Dog's Head Oddity

The KA-BAR brand originated as a trademark of the Tidioute Cutlery Company. Tidioute was later taken over & renamed the Union Cutlery Company which continued making the brand until Union eventually adopted it as the company name in 1952. Cutco Corporation later acquired the company in 1996.
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Ridgegrass
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Dog's Head Oddity

Post by Ridgegrass »

Wondering if anyone has ever seen a Dog Head like this. 4 7/8" closed, nice jigged bone, tang stamped "Union Cut Co. Olean, NY, U.S.A.".
It,s hard to see in the pics but the Dog's Head has the KA-BAR stamped in it.
I've owned it for 35+ years and it was old-looking when I got it. Never seen another with the Dog's Head engraved in the bolster. One common opinion I've gotten is that it could be a "lunchbox" made by an employee. Appreciate any comments.J.O'.
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treefarmer
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Re: Dog's Head Oddity

Post by treefarmer »

I'll start by saying, ::welcome:: to AAPK! ::handshake::
Don't have any knowledge of your knife but I'll say I like it! What kind of a blade is on it? If you don't mind, Ridgegrass, post another picture of the whole knife, please sir.
The blade grinding at the tang almost reminds me of the Case knives with the "new grind" that was used a couple of years back in the 80's.
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edge213
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Re: Dog's Head Oddity

Post by edge213 »

I'm no help.
I can't wait to see what the experts say.
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Ridgegrass
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Re: Dog's Head Oddity

Post by Ridgegrass »

Here's a full pic. The first one is deceiving: the grind is straight, not like the Case style. Thanks for the compliment! J.O'.
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treefarmer
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Re: Dog's Head Oddity

Post by treefarmer »

I just looked at one reference book that shows about 150 older Ka-Bar patterns and yours was not among them. ::shrug::
You caught the Ka-Bar name on the dog's head bolster stamp very well in one of the last pictures.
Like edge213 said, we'll wait and see.
I still like it!
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Re: Dog's Head Oddity

Post by Mumbleypeg »

I’m not a KABAR expert by any means but that jigging is unlike any I’ve ever seen. I’m thinking it’s a possibly a homemade job. ::shrug::

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Re: Dog's Head Oddity

Post by Gunsil »

I heartily agree with Ken. Union never used jigging like that and also the blade doesn't have any nice top grinds or "swedges" as a Union Cut knife would have. Somebody made this up and it wasn't done at the factory. I'd have to call it counterfeit.
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Ridgegrass
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Re: Dog's Head Oddity

Post by Ridgegrass »

The mystery goes on! ::shrug::
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Re: Dog's Head Oddity

Post by Hideaway Knives »

That handle goes with the blade perfectly
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Re: Dog's Head Oddity

Post by Hideaway Knives »

That handle goes with the blade perfectly
zenithman
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Re: Dog's Head Oddity

Post by zenithman »

Hey Ridgegrass,
Can’t explain the dogs head engraved on the bolster but I will say that the jigging and color on the scales are correct for the period (20’s-early 30’s). I have been collecting Union and KA-BAR for a long time and I have a couple with those same scales. It’s all good.
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chorizotaco
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Re: Dog's Head Oddity

Post by chorizotaco »

zenithman wrote: Sun Nov 15, 2020 3:46 am Hey Ridgegrass,
Can’t explain the dogs head engraved on the bolster but I will say that the jigging and color on the scales are correct for the period (20’s-early 30’s). I have been collecting Union and KA-BAR for a long time and I have a couple with those same scales. It’s all good.
Can you post them? Thanks.
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Re: Dog's Head Oddity

Post by Ridgegrass »

Thanks ZENITH. Looks like the subject has been reopened. Wonder if we'll ever know? Be cool if another one showed up. :D J.O'.
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