Worth checking out this collection

NCCNC

NCCNC

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Jan 26, 2013
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My father in law really laid it on me today. He gave me a big tote with his knife collection in it and told me to enjoy. I have been collecting modern folders for years, but this meant a ton to me. I thought you all may enjoy the eye candy.

All pre-production prototype masters of defense knives, with two LE Blackhawk seki Japan knives (the company that took over MOD after the machine shop he managed stop producing them, before blackhawk went to China.)
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All these are vintage Norwegian made knives. He is first gen norwegian in the U.S. My wife's viens flow full of that firey quick tempered norwegian blood.
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These are two more norwegian fixed blades, an old ka bar, and a big fighting knife custom made for his father in the early 90's.
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PS, if anyone can give me an idea of when this usn ka bar was produced, I would appreciate it. It the oldest I have owned. KA BAR on one side, USN on the other. Peened over hilt. No other markings. I am thinking maybe 60's.
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WOW! nice score. Those Blackhawks are amazing. Before I really got into knives I bought one of the chinese Blackhawks. Wish I could have gotten my hands on one of the "real" ones
 
All those MOD knives have been sitting in a closet, brand new, for over 10 years. Since I don't sell anything that was gifted to me.....it's time to start carrying these bad boys. Except the Harkins Triton. It's too pretty.
 
That is awesome.
 
Your Kabar USN MK2 is one of what I term the "3rd" version. It was most likely made sometime in the later half of 1943 or early 1944.

The first version, made only by Camillus, was the first 50K knives shipped in February 1943. These had a screw on pommel secured with a split nut.

The second versions are the ones made after the first change order for improving the knife came out before Kabar shipped their first batch in April 1943. The change was from a screwed on pommel to a peened on pommel, with a round tang/peen mark. This change was necessary to eliminate the problems of the nut or nut/pommel unscrewing and getting loose with use.

The 3rd version had a square peen rather than a round peen. This change reduced the cost and time of making the knives. No time was spent rounding the tang to fit a round hole stamped in the pommel.

The next set of changes came out around the same time and I can't find my notes indicating which came first.

The 4th version has "thin" 1/4" thick pinned pommels and the company names are stamped in the guard, not the blades. The first pommels were 3/8" thick and peened on. This change reduced by 1/3 the amount of steel used in the pommels. The stamp change reduced assembly and finishing times. The blades did not have to be picked up, stamped, turned over and stamped again. The guards were stamped out and marked in a single process, and since every knife got a guard, the whole blade stamping time was eliminated.

I have a couple of Camillus and Kabar knives that are both blade and guard stamped, indicating that there was overlap in the transitions with those 2 companies. I also have a couple of thick pommel guard marked versions, as well.

PAL and Robeson-Suredge didn't make enough to have transition difficulties.
 
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Wow. Master of Defense is legendary! That is so awesome, you got an amazing father in law. I'm sure you two will get along just fine.
 
Thank you very much for that knowledge! I really appreciate it. In fact, I just copied it to a word doc and saved that info to refer to down the road.

zzyzzogeton said:
Your Kabar USN MK2 is one of what I term the "3rd" version. It was most likely made sometime in the later half of 1943 or early 1944.

The first version, made only by Camillus, was the first 50K knives shipped in February 1943. These had a screw on pommel secured with a split nut.

The second versions are the ones made after the first change order for improving the knife came out before Kabar shipped their first batch in April 1943. The change was from a screwed on pommel to a peened on pommel, with a round tang/peen mark. This change was necessary to eliminate the problems of the nut or nut/pommel unscrewing and getting loose with use.

The 3rd version had a square peen rather than a round peen. This change reduced the cost and time of making the knives. No time was spent rounding the tang to fit a round hole stamped in the pommel.

The next set of changes came out around the same time and I can't find my notes indicating which came first.

The 4th version has "thin" 1/4" thick pinned pommels and the company names are stamped in the guard, not the blades. The first pommels were 3/8" thick and peened on. This change reduced by 1/3 the amount of steel used in the pommels. The stamp change reduced assembly and finishing times. The blades did not have to be picked up, stamped, turned over and stamped again. The guards were stamped out and marked in a single process, and since every knife got a guard, the whole blade stamping time was eliminated.

I have a couple of Camillus and Kabar knives that are both blade and guard stamped, indicating that there was overlap in the transitions with those 2 companies. I also have a couple of thick pommel guard marked versions, as well.

PAL and Robeson-Suredge didn't make enough to have transition difficulties.
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We are very close. He owns the machine shop that I run. His wife is co owner, and my wife manages the office and operates HR. We are a pretty tight knit unit.

Sonnydaze said:
As a father and father-in-law, I'm impressed. Very, very nice.
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Damn!! What a great FIL!!
Amazing collection brother!! Enjoy them!!
Wow!
Joe
 
Thanks guys! I started building a shadow box last night, to display all the Norwegian blades in on the wall.
 
Razorback !!! one of my favorite !
The Ladyhawk was also a good one... and the Triton a masterpiece of the tacticool industry.
very nice collection , I'm jealous :D
 
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