Kabar 1005

[313 Mike]

It seems like this Kabar forum sees pretty minimal traffic, but I'm hoping someone with some knowledge can perhaps share some info with me about this knife. It measures out at 3 inches closed, tang marked as shown in pic, Kabar 1005 USA. I can't seem to find any info on it. Any and all replies appreciated , thanks much!
Mike

[jerryd6818]

Mike, it's close to impossible to date them from the tang stamp. Check out this old thread for the reasons -- http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kni ... f=4&t=4446

[313 Mike]

Hey thanks for the info Jerry! (or should I say the lack thereof!) I was hoping perhaps there was some way of tracking down the years that this particular pattern was produced, and thereby narrowing it down a bit at least. I know this little knife isn't "rare" or anything, but I haven't seen a ton of them, leading me to think that maybe this particular model wasn't made for that many years.....just graspin' at straws I know, but hey, I am a bit of a "steel junkie" over here, what can I say!
Mike

[Old Hunter]

Mike, I think you are searching for the same information I am searching for, except on a different model of Kabar. In the thread just below I was attempting to get a fix on Kabar's last generation of pocketknives (beginning with the ALCAS Corp of Olean NY ownership in 1996). I know my small stockman was purchased new by me at the MCX at Camp Lejeune NC around DEC 98, I also bought a Barlow a short time later (which I later gave away as a gift) from the Western Auto store in downtown Jacksonville NC. Look closely at the tang stamp on my two models of Kabar Stockman knives - the stamping looks identical to yours, the shields are identical too. I know that Kabar used a similar tang stamp from the 70's to 1996 but ours are exact matches as best I can tell. Of course I could be wrong, but at any rate you can bet on the 1970's through the early 2000's. I would love to see a picture of a verified tang stamp from the late 1970's or early 1980's for comparison purposes. OH

[jerryd6818]

Colonel, this was the reply from Kabar to a query I sent about tang stamps.


Hello,
KA-BAR has reportedly used more than 200 tang stampings throughout the
history of the company. Variants of all of these stampings have been
used throughout the history of the company with minimal records of the
dates of use, particularly in the early part of the twentieth century.
We use serial numbers on the blade to help date knives. These three
tang stampings had been used interchangeably at different points in the
company's history. Today, KA-BAR and Union Cutlery are the only tang
stamps in use. I am sorry I could not be of more assistance.

Regards,
Joe
KA-BAR

[Old Hunter]

Thanks Jerry, guess that makes it pretty muddy doesn't it? I have looked around the Internet for a Kabar catalog from any time in the modern era for reference and haven't found one yet.

[313 Mike]

Well that is kinda discouraging...takes away from the fun of collecting a particular brand when you can't figure out any of the history of where and when it came from.....oh well, still a cool little knife anyway!

[knifeaholic]

Kabar pocket knives like the OP knife that have the "script" KABAR stamp, jigged delrin handles, and the four digit pattern number on the front of the tang, all date from the late 1960's through the late 1990's when the KABAR name was sold to ALCAS and the basic jigged delrin traditional pocketknives (at that time made on contract by Camillus) were all discontinued.

My understanding is that KABAR made their own knives in their own factory in Olean NY until about 1976 or 1977, when they closed that factory and outsourced all production of the basic delrin handled knives to Camillus.

The original posted knife I believe is a pattern that was discontinued sometime in the late 1970's so I believe that it dates from about 1968 to 1978.

[313 Mike]

Great info Steve, thanks so much for chiming in! I will make a note of it for my records, a guy can never have too much info on his knives as far as I'm concerned...

Mike

[ironmage]

Yes thinks,I was wondering the same about one just like it.

[FRJ]

A great bunch of knives, guys.

Here's two of the same vintage.
Nice thread, even if we have switched around different models.
All solid workman like knives.

[Old Hunter]

Mike, look at what I found in a pawnshop in Fayetteville NC this past Tuesday - a 1005 that is very similar to yours. I notice that the Delrin handles on mine are dyed darker, but they have the same depression in the middle of the Delrin (between the two pins, left of the shield). I also note that your pen blade has more point than the one on my knife - which appears to be very lightly used. OH

[313 Mike]

Cool find OH! Yes indeed, your's definitely apprears to have seen less use than mine...at first I just though I was dealing with some dusty delrin, but even after cleaning it up, it remained pretty light. Perhaps faded from the sun? The main blade doesn't have a whole lotta snap left to it, so it has seen some use I'd imagine. I like the frame of the knife though, feels solid in the hand and is pretty thick considering it's small size...sort of "barlow-esque" if ya catch my drift. Are you going to carry it? If so, let know how she works out for ya!
Mike

[Old Hunter]

Mike, I bought two old 3" jackknives at the pawnshop, this one and a SHARP brand - been rotating the two of them since Tuesday - today it is back to this Kabar. Is the Delrin on your knife the same color on both sides? On mine the color is equally dark on the sides, but the edges of the handles are the same color as the lighter portion of your handles - if the color is the same on each side I wouldn't think sun fading. The snap on the pen blade of this Kabar is hard, the snap on the main blade is "medium" - the half stops are firm - maybe a softer snap on the main blade is just the way they were made? Like you I find the design simple but pleasing, just a very basic jackknife - made for use and made pretty decently at that. OH

[B-Dwane]

I purchased a Ka-Bar 1005 in 1976 at the PX at Ft. Campbell, KY. I don't recall how much I paid for it but did carry it on Army aircraft as an Army Aviator and subsequently as a Flight Engineer for a Legacy Airline until prohibited by TSA. Still have it.