fine blade design, I think it would quickly become my standard sock knife.

Wish there was a Kabar sgian dubh!

[Riverkilt]

Aye Jay,

All this gives is the handle "look."

There'd be a second of the real sgian dubh size sold here.

Wonder if the factory would entertain the idea. They'd be the logical ones.

Okay, I just did that. Emailed the KA-BAR factory with the idea and background on why they'd sell. You'd think one KA-BAR sgian dubh for every Leatherneck tartan kilt sold...might also have a wider market as a small belt knife and a boot knife.

Ron

[mcvarmit]

was a sapper in RVN, used a bayonet all the time. sounds like a great idea, it would be something that i could relate too. i want one!

semper fi

slick

[Riverkilt]

This pretty much expected generic response from the Kabar factory.

Thank you very much for your e-mail which has been forwarded to our
product development team.

[James MacMillan]

Back to the question that started this thread. Think of selling these things to the non-kilted in Base PX's all over the world! Sure they would make great kilt pins! But so much more is possible! PX's are the target of choice!

Now that would be a great niche (spelling?) - that would be a market for quite a few! A kilt pin patterned after a service blade would make a great cap badge for some, and not just a Scottish balmoral or glengerry. I know some cowboy types that would put it on their tejano in a second! Some would even buy them to wear as a lapel pin.

A recognizable silver pin made in the shape of a bayonet (both WWI and WWII), Kabar, Fairborn sykes, Marmaluke sword, Brass-nuckle fighter etc would be bought up by many of us violent types!