Quick question on a 1232 gurus... n00b needs help here.

[Reignman]

So I recently saw one first hand and saw the "Kabar" was not hyphenated and the font looked different.

It looked authentic (to the best of my knowledge)...

Did they ever write KABAR and not Ka-BAR on those? Could it be an older/newer one?

 

[zzyzzogeton]

There are several versions of the 1232. I only know some of them.

The pattern has been around since forever, even before the knife marked 1232 designation, and has had several versions.

The "Kabar" mark all by itself I "BELIEVE" is from the late 40s to early 50s, maybe. Need a big hitter guru for that one.
The pre-Cleveland versions from the late 50s and early 60s have an "Italicized" or right leaning "Kabar" over "1232 USA".
The Cleveland era Kabar 1232 on the mark side and Japan STAINLESS on the pile side.
The post-Cleveland (when the company was sold again and moved back to Olean, NY) stamp has "Kabar 1232" and "Taiwan".

I don't know exact dates when the tangs changed from one to another.

If any of them had KABAR, KA-BAR, Ka-bar, Ka-Bar, with or without an Olean NY on them, that will take a more experienced guru than I.