Production began with Camillus Cutlery in early 1943, followed quickly by Union Cutlery (whose trademark “Ka-Bar” became the knife’s common name), PAL, Robeson, and others. Millions were issued to Marines, sailors, and soldiers across every theater of war. The knife proved indispensable, whether opening ammunition crates, cutting through brush, or serving as a last-resort weapon in close combat. Its dual purpose as both a fighting and utility knife distinguished it from specialized stilettos of the period and ensured its widespread adoption. By the end of the conflict, the Ka-Bar had become an icon of the American serviceman and set the standard for modern combat knives.

Approximately 3,000-3,400 V-42s were produced, making the knife relatively scarce compared to mass-issue combat blades. Members of the First Special Service Force carried it in operations across Italy and southern France, where its balance and penetrative power were valued in close fighting. However, the slender point was prone to breaking when used for utilitarian purposes, limiting its broader adoption outside commando ranks. Despite this, the V-42 achieved lasting recognition as the signature weapon of the “Devil’s Brigade,” even incorporated into their unit crest.

By 1943, his output had expanded into a series of numbered models, each differing in blade profile and intended use. The Model 1 was a single-edged spear point with a long false edge for thrusting, while the Model 2 was a true double-edged dagger. Adding crossguards to these patterns produced the Models 3 and 4, which offered extra hand protection. Ek’s knives were never part of an official government contract, but they were widely purchased by servicemen who wanted a blade they could depend on. Paratroopers, Rangers, and Marines were among those who sought them out, carrying them as privately acquired fighting knives into campaigns across Europe and the Pacific. Although they were produced in smaller numbers than mass-issue military patterns, the Ek Commando line earned a reputation that far outlasted the war, remembered as one of the most respected families of American fighting knives.

Although called a trench knife, the M3 saw service in forests, fields, and city streets rather than static trench warfare. Paratroopers and Rangers were among the first to receive it, and the knife soon spread to infantry and armored divisions as production ramped up. By August 1944, over 2.5 million had been manufactured by nine different contractors, making it one of the most widely issued fighting knives of the war. While troops valued its light weight and thrusting capability, many also found the blade less useful for heavy-duty chores compared to the Ka-Bar. Its design, however, lived on: the blade pattern of the M3 was adapted into the M4 bayonet for the M1 carbine, ensuring its legacy continued well beyond World War II.

The Mark 1 was produced by several American cutlery companies, including Camillus, Colonial, PAL, and Union Cutlery (Ka-Bar). Issued with both leather and plastic scabbards, the most common being the resin-impregnated NORD scabbards, the knife stood up well in wet and corrosive environments. While designed primarily as a utility knife for sailors, cutting rope, opening crates, and general maintenance, it could also serve as a close-combat weapon if required. Its widespread distribution ensured it was carried on nearly every front where American naval personnel served. After the war, many Mark 1s remained in use for years, a reflection of the knife’s durability and practicality. Today, it is remembered as the Navy’s companion to the Marine Ka-Bar, a straightforward and dependable tool that embodied the daily realities of naval service during World War II.

Issued primarily to U.S. Army paratroopers, the M2 was typically carried in the dual-zippered knife pocket on the upper chest of the M42 jump jacket, ensuring immediate access even when entangled. Distribution also reached selected aircrew and some members of the Office of Strategic Services, reflecting its role as a specialized emergency tool rather than a fighting knife. After the war, the pattern continued in service procurement when Schrade, reorganized as Schrade-Walden, manufactured it under contract as the Parachutist’s Snap Blade Knife (MIL-K-10043).

Issued to British Commandos, the Special Operations Executive, and later to American OSS (Office of Strategic Services) operatives, the Fairbairn–Sykes quickly became synonymous with Allied special forces. Unlike multipurpose knives such as the Ka-Bar, it was not intended for utility work but for surprise attacks, with a blade geometry optimized for deep penetration. Several variations were produced during the war as manufacturers adjusted dimensions and finishes to meet demand, though the essential form remained constant. Its reputation spread widely, and it soon appeared in unit insignia and commando lore. While fragile for heavy field tasks, the Fairbairn–Sykes embodied the specialized role of Britain’s raiding forces and remains one of the most iconic knives of the Second World War, a symbol of stealth, precision, and the rise of modern special operations.

While the knuckle guard made the BC-41 formidable in hand-to-hand encounters, it also added bulk and limited the knife’s practicality for general use. Commandos found it effective as a surprise weapon but less versatile than lighter, slimmer fighting knives that emerged later. As a result, the BC-41 saw only limited production and was quickly supplanted by the Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife, which offered greater adaptability and was easier to carry. Surviving examples of the BC-41 are rare, both because of the restricted number manufactured and because those issued were often heavily used.

Issued in limited numbers to British Commandos, Special Operations Executive operatives, and some American OSS personnel, the Smatchet was praised in training manuals for its versatility in combat. Its large size made it less discreet than the Fairbairn–Sykes, but it offered devastating striking power in situations where stealth gave way to open fighting. Beyond its battlefield role, the Smatchet influenced postwar knife design by demonstrating that a large blade could serve as a compact alternative to a machete or bayonet in close combat. Although never widely produced compared to other Allied knives, it achieved a near-mythic reputation among special forces and remains one of the most distinctive edged weapons of the Second World War.

Although troop trials in 1943 led to favorable reports, large-scale production was hindered by shifting priorities and the high cost of retooling factories. By 1944, only a limited number were ordered, and relatively few were delivered before the war ended. As a result, the Seitengewehr 42 never replaced the widely issued S84/98 III bayonet, but it represented a significant step toward combining combat and utility roles in a single blade. Today, it is regarded as one of the most innovative German edged weapons of the war, remembered not for its battlefield prevalence but for the forward-looking concept it embodied.

Although troop trials in 1943 led to favorable reports, large-scale production was hindered by shifting priorities and the high cost of retooling factories. By 1944, only a limited number were ordered, and relatively few were delivered before the war ended. As a result, the Seitengewehr 42 never replaced the widely issued S84/98 III bayonet, but it represented a significant step toward combining combat and utility roles in a single blade. Today, it is regarded as one of the most innovative German edged weapons of the war, remembered not for its battlefield prevalence but for the forward-looking concept it embodied.

The M39 was issued across a range of elite Italian units, from paratroopers and sapper assault forces to Blackshirt battalions, the Navy’s San Marco Regiment, and even Decima MAS special units. Its commanding size, one of the largest standard Italian fighting knives of WWII, combined with straightforward manufacturing, makes it both an effective weapon and a widely distributed sidearm. After the war, many M39s were brought home by Allied troops as trophies, and modern commemorative reproductions continue to honor its distinctive silhouette and significance in Italian military history.

Italian paratroopers of divisions such as Folgore and Nembo were closely associated with the M91, which they carried during operations in North Africa and the Mediterranean. Soldiers praised its balance, which made it quick in the hand and adaptable in close combat, and some even used it as a throwing knife, though that was not its intended role. While it never achieved the same iconic status as the larger Pugnale M1939, the M91 served reliably as a fighting and utility knife throughout the war. Today, it is remembered as a weapon that reflected the evolving needs of Italy’s specialized troops, bridging the gap between the country’s traditional dagger heritage and the practical demands of modern mechanized warfare.