Ka bar Help

I got my husband a Ka-bar knife. Guy said it was a 1951 and I was wondering history and what not on it. I don’t know how to post pictures yet but am trying.
Amanda
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You might want to cut the text out of your other post (maybe click "Report" and ask a moderator to del eat it.

The best way I have found to post photos is to get a basic membership here $10 and then when you edit or post a comment then click "Upload a File" and then we can help you from there if it isn't clear. Just have the photo on your desk top and it will show up in a list when you click "Upload a File".
 
Hi! Amanda.
Not an expert but,
this is what the illustrious J. Bruce Voyles
(former owner of the blade magazine and current editor of Knives Illustrated) wrote...


KA-BAR Knives and dating them

1898-Tideoute Cutlery Co. formed in Tiedoute, PA

1902-Factory purchased by Wallace Brown, Started in Tideoute, PA as Union Razor Company

Union Razor Company, Tideoute mark used 1902-1909 (Equivalent in Case language--Case Brothers, W. R. Case &SON)

Union Cutlery Co. Tideoute marked knives were only made 1898-to approx. 1912. (Equivalent in Case language--Case Brothers, W. R. Case & Sons)

Union Cutlery Co. with North American outline 1912-1923 (Equivalent in Case language: W. R. Case & Sons, Case Bradford PA)

Union Cutlery Co. Olean, NY 1912 first used.

OLCUT, and Keenwell also used first in the 20's.

After 1923--KA-BAR on main blade, and Union Cutlery Co. Olean, NY on either the back of the blade if a single blade, or on one of the smaller blades. These will be referred the Union mark. If I state the Union mark it means the blade will be stamped "Union Cutlery Co. Olean, NY" (Equivalent in Case Language: Case Tested)

After 1952 Union Cutlery Co. is no longer marked on the knives. (Equivalent in Case Language: XX and USA)

Kabar, USA was changed to in 1951

In the 70's a pattern number was added between the Kabar and the USA. (Equivalent in Case language: Case dots)
 
Great info, but one correction - Cole National bought Kabar from the Brown family in 1965 and I believe started stamping model numbers in 1966.
 
One other slight correction as well, not important to the OP, but just in case it helps in future cases.

J. Bruce Voyles is an auctioneer - and a really good one at that, I have been to one of his auctions - and is not the Editor of Knives Illustrated.

That being said, he is a very good resource for this kind of information because he is also an appraiser and knows his stuff.
 
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