Vintage Union Cutlery Co. KA-BAR Knives

knife7knut · Post by **knife7knut** » Sun Mar 02, 2014 8:16 pm

This has got to be hands-down the best thread I've seen here in many moons.Thanks to all who took the trouble to post their treasures.I will now wipe the rest of the drool off my keyboard.

wiseguy · Post by **wiseguy** » Mon Mar 03, 2014 2:52 pm

That`s a very cool knife Mason

I want it

Mason wrote:Great thread M.B. with some fantastic models shown, thanks everyone.
Here is a fairly uncommon Union Cut. Dog Head model with a spring fired swivel lever type action.

knife7knut · Post by **knife7knut** » Tue Mar 04, 2014 11:47 pm

Well I finally decided to buy this one so I ent over to the antique shop today to pick it up.Nice full blade but some idiot previous to me(that didn't come out right!)had decided to attempt a "power sharpening".Luckily he didn't do much except scratch the blade.I've been working them out with 220 grit wet-or-dry paper with some success.Taking it a little at a time.
It is(I believe)an early model as the pommel is peened into place.The leather washer handle is in great shape BUT..... it has two holes that go all the way through the handle.One is about 1/2" from the crossguard and about 1/8th inch in diameter.The second is about 1" from the pommel and about 1/4" in diameter. Were these holes originally made in the Mark II's ? I'm not really into military knives so I don't know.
Stampings are,"KA-BAR Olean N.Y." in two lines and "USN" (no periods between letters)on the opposite. Blade was scary sharp and even more so now that I've worked it a bit.No sheath. Paid $45 for it which I don't think was too bad. Probably shouldn't have cleaned up the blade but I like shiny knives and I didn't buy it to flip.

Miller Bro's · Post by **Miller Bro's** » Tue Mar 04, 2014 11:52 pm

knife7knut wrote:it has two holes that go all the way through the handle.One is about 1/2" from the crossguard and about 1/8th inch in diameter.The second is about 1" from the pommel and about 1/4" in diameter. Were these holes originally made in the Mark II's ?

The holes were drilled by the previous owner for some reason.

knife7knut · Post by **knife7knut** » Tue Mar 04, 2014 11:58 pm

Miller Bro`s wrote:
knife7knut wrote:it has two holes that go all the way through the handle.One is about 1/2" from the crossguard and about 1/8th inch in diameter.The second is about 1" from the pommel and about 1/4" in diameter. Were these holes originally made in the Mark II's ?
The holes were drilled by the previous owner for some reason.

Thanks Dimitri; people like that should NOT be allowed access to ANY type of power tool!

Dull · Post by **Dull** » Wed Mar 05, 2014 12:27 am

About those two holes....they look familiar. I've got a 1884 Springfield rifle with two holes - one in the buttstock the other in the forearm. What for? They were to hang it on the wall! It's a wallhanger! (but, I still shoot it). That may be what happened with your knife. People!!!

Gunsil · Post by **Gunsil** » Sun Mar 09, 2014 6:39 pm

Dug out a few more, these are called "Expert" in the old brochures, pattern #65, in bone- 665, stag-265, and jigged wood, also listed as a 665. Came with a sheath that fits the blade curve perfectly. Dug out a bunch more but am having problems with lighting for good pics, will post more as I get it together.

Miller Bro's · Post by **Miller Bro's** » Sun Mar 09, 2014 7:06 pm

Gunsil wrote:Dug out a few more

Keep digging I like seeing these beauties

Gunsil · Post by **Gunsil** » Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:22 pm

The rare 266 "Primitive" and a 237 "Old Boy", and the rarer 281 "Minute Man, designed by Fred W Smith, noted New England hunter and sportsman.

bonehead · Post by **bonehead** » Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:28 pm

Gunsil wrote:Dug out a few more, these are called "Expert" in the old brochures, pattern #65, in bone- 665, stag-265, and jigged wood, also listed as a 665. Came with a sheath that fits the blade curve perfectly. Dug out a bunch more but am having problems with lighting for good pics, will post more as I get it together.

Gunsil, Please ,Please, Please Do not part those out. They are some fine knives. Each one adds to the others, They communicate together

Awesome, BH

Gunsil · Post by **Gunsil** » Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:30 pm

Super rare #667&#267 "Robin Hood" and equally rare "Highlander" model number unknown. Robin Hoods with a unique proper sheath, rarer than the knives. forgot to include the special Highlander sheath. Stay tuned, more to come as time allows!!

bonehead · Post by **bonehead** » Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:36 pm

Gunsil wrote:Super rare #667&#267 "Robin Hood" and equally rare "Highlander" model number unknown. Robin Hoods with a unique proper sheath, rarer than the knives. forgot to include the special Highlander sheath. Stay tuned, more to come as time allows!!

Gunsil,

You need a mini Museum! So Cool to see these. Thanks for sharing

BH

jerryd6818 · Post by **jerryd6818** » Sun Mar 09, 2014 9:34 pm

Nothing old, nothing rare, nothing special but I like 'em. I have some others but they're all "new age" and don't fit here.

All my Marine Corps Ka-Bar fighting knives are post 1975 so no need to post them here either except for this one. It commemorates the 200th birthday of the USMC and they're kind of hard to come by. It's also the first made when Ka-Bar resumed production of the MK-IIs. (correct me if I'm wrong on that Gene)

timgreene48 · Post by **timgreene48** » Sun Mar 09, 2014 11:13 pm

Gunsil, AWSOME,AWSOME knives!! thanks for sharing them!

btrwtr · Post by **btrwtr** » Sun Mar 09, 2014 11:55 pm

Gunsil, Awesome knifes. Those Robin Hoods are sweet!

Wayne

Bill-in-Texas · Post by **Bill-in-Texas** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 1:41 am

Great topic, & thanks for the education on Ka-Bars... I hadn't reaized so many models were produced.

Here's my modest contribution (from an older posting):

http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kni ... 78&t=35308

Gunsil · Post by **Gunsil** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 1:54 pm

Thanks to all of you for the nice compliments on my old KA-BARS!! I have to start getting ready for the EPKCA show in Wind Gap, PA the 15th, next Saturday, and may not dig out too many more until next week. I hope there are some of you on here that are going. I'll have a table there, would like to meet those here who I don't already know. No, none of the KA=BARs I've posted will be for sale there, but I have many knives I'll be offering other than those. Have a great week everybody, Gene

eyeselect · Post by **eyeselect** » Mon Mar 10, 2014 6:24 pm

This is an OLCUT Union Cutlery knife with a celluloid handle. Open the knife is about 9.5 inches long, and closed it is 5.24 inches. There's a faint stamp on the celluloid that says MAINE. If anyone has any information about this knife I would be interested to to learn about it.

Fun Fact,
Mitt Romney’s great, great grand father Parley Pratt was murdered in 1857 by the estranged husband of his twelfth wife. His murder was a contributing factor to events leading up to the Mountain Meadows massacre a few months later. In September 11, 1857 the Mormons killed 120 people from the Baker–Fancher party who were traveling to Southern California along the Mormon Road (a portion of the Old Spanish Trail). Parley Pratt had a total of 30 children, and his living descendants in 2011 were estimated to number 30,000 to 50,000.

wazu013 · Post by **wazu013** » Sat Mar 15, 2014 3:12 pm

eyeselect wrote:This is an OLCUT Union Cutlery knife with a celluloid handle. Open the knife is about 9.5 inches long, and closed it is 5.24 inches. There's a faint stamp on the celluloid that says MAINE. If anyone has any information about this knife I would be interested to to learn about it.

Fun Fact,
Mitt Romney’s great, great grand father Parley Pratt was murdered in 1857 by the estranged husband of his twelfth wife. His murder was a contributing factor to events leading up to the Mountain Meadows massacre a few months later. In September 11, 1857 the Mormons killed 120 people from the Baker–Fancher party who were traveling to Southern California along the Mormon Road (a portion of the Old Spanish Trail). Parley Pratt had a total of 30 children, and his living descendants in 2011 were estimated to number 30,000 to 50,000.

How many Baker-Fancher descendants never had a chance to live because someone got jealous over his twelfth wife

Sounds like the original "Baker's Dozen"

Gunsil · Post by **Gunsil** » Mon Mar 24, 2014 8:23 pm

Some more from the vault!! Union Cut Co BEAUTY!! "Faithful", "Trusty" with a stag butt, and "Pathfinder" with a rare green "bowling ball" handle. "Explorer", "no-stain steel Faithful" and GNARLY stag "Bearcat".

Gunsil · Post by **Gunsil** » Mon Mar 24, 2014 8:29 pm

MORE!! Unknown model rare "puuko" style, rare Olcut "Camp King", #676 with a "Viking" etch.

Gunsil · Post by **Gunsil** » Mon Mar 24, 2014 8:34 pm

One more, unknown model blade changer with hunter blade, fork, and butcher blade in special sheath which holds it all. Has a lever lock for the blades similar to the KA-BAR switchblades. More to come as I dig them out and get the time to photo and post them. ENJOY!!