Confusing Ka-Bar Knife.

C

Camaro68396

Joined
Dec 1, 2015
Messages
4
Hello, I'm new here! I have an odd Ka-Bar knife that I cannot find any information on. It used to belong to my Great-Grandfather who passed away about a year ago. It has hollow handle and from what I have read should've had a compass that screwed into then end. The handle is made from aluminum. Unfortunately, mine has a little pitting on the blade and doesn't have the compass/end screw anymore, but it does have what I believe to be the original leather sheath. I can find ones on the internet that are similar, but this is the only website I have found so far that has the exact same knife. Does anyone know what I have here? Manufacturing years? Rarity? I just want to know more about my knife. Who knows, maybe I can find a compass to put back in it. Thanks for reading!
Pic of one that looks exactly the same:
1366074470389-1981236574.jpeg

Specs:
Blade length - 4.25"
Overall Length - 8 3/8"
One side of the tang reads KA-BAR, the other reads UNION CUTLERY CO. OLEAN N.Y.

If you need any more info, let me know.
 
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I would edit out the part about asking is value. It is against the regulations for your membership level. Aside from the fact that you linked to a vendor who sold the knife for a particular amount.

Also, if the vendor isn't a supporting member, that is also against regs.
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I know it can be daunting but you will find your information, you just have to mind the missteps.

Welcome aboard and someone will cover along with some info in a few.
 
That is a Ka-Bar hollow handle / matchsafe knife. These were made from the mid 30's - right about WWII, in a few different sizes, and shapes(even an axe). Various other Case family related brands, or contract brands also offered similar knives during that period too. They're slightly scarce in nice shape, and somewhat common in bad shape. The best way acquire a butt cap is to buy a busted out one on Ebay, and swap it out. I'm not sure if you'll be able to buy a new compass, but Marbles, and various British and Japanese companies offer small compasses that might fit.

Marble's makes a similar cheap modern hollow handle that might have a compass and butt cap that might fit too, but I've never had one to see if that handle is a direct copy.

Edit - Google search Marbles Bear Creek Bowie knife, that is the model that might fit.
 
@NJBillK
Thank You so much for letting me know. I should have everything fixed now.
@tltt
COOL! Thank You! Are busted ones hard to find/expensive? Also, correct me if I am wrong, but the butt cap had the compass in it, correct? I really would like to complete the knife back to how it was.
 
Lol. The knife looks sweet though. Of course I would be weary of not having a full tang, but as a collectible it's awesome!
 
Camaro68396 said:
@tltt
COOL! Thank You! Are busted ones hard to find/expensive? Also, correct me if I am wrong, but the butt cap had the compass in it, correct? I really would like to complete the knife back to how it was.
Click to expand...

Busted ones are somewhat hard to find, but I've see them go $25-50, depending on how nice the usable parts are, the hardest part is figuring out how they'll be listed. Sometimes folks just list them as kabar aluminum knife, others Kabar hollow handle, others kabar survival knife, etc.... so it takes a bit of time.

Yes, it should have a little compass in the butt cap, these deteriorate fast in my experience, whatever plastic(celluloid?) they're made from gets cloudy, and cracks. It should also have a red/rust colored spacer ring made of plastic or fiber between the butt cap and handle.
 
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tltt said:
Busted ones are somewhat hard to find, but I've see them go $25-50, depending on how nice the usable parts are, the hardest part is figuring out how they'll be listed. Sometimes folks just list them as kabar aluminum knife, others Kabar hollow handle, others kabar survival knife, etc.... so it takes a bit of time.

Yes, it should have a little compass in the butt cap, these deteriorate fast in my experience, whatever plastic(celluloid?) they're made from gets cloudy, and cracks. It should also have a red/rust colored spacer ring made of plastic or fiber between the but cap and handle.
Click to expand...
Thanks again. The response on this site is amazing. Well, to me anyway!
 
Sure thing, they're a neat thing. One more ebay term that might help, is to search "Union Cutlery" by itself in the fixed blade category, many times that will catch stuff that doesn't come up under Ka-Bar, or Kabar :).
 
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