Some Ka-Bar History

Tanker 1/66

Tanker 1/66

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I just came across this and thought I would screen shot it and post. Maybe it can help identify some knives. The 3 digit phone number on the bottom of the flyer dates it to the 1940s-1950s Please correct me if I am wrong.



 
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So I noticed that the flyer had the name H.A.Nelson as a Ka-Bar factory representative. I did some searching because after all I do have the worlds history and knowledge at my finger tips :) Anyways I found this gentleman In a newspaper article from 1937 in Corpus Christi Tx. He Is demonstrating Ka-Bar knives at a meat market. So the above flyer could date back to the 1930s depending on how long Mr.H.A.Nelson was a Ka-Bar employee
 
That is excellent. Thank you for sharing. At that time the company would still have been Union Cutlery with "KA-BAR" as a trademark. A $1,000 worth of knives than compared to a $1,000 of knives today... I am going to need a time machine.
 
Can you imagine walking into the hardware store and seeing that display. Quite impressive.
 
According to the consumer's price index calculator a $1000 worth of knives in 1937 would be around $17,000 in todays money.
 
Some excellent history in those photos.

I really like the elliptical Woodcraft type blades near the bottom. Lots to be said for a continuously sweeping blade.
 
The display is pre-WW2, and there are not a thousand dollars worth of knives in the case. The $1,000 is referring to another lot of knives. The wide blade knives on the bottom are model 72 knives, called "Trusty" in the old brochures. The model 72 would have a three digit model number depending on the handle material, and they were available in at least six handle configurations.
 
gunsil said:
The display is pre-WW2, and there are not a thousand dollars worth of knives in the case. The $1,000 is referring to another lot of knives. The wide blade knives on the bottom are model 72 knives, called "Trusty" in the old brochures. The model 72 would have a three digit model number depending on the handle material, and they were available in at least six handle configurations.
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Now this is the knowledge and expertise that's needed here. Just from a screen shot of an old black and white picture knives are being identified. Thanks gunsil for sharing.
 
iirc KaBar has an extensive in house archive / library with a lot of amazing facts...

but it's also quite dense and hard to travel. perhaps a librarian / knowledge specialist ? :D
 
Hey Tank, I'd like to send you a PM, but I no longer see the option to do so, do you know if it is still available? I have those display photos and could send you scans. OOPS!! I figured it out, look in conversations.
 
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gunsil said:
Hey Tank, I'd like to send you a PM, but I no longer see the option to do so, do you know if it is still available? I have those display photos and could send you scans.
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So your the one lol. PM Is still an option and your a gold member it should be there? Check to see if your membership lapsed.
 
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