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.
I’ve had one for a month or so. It’s a real nice knife. Very slicy. Great for spreading peanut butter too! The sheath is very useable too. No strap but plenty of retention.
That Kephart pattern is great for a camp and hunting knife.
KNIFE Magazine has a featured article on Horace Kephart and this knife design in the Feb. 2019 edition.
I just finished reading his book from 1906 about life in the Appalachian mountains.