Kabar stockman help?

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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P.W. Smith
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Location: Walla Walla Washington
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Kabar stockman help?

Post by P.W. Smith »

Hello all. I recently picked up this 3 blade kabar stockman. It's got a black jigged bone or Delrin / plastic handle. It is literally unused. Not even carried. Only opened a few times. Perfect snap on all 3 blades, and Rock solid lock up. Looking on eBay and other areas, I've seen a few similar, but not quite the same versions of this knife, but all of these reference a 1950s date of manufacture. Looking at the tang stamp, the one on mine is the 1930-1940 stamp. Is this correct? Also I cannot find the exact model number. The blade isn't marked as such. And any idea on value in this condition? Any and all info you can give would be much appreciated!
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peanut740
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Re: Kabar stockman help?

Post by peanut740 »

Looks like black comp of some kind.It's later than 1940. ::welcome:: to AAPK.
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Cowdiddly
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Re: Kabar stockman help?

Post by Cowdiddly »

Well first off your going to have to decide if its bone or derlin/plastic.
The Derlin plant started in 1960 was adopted by a few knife makers in 61. So if its as old as you say its. not that.
The absolute best way to tell if its bone is put it on a belt sander and if the smell gags you its bone. ::barf::
I can usually tell if it is bone or derlin/plastic by just rubbing my thumb on it with slight pressure. Derlin will feel slick and bone will be kinda grabby jerky.
Another trick I don't terribily recommend is the hot needle test in an inconspicous spot. the pin will start melting into penetrating plastic or derlin but not bone
The best way is to get about 20x magnification on it then its easy, you will see tiny cracks in the surface of the bone and Derlin will look real shiny glassy in spots.
It just looks like the common stockman pattern to me. but old Kabars have some great steel in them. past that I would not guess its much more than 40 bucks and maybe +10 for bone but I might be a little behind the times with that guesstimate.
P.W. Smith
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Location: Walla Walla Washington
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Re: Kabar stockman help?

Post by P.W. Smith »

Thanks! Long time lurker, first time poster. I normally can figure out all I need to know on a knife, but this one had me stumped. Just put some magnification on it. It's bone. Also any idea on model number? It's not present on the knife, and kabar knives aren't the main focus of my collection, so I lack resources in that department. But seeing how nice this one is, I thin I may have to change that!
Cowdiddly
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Re: Kabar stockman help?

Post by Cowdiddly »

Yep she is that. Purdy. But with a name like cowdiddly I think all stockmans are Purdy. :)
Im not a Kabar guru either. I have only ever had 3, an old Lockback like a buck 110, a single blade liner locking trapper and a Vietnam era U.S.M.C fighting knife. All of them took a wicked edge and served me well when I had em.
Hope you enjoy the new Pretty.
atrco
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Re: Kabar stockman help?

Post by atrco »

HI: i have several of these knives and doubt very much if it is either delrin or bone. back in the 40's and 50's knife manufacturers used what they called "black composition" for handles. what the exact makeup of that is, is unknown to me, but i do know it is not celluloid and is very stable.

i also have several kababs with this tang stamp. i THINK it is after the large KABAR in caps with the Union Cut. Co. stamp on the rear of the tang (which all references say is from 1920 to 1951). we do know that the company's name was officially changed in 1951 to Kabar. soon, i think the tang stamp on your knife was post 1951 but before the company started using Kabar in small case letters.

i like the black composition handled knives because if you find one mint (like yours) it is a real find. after all, this material was used on knives that were usually bought by working men who USED them.

atrco
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