Japanese "Sabre" Brand Knives

[Captain O]

Great knives!
I knew some old-timers who wouldn't buy Japanese knives. They both fought against in the Pacific theater during WWII.
But I have a few, and most are well made and affordable knives. I buy them anytime I find them cheap, but that is getting harder to do all of the time. I think people are beginning to appreciate these knives more as time goes on!

Who are you calling "old-timer"? We were buying these knives at the Sprouse-Reitz Variety Store on King's Boulevard in Corvallis, Oregon in 1967-1968 at $1.29 each. Wait... that was 53 years ago. (Damn, I'm getting on in years).

[Reverand]

Great knives!
I knew some old-timers who wouldn't buy Japanese knives. They both fought against in the Pacific theater during WWII.
But I have a few, and most are well made and affordable knives. I buy them anytime I find them cheap, but that is getting harder to do all of the time. I think people are beginning to appreciate these knives more as time goes on!

Who are you calling "old-timer"? We were buying these knives at the Sprouse-Reitz Variety Store on King's Boulevard in Corvallis, Oregon in 1967-1968 at $1.29 each. Wait... that was 53 years ago. (Damn, I'm getting on in years).

Haha! I was born in 1967, and I am already a grey-haired old man! But I am thankful for each day.
Seriously though, I was thinking of my uncle and my father-in-law, both of whom served in the Navy in WWII.
I don't blame them, but at the same time I have no problem buying Japanese knives.

Here is a Monarch scout knife that I got off of eBay this week. The shield was missing, so I made one out of a worn Old-Timer shield (I flipped it over and ground it to fit). It has a little blade rub from the punch, but looks to have never been carried or used. As I said before though, it is getting harder to find these cheap nowadays.

[Captain O]

Great knives!
I knew some old-timers who wouldn't buy Japanese knives. They both fought against in the Pacific theater during WWII.
But I have a few, and most are well made and affordable knives. I buy them anytime I find them cheap, but that is getting harder to do all of the time. I think people are beginning to appreciate these knives more as time goes on!

Who are you calling "old-timer"? We were buying these knives at the Sprouse-Reitz Variety Store on King's Boulevard in Corvallis, Oregon in 1967-1968 at $1.29 each. Wait... that was 53 years ago. (Damn, I'm getting on in years).

Haha! I was born in 1967, and I am already a grey-haired old man! But I am thankful for each day.
Seriously though, I was thinking of my uncle and my father-in-law, both of whom served in the Navy in WWII.
I don't blame them, but at the same time, I have no problem buying Japanese knives.

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Here is a Monarch scout knife that I got off of eBay this week. The shield was missing, so I made one out of a worn Old-Timer shield (I flipped it over and ground it to fit). It has a little blade rub from the punch, but looks to have never been carried or used. As I said before though, it is getting harder to find these cheap nowadays.

Heck, boy, I was preparing to begin my career in mimicry/comedy when you were still in your mommy's arms and drinking formula! (In 1968 I performed for my 7th-grade class party (condoned by the Faculty of Highland View Junior High School).

I served "stateside" while in Uncle Sam's Yacht Club (beginning my tour on July 19th, 1973 as an Aviation Machinist's Mate (jet). Some gave all, all gave some. You can believe that!

[hddarts]

Picked up this sabre 631 with original sheath "the Original Bowie Knife" stamped on the blade

[New_Windsor_NY]

This pocket knife arrived very recently in a large group of pocket knives that I purchased. I did NOT buy the group to obtain this particular pocket knife. However, I am NOT complaining that it was in the group. It is a Sabre, two blades, single tang stamp, two stamped bolsters, 3 1/4" closed, "BARLOW" pattern pocket knife. The tang stamp reads "Sabre - JAPAN." One bolster reads "BARLOW" and the other bolster reads "Sabre BRAND." Both blades have a VERY WICKED snap.
It is in EXCELLENT condition. It did NOT require any cleaning. I took some pictures and here it is.
Caption(s), if any, are on the BOTTOM of the corresponding picture(s).
Click on a picture to ENLARGE.

[New_Windsor_NY]

This pocket knife arrived very recently in a large group of pocket knives that I purchased. I did NOT buy the group to obtain this particular pocket knife. But I like it and I'll keep it. It is a Sabre 635, one blade, one blade/tool, a single tang stamp, 3 3/4" closed (not including the bail), electrician or linesman pattern/style pocket knife. The tang stamp reads "Sabre - JAPAN - 635." Yes, one handle is brown and the other handle is black. I have no reason to believe that either handle is a replacement. Both blades have good half stops and both have a VERY WICKED snap. It is in VERY GOOD condition. It did require some light cleaning. I took some pictures and here it is.
Caption(s), if any, are on the BOTTOM of the corresponding picture(s).
Click on a picture to ENLARGE.

[New_Windsor_NY]

This pocket knife arrived very recently in a large group/lot of pocket knives that I bought. I did NOT purchase the group/lot to obtain this particular pocket knife. But, it is a BEAUTY and it turned out to be a keeper. It is a Sabre JAPAN, two blades, two tang stamps, M.O.P. handles/scales, 2 3/4" closed, pattern 678, pocket knife. The main blade tang stamp reads "Sabre - JAPAN - 678." The secondary blade tang stamp reads "STAINLESS - STEEL." It is in EXCELLENT condition. It did NOT need any cleaning. I took some pictures (they do NOT do it justice) and here it is.
Caption(s), if any, are on the BOTTOM of the corresponding picture(s).
Click on a picture to ENLARGE.

[New_Windsor_NY]

These two pocket knives arrived recently in a large group of pocket knives that I purchased. I did NOT buy the group to obtain these two particular pocket knives. However, I am NOT complaining and they are both keepers. They are both Sabre, pattern 629, single blade, single tang stamp, two stamped bolsters, 5" closed, "BARLOW" pattern or style pocket knives. Both tang stamps read "Sabre - JAPAN - 629" Two bolsters read "BARLOW" and the other two bolsters read "Sabre BRAND" Both are in VERY GOOD condition. Both required some minimal cleaning. I took some pictures and here they are.
Caption(s), if any, are on the BOTTOM of the corresponding picture(s).
Click on a picture to ENLARGE.

[hddarts]

I have a beat-up Peanut my Grandad have me around here somewhere.

Here's one that was likely made by Ulster or Schrade. USA-made and Swinden construction. Blade is identical to early production 881 and 8OTs. Handles are brown/tan jigged Delrin.

Tang stamp is "SABRE" over "USA" on the mark side, and "SABRE" over "MONARCH" over "231" on the pile side.



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[hddarts]

SABRE knives were made all over the world, excluding the USA and JAPAN. so there are lots of different tangs

[SteelCowboy74]

Can someone identify and possibly date this knife for me? Not sure if it was dad's or grandpa's. Mom gave me a few old pocket knives today. No numbers stamped on it. Just Sabre JAPAN

[Reverand]

I do not know of a book or resource dedicated to Sabre knives. They were considered inexpensive knives at the time they were made, and have been ignored by most collectors until recently - and even now, they are ignored by the majority of collectors. So there is just not a lot of research that I am aware of.

Now, the good news:
Going says that they were imported between 1960 and 1980, so we can pin down the date in that range. My guess before looking them up was that it was made in the 1970's, just based upon the "scrat" style jigging on the bone. That is only a guess, but is likely as close as you can get. It could have been made earlier.
For the most part, these were well made knives. They competed well in sales because many American-made knives were dropping in quality during these years.
I don't know a pattern number, but it appears to be a medium Stockman.
So, a 1970's vintage Medium Stockman.

[SteelCowboy74]

Thanks for the response, Reverend! I should have put a tape in my pictures. It's only 2-11/16" long so I'm thinking that makes it a small or Junior stockman?

P.s. love your signature.

[New_Windsor_NY]

This pocket knife arrived very recently in a trio of pocket knives that I purchased. I did not buy the trio to obtain this particular pocket knife. However, I am not complaining and it turned out to be a keeper. It is a Sabre, pattern 629, one blade, one tang stamp, two stamped bolsters, 5" closed, "BARLOW" pattern or style pocket knife. The tang stamp says "Sabre (over) JAPAN (over) 629" The bolsters say "BARLOW" and "Sabre BRAND" Overall, it is in GOOD condition. It required some cleaning. I took some pictures and here it is.
Caption(s), if any, are on the BOTTOM of the corresponding picture(s).
Click on a picture to ENLARGE.

[Reverand]

You are right Skip, it is a keeper. Those old Japanese Sabres have good steel in 'em.
I may have a used bolster that would fit it too, if you ever want to fix yours.
Let me know!

[New_Windsor_NY]

You.....!

Thank you, Scott.

[New_Windsor_NY]

This pocket knife arrived recently in a very large group or lot of pocket knives that I purchased. I did not buy the group or lot to obtain this particular pocket knife. I am not complaining and it turned out to be a keeper. It is a Sabre, three blades, one tang stamp, 3 7/8" closed, stockman pattern or style of pocket knife. The main blade front tang stamp says "Sabre (over) JAPAN" I do not see a pattern number. It also says "Sabre" on the shield. Overall, it is in VERY GOOD condition. It required some very minor cleaning. I took some pictures and here it is.
Caption(s), if any, are on the BOTTOM of the corresponding picture(s).
Click on a picture to ENLARGE.

[OLDE CUTLER]

I picked up this nice Sabre Half Congress at our local flea market today. I have several Sabres, Japanese, USA, Hong Kong, but this is my first Solingen Germany Sabre. It is 3 inches OAL closed, and is stamped Sabre Monarch 220 Solingen Germany. Does not look like it has been used, but has a couple of rust spots on it.

[doglegg]

Very sweet knife OC.

[orvet]

[philco]

Sabre knives are greatly unappreciated. All I have seen were well made regardless of country of origin

[cody6268]

This year's main goal is to add a decent amount of Sabre and Sharp brand knives to my collection

This beat up 615 Peanut is a really good user. Got some electrical damage and a lot of blade wear that all happened decades before me.

[OLDE CUTLER]

I was lucky enough to find this #5 Sabre 3 and 1/4" jack at a garage sale yesterday for a few bucks. Appears to be bone handled.

[Dan In MI]

That's a neat little knife. Well done!

[OLDE CUTLER]

I have several Sabre knives, tang stamps include Japan, Hong Kong, USA, and China. I did not own a Sabre Ireland until I found 2 of them for sale on the same table at a local gun show. One is a 2 and 5/8" pen and the other is a 3 and 7/8" stockman. Both are shell handled, and as you can see, the stockman is missing the thin plastic wrap that covered the center of the stamped metal shell handles. Otherwise, they both are in good condition and fully usable. I am working on a scheme that would recover the bare metal on the stockman. These were probably made in the former Jowicka plant in Ireland after Imperial took it over?