Dating a Safety lock

The KA-BAR brand originated as a trademark of the Tidioute Cutlery Company. Tidioute was later taken over & renamed the Union Cutlery Company which continued making the brand until Union eventually adopted it as the company name in 1952. Cutco Corporation later acquired the company in 1996.
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atrco
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Dating a Safety lock

Post by atrco »

Here is (i think) an unusual folding hunter. tang stamps just KA-BAR USA. no Union Cut. Co. on reverse of tang. anyone care to hazard a guess on date of manufacture? 1950's?
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btrwtr
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Re: Dating a Safety lock

Post by btrwtr »

KA-BARS can be very hard to date in my experience. That said any Dog's Head knife with this cam type lock that I have seen looked to be a pre-WWII knife to me. Maybe as early as 1920's. Is the tang stamped Union Cut on the pile side?

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peanut740
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Re: Dating a Safety lock

Post by peanut740 »

Like Wayne said pre-WWII.I would have thought it would have Union Cut on back of tang also. ::shrug:: Really nice Union/Kabar bone.I like the pattern also. ::tu::
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atrco
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Re: Dating a Safety lock

Post by atrco »

i actually posted the pic before i got the knife. as it turns out it does have Union Cut. Co. Ocean NY on the reverse of the tang. so you think it could be from the 30's?
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peanut740
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Re: Dating a Safety lock

Post by peanut740 »

Late 20's to mid 30's.would be my best guess. ::tu::
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atrco
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Re: Dating a Safety lock

Post by atrco »

Thanks!
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Re: Dating a Safety lock

Post by Gunsil »

I don't see any USA on the stamp. Knife has been so cleaned that I think the Union Cut mark on the back side has been lost. Definitely a pre WW2 knife, and likely no later than mid 1930s.
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