Sabre Knives

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waldo2012

Joined
Aug 30, 2010
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Has anybody heard of Sabre Knives by Ka-Bar ? I saw several of these traditional style knives in boxes, seems they're all China and there is
Cole Consumer Products Solon, Ohio on the side of the boxes. First time I've ever seen or heard of Sabre by Ka-Bar....is that because they are just an old forgotten cheap sideline?
 
Just another one of their brands as cole had control 1966-1996, headquarters Cleveland Ohio and used a few different names
 
Forty years ago, it was a cheap sideline brand made in Japan. I carried a Sabre two-blade jack for years when I was a kid. I don't know what became of it.
 
I received an old used Sabre Peanut with a sort of psuedo-pearl handle for my 6th birthday from my great grandmother ( I was told it was my greatgrandfathers ) I carried it forever and while it was cheap and I don't believe it ever sported an acceptable edge it was a staple from my childhood and I won't part with it.
 
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yablanowitz said:
Forty years ago, it was a cheap sideline brand made in Japan. I carried a Sabre two-blade jack for years when I was a kid. I don't know what became of it.
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I had a Granddaddy Barlow Sabre made in Japan. I couldn't get it to take a decent edge and I tried hard. Gave it away in the end.
 
If I'm not mistaken, the 'Sabre' name brand has been all over the world, over the span of decades. I think I've seen 'Sabre' knives on the auction site from Ireland, Taiwan/China and Japan, at least. My dad used to have an old Japan-made Sabre fishing knife, most likely '70s vintage. I suspect it's one of those brands that's been bought/sold (in name only) many, many times, and may not reveal much about the quality of a particular knife branded as such.
 
Well there was at least a dozen different models for 5 to 7 bucks and I bought one with a faux pearl handle just because it was cheap and looked nice. I don't think it had been opened in 20 years it was so tight, still had the warranty paper too. Anyway I guess they're not worth much except for nostalgia or if you need a 5 dollar Barlow...
 
I came across a Sabre going through some old boxes of mine. Looks like a 6392 stockman. Looks like. Terrible quality. Just terrible. Its sitting on a desk in the spare room, bout all that one is good for in my opinion.

Rob
 
My Dad found a brand new Sabre(Japan) stockman with pearl celluloid scales in my grandmothers house after she passed away in '77 and gave it to me.It held an edge pretty well,especially for an 11 year old,Unfortunately I lost it.It definately wasn't worth much money wise but If I still had it I wouldn't trade it for the best custom knife on the market.I kick myself for loosing it everytime I think of it.
 
The Sabre U.S.A. and Sabre, Japan folders made 1970's-' 80's (?) are of decent quality. I have a few of them, picked up on ebay for very low prices. There is nothing special about them, but they work fine and cost very little. No collector value.
roland
 
rprocter said:
The Sabre U.S.A. and Sabre, Japan folders made 1970's-' 80's (?) are of decent quality. I have a few of them, picked up on ebay for very low prices. There is nothing special about them, but they work fine and cost very little. No collector value.
roland
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Ditto to that. The Japan-made fishing knife I mentioned earlier (a Sabre 624), gave a good ~20 years of faithful service before it was lost. Lots of Rainbows and German Browns (and at least a few Brookies) were cleaned with it, in that time. My Dad took good care of it, and I'm sure it could've given another 20 years, if need be.
 
I have a Sabre branded texas jack styled slipjoint, but it says it's made in Germany? Don't know much about it, besides that it has carbon steel blades, and is in good nick.
 
My dad has a two-blade Sabre jack, made in Ireland. He bought it when he was a kid, and has used it for over forty years. Thin, carbon steel blades that take wicked-sharp edges. It had stamped shell type scales and bolsters, but one had been lost. I took it home and "re-furbished" it. It is now a bolsterless shadow pattern with black walnut scales. Dad still carries and uses it, and I still sharpen iut for him, now and then.
 
I remember in the late 60s going to the five and dime and seeing those knives in a small case on the counter. They had about 6-8 knives on display, with a guy dressed as one of the Three Musketeers silk screened on the display.

I never bought one, but one of my friends did, and it broke immediately. The blades were so soft they bent, the bolsters were hollow, and the scales were hard plastic. I saved for a real CASE.

I still see those in thrift shops or "antique" stores once in a while. They were pretty bad.

Robert
 
My father in-law just passed and my wife sent me a pic of one of his knives. When I looked it up I thought it was so cool that BF was in the top results. His is in the Buck 110 style. When she gets home I will research it more. Love this place!
 
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