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.
Where would this tang stamp fit into the scheme of all things Union Cutlery? It reads:
MFRS
Union
Cutlery
Co
It is an 8 blade MOP congress, or at least it was when new. Now there are only 4 unbroken blades. Can you imagine someone breaking 2 or 3 blades on this knife and still not getting the clue? Should have had something more substantial like a stockman or cattle knife. Still an interesting old knife.
What a shame OC. I do share your frustration.
Some people simply should not have access to tools.
Here is my knife, much the same as yours. And mercifully, far less abused.
FRJ wrote:What a shame OC. I do share your frustration.
Some people simply should not have access to tools.
Here is my knife, much the same as yours. And mercifully, far less abused.
That one of yours is nice (intact). I paid $5 for the one I have because I had never seen an 8 blade congress before with MOP handle material. I actually thought for a time that I might take this one apart, eliminate the 4 broken blades, and reassemble as a 4 blade congress. Then "upon further review" I decided to leave well enough alone.
I am not going to say much re:This knife. I do feel a bit gifted to have just obtained it. 1st I have seen in this handle material.
Just waiting for remarks. Sorry but it takes a lot of photo's to show the entire knife.
Moss
Thank you to Jacknifeben and steve99f: I would bet that the big devil had not been apart in 50-60 years. Darn near grown together. I will try a photo tomorrow. I knew it was a slot I just did not have the stones to apply the pressure it took.
moss
49.*.
Sorry; I cannot answer your question, other than to say I think KABAR came into use in the early 20's although I think I have have seen KABAR on one blade with Union Cutco on the other other the latter part of the span you gave. It is my reasoning that says it had a lot to do with what new blade was next in the barrel when the cutler had need for one when finishing a build.
moss
The name KABAR came into usage in 1923, IIRC, and was initially a brand under the Union Cutlery Company name, like OL-CUT and KEENWELL, and probably others.
The Union Cutlery Co. changed its name to KABAR in 1952, capitalizing on the popularity of the name after the WW2 and the 1219C2/USN-MK2.
Just finished reading through this old thread which has some remarkable specimens and information. Realize I should have posted this Union Cutlery KA-BAR slide apart hobo here when I acquired it.
Ken
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