Help requested with identifying a Ka-Bar

[QGofLake]

Hello All,

I have this Ka-Bar fixed blade knife. It has a 3.25" blade, 6.5" OAL and wrapped leather handle. Has a sheath which has no Ka-Bar marking (probably nt original to the knife). The tang reads Ka-Bar with Olean N.Y. underneath. At first I though it was a Little Finn. But the blade length and tang stamp seem to point away from that. Does anyone know about what year and model this is?

Any insight is appreciated.

[Gunsil]

I never heard of a KA-BAR called "little finn". Your knife although well worn is a "Little Hunter". The handle is stacked leather washers, not really "leather wrapped". With that mark and the aluminum pommel with nickel guard it was made late 1945-1947, maybe as late as 1948. It is well worn and a quarter inch short. You're correct that the sheath is a replacement. I really like the Little Hunters, they made a huge amount of variations in the model, I have over forty of them, each one different. They made them with stag handles and stag pommels, several different celluloid handles with stag pommels, and the stacked leather handles with aluminum pommels. During the war they made some with wood pommels with steel butt caps. Some were made with stainless blades, most like yours had carbon steel blades.

[zzyzzogeton]

Gene,

The "Little Finn" is the current marketing name for the smallest "classic hunter" B&T Kabar makes - i.e., the 1226 - 3-5/8" blade, about 1/2" wide.

Similar to the Western L48-B.

The Kabar 1232 (aka Finger Grip Hunter) is to the Western L48A as the 1226 is to the L48B - the two smallest B&Ts.

[QGofLake]

I never heard of a KA-BAR called "little finn". Your knife although well worn is a "Little Hunter". The handle is stacked leather washers, not really "leather wrapped". With that mark and the aluminum pommel with nickel guard it was made late 1945-1947, maybe as late as 1948. It is well worn and a quarter inch short. You're correct that the sheath is a replacement. I really like the Little Hunters, they made a huge amount of variations in the model, I have over forty of them, each one different. They made them with stag handles and stag pommels, several different celluloid handles with stag pommels, and the stacked leather handles with aluminum pommels. During the war they made some with wood pommels with steel butt caps. Some were made with stainless blades, most like yours had carbon steel blades.

Thank you for the info! Much appreciated.

[Gunsil]

Gene,

The "Little Finn" is the current marketing name for the smallest "classic hunter" B&T Kabar makes - i.e., the 1226 - 3-5/8" blade, about 1/2" wide.

Similar to the Western L48-B.

The Kabar 1232 (aka Finger Grip Hunter) is to the Western L48A as the 1226 is to the L48B - the two smallest B&Ts.

Thanks Wayne, I don't really follow what KA-BAR sells these days, or the last 20 years.