During WW2, many Marines found themselves having to purchase their own general-purpose knives due to the fact that the Marine Raider Stilletto was great for stabbing — but pretty much nothing else. That’s when the iconic USMC Mark 2 Combat Knife, also known simply as the Knife, Fighting Utility, was born.
Due to the fact that this blade was more slashy and less stabby, many had doubts about its effectiveness in hand-to-hand combat. Those doubts got laid to rest after Marines in the Pacific theatre of WW2 found it incredibly reliable. Ever since, this knife has been the go-to blade for the American Military, where it's killed countless MREs to date.