the insight about more original bowies and kabars was really cool.
The Kabar was based on the 7" to 8" Marble's Ideal, with a stacked leather handle. Kabar was but one of the knife companies that produced that pattern for the troops. But the name stuck in the same way that hand opperated circular saws are called "Skillsaws" even if they are made by Rockwell or PorterCable.
The quillons were tilted towards the hand for reaching through concertina wire without getting trapped. Feedback from the troops quickly resulting in modifying the Kabar by giving it a thicker pommel for utility and combat hammering.
The pattern was so successful that the same knife was used through the Vietnam war without modification.
