KA-BAR Union Cut Co. 598-1/2

North Shore

North Shore

Joined
Jun 28, 2016
Messages
447
I just picked up this little fixed blade at a Massachusetts flea market, can anyone give me a little knowledge on this one? I am no expert on fixed blades or KA-BAR. I won't be able to provide dimensional information until later this week if need be. My preliminary search yields advertisements in 1930s Boys Life magazine. Is this a common knife?

Thanks

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That looks like the old hunting pattern knives from the 1930's. (These were the knives upon which the USN Mark 1 Deck Knives were based). Kabar had already been building great knives for the field when WW2 presented the opportunity for a substantial number of companies to develop and sell knives to the Federal Government.

The knife in the picture looks as if it is made from 1095 steel, but has been well preserved. I like it.
 
The 598 is one of the most common KA-BAR hunting knives of the late 1930s. Yours with the marked sheath is very late, perhaps even into 1940-42. The Union Cutlery mark was discontinued around late 1942-43. The 598s were available with 4,5,6,7, and 8" blades. A 12" blade one is listed in a catalog, but neither I or anybody I know has ever seen one. Wartime ones can be found with wood pommels with steel caps and the KA-BAR over Olean, NY stamp, and post war models with the KA-BAR USA stamp. The 7"&8" models were discontinued with the advent of the war, and I think were only available with 5" blades after the war. The 98 series was only available with leather handles unlike other models that were available in fiber, leather, leather and stag or full stag handles. I am away from home for a few days so I do not have my catalogs available to let you know when the model first appeared. A 5" 598 was available as an official Boy Scout knife with a BSA marked sheath and BSA etched blade in the late 1930s and one with a steel pommel was available as a BSA knife during the war.
 
Thanks for the reply, can you shed any light on the "1/2"? I have not found anything referencing that designation anywhere.

/Edit: Also, as a new user I don't want to cross any boundaries or commit a faux pas by requesting an appraisal, but could anyone speak to its relative value? I am not going to sell it, I am just curious if I did alright for $25.

Thank You
 
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I don't know if it's worth $5 or $5000 but IMO,
Any USA Ka-Bar in that condition for $25 is going home with me!
With the history Zz layed on it, I think you did great!
 
NCSlice said:
I don't know if it's worth $5 or $5000 but IMO,
Any USA Ka-Bar in that condition for $25 is going home with me!
With the history Zz layed on it, I think you did great!
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Thanks for the props, NC, but Gunsil provided the info. :D He's the "Older Kabar Guru". I'm just a "Newer Kabar Afficianado", with a lot to learn.

If we're talking old Western fixed blades, got ya covered for that one. :D
 
NS your knife appears to have a 4" blade, is this correct?? 598-1/2 appears in the 1938 price list which does not include a description or picture. I think it may be the 4" blade designation as the 4" blade 598 model does not seem to appear until that year.
 
gunsil said:
NS your knife appears to have a 4" blade, is this correct?? 598-1/2 appears in the 1938 price list which does not include a description or picture. I think it may be the 4" blade designation as the 4" blade 598 model does not seem to appear until that year.
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Hi Gene, took me awhile but yes; I have confirmed it is a 4" blade.

4inch 59812.jpg4inch 598.jpg
 
Very cute little hunter!! Actually the 4" blade with the aluminum pommel and Union Cut marks is perhaps the scarcest of the 598 series. The WW2 version with a steel butt cap is much more prevalent with a 4" blade, and the 7 and 8" blades seemed to have disappeared with the advent of the war.
 
I think I have the same model knife, but with a 5" blade. Nice score!
 
North Shore, I must say that I really like that knife! Hope you thoroughly enjoy it! :D
 
That's a perfect boys knife.....oh how I wish the scouts let them carry knives like that now......I had a 5.5 in solingen buffalo skinner that I carried in scouts when I was 10
 
The 598 4" blade was not really a "boy's knife", the "Little Hunter" and "Little Trading Post" models were KA-BAR's knives intended to be marketed to boys, here are a few. The top photo shows Little Hunters in stag, they also came with celluloid handles with stag pommels and a BSA model with leather handle and aluminum pommel, all had 3&1/2" saber ground blades. The bottom photo shows Little Trading Post models which had 3" flat ground blades. Little Trading Post was also available with celluloid handles and a stag butt. These are some of my Favorite KA-BAR knives and I have a bunch of them. DSCN2483.JPG DSCN3028.JPG
 
The pommels look huge in comparison to the blade on those Little Trading Post knives, thanks for the picture Gene.
 
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