rigging knife

[seabasedm]

I just perchased a Ka-Bar rigging knife.it is marked olean N.Y.
it lookes brand new.I heard that some are marked Japan.I was wondering
what info you guyes can tell me.thankyou.

 

[stu]

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm fairly certain that if it's marked "Olean, NY" then it's made in Olean, NY. If it was made elsewhere, like my Mule, it would say something else (mine says taiwan).

 

[cpirtle]

If the knife says Olean it was made there.

Kabar was in Olean first as Union Cutlery Company, then KaBar until 1966. Between 66 & 96 they were owned by two companies in the Cleveland area and much/most of the production was done there. In 1996 Alcas purchased them and moved them back to Olean.

Your knife was made prior to 66 or after 96, without pictures it's hard to guess which.

They are still in Olean at this time.

 

[tyr_shadowblade]

I used to have one of those . . . nice little knife. Press down on the shackle and the marlinspike flips out and locks into position. It may be older than you think, but I have no idea what it would be worth to a collector.

 

[seabasedm]

sorry my question was a bit veg. you hit it though cpirtle.I was wonting to get an idea of age and changes in manufacturing when it changed hands.
the spike does'nt flip out though.pressing the shackle when the spike is closed does make it easer to open the spike, and of corse it unlocks it too.
how about the myerchin knives?its said that this co. produces top of the line rigging knives. Both the spike and the blade lock.I'm curies though to
how tough they are to sharpin. I tend to shy away from stainless steel.just dont care for the way it sharping and holds its edge. thanxs again.

seabasedm

 

[tyr_shadowblade]

the spike does'nt flip out though.pressing the shackle when the spike is closed does make it easer to open the spike, and of corse it unlocks it too.
Both the spike and the blade lock. seabasedm

This must be a different version of the Ka-Bar rigging knife than the one I'm familiar with. Mine was manufactured during the 60s, and the sheepsfoot blade did not lock. When the shackle was pressed past a certain point, spring tension on the marlinspike would vanish, and it would drop into position from either gravity or a light flick of the wrist. The spike would lock when the shackle was released.

 

[dawg]

Myerchin makes an excellent knife. I'm a professional traditional wooden boat builder in the Pacific Northwest and occasionally sail tall ships as crew. Myerchins are seen a lot with professionals (i.e. delivery crews,fishing boats,charters etc..) as well as being issue to U.S.C.G crews. I've also seen them frequently in Alaska. I prefer a fixed blade for rigging knives myself but the myerchin folders are extremely strong. As regards stainless...if you plan on being anywhere near saltwater, I'm not sure if you would want to consider anything else.

 

[Dijos]

Ag russell makes one too, but they're not cheap

http://www.agrussell.com/knives/by_...ves/folding_knives/a_g_russell_seamaster.html

There are a few alternatives if you're going around seawater; H-1 (from Spyderco) or Dave Boye's cobalt knives.

 

[gubby]

I've got one of them too! It used to belong to my grandpa, and you can tell he got his money's worth out of it. The sheath that is with it, he made it using the knife, some leather, and some thread of some sort. The only markings on it are "Ka bar Rigging Knife" and some of my grandpa's tooth indentations from holding it in his mouth. The blade don't lock, and the spike cannot be opened with one-hand. I just tried it, and if you can get the correct grip to push REALLY hard on the spike-release, it will open about 1 cm after flicking your wrist several times. AFter that point, it needs extra fore to open up because the locking mechanism seems to have some friction. A light oil may fix that; I'll have to try it. I really like tbhe knife, and though I don't sail (my grandpa was going to teach me, but life got busy and the planning for the trip was never finished), but the knife sure does make a nice EDC.

Oh, and I forgot about this one. A few years ago for Christmas he gave me a Buck Yachtsman 315 rigging knife, new in box. Nice knife, but the spike is a lot harder to open up.