Kabar Jumbo Whittler
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Kabar Jumbo Whittler
A Kabar Jumbo Whittler, 4 1/2", with what might be ivory handles is on it's way to me. It does not seem to be marked with a country name. Back side tangs are marked "ETN91", "?UCCo" & "?30".
Is anyone familiar with this knife ? Made in USA ? Part of a special series or was this a 'regular' Kabar pattern ?
I am not at all familiar with Kabar so i will appreciate any & all info.
thanks, kj
Is anyone familiar with this knife ? Made in USA ? Part of a special series or was this a 'regular' Kabar pattern ?
I am not at all familiar with Kabar so i will appreciate any & all info.
thanks, kj
- supratentorial
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Re: Kabar Jumbo Whittler
Hi KJ. Don't know anything about this knife but there are related auctions archived on Worthpoint. Unfortunately the descriptions were extremely brief and don't have much information. But they are additional examples. One appears to be the same knife or maybe just very similar. The seller describes the covers as "FAUX IVORY?" with a "?". A photo from the top makes it appear as though there is a black material beneath the ivory colored material. It's hard to see in the sellers photos but it looks like your knife may also have black material underneath the ivory colored material. You can check the stamps on the knife at this link. I wonder if "200" means 1 of 200? He says it's from 1991.
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ ... -472280614
Here's a similar knife with a different handle material.
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ ... -494286546
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ ... -472280614
Here's a similar knife with a different handle material.
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ ... -494286546
- zzyzzogeton
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Re: Kabar Jumbo Whittler
Joe,
I believe it is one of the Kabar Collectors Club knives that came out between 1976 and 199x when the "club" went away. They were all reproductions of early Kabar models.
I think there were some models that were also made in limited quantities for non-KCC members.
Over on bladeforums, there is a sticky that had pics of every KCC knife made, but the owner used pukebucket so all the pics are history.
I believe it is one of the Kabar Collectors Club knives that came out between 1976 and 199x when the "club" went away. They were all reproductions of early Kabar models.
I think there were some models that were also made in limited quantities for non-KCC members.
Over on bladeforums, there is a sticky that had pics of every KCC knife made, but the owner used pukebucket so all the pics are history.
- zzyzzogeton
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Re: Kabar Jumbo Whittler
I think the ETN91 means elephant toe 1991, the UCCo is Union Cutlery Company and the ? 30 is the serial number, 130, 230, 330, maybe upto 430, depending on how many people were in the KCC in a given year.
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Re: Kabar Jumbo Whittler
Thanks for your posts.
The Worthpoint pictures show what might be old piano keys for handle slabs. I had a Krusius whittler assembled in 1980's with old piano keys and the spine picture showing black underneath the white looks very similar. But is this knife too deep top to bottom for the width of a piano key ?
"UCCo" = United Cutlery Co. ? Was there a connection between Kabar & United Cutlery ?
And no country of origin so therefore made in USA ?
kj
Edit, so UCCo = Union Cutlery Co which is an old pre Kabar company name. Thanks for this.
The Worthpoint pictures show what might be old piano keys for handle slabs. I had a Krusius whittler assembled in 1980's with old piano keys and the spine picture showing black underneath the white looks very similar. But is this knife too deep top to bottom for the width of a piano key ?
"UCCo" = United Cutlery Co. ? Was there a connection between Kabar & United Cutlery ?
And no country of origin so therefore made in USA ?
kj
Edit, so UCCo = Union Cutlery Co which is an old pre Kabar company name. Thanks for this.
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Re: Kabar Jumbo Whittler
I doubt that they are old piano keys. I have a bunch of them that I got years ago and the ivory is not much thicker than a veneer. I made a very thin set of handles for a small fixed blade.I also have a bunch of thick pieces of ivory but none are wide enough for a set of handles.kootenay joe wrote:Thanks for your posts.
The Worthpoint pictures show what might be old piano keys for handle slabs.
kj
Adventure BEFORE Dementia!
Re: Kabar Jumbo Whittler
Union Cut Co made the original KA-BAR knives, they adopted the KA-BAR trademark in 1923, they are not all pre-KA-BAR, many original KA-BAR knives have the UCCO or Union Cutlery marks on the small blades. Union Cut Co changed it's name to KA-BAR Inc. in 1951 and the marks changed from KA-BAR to Kabar in italicized letters. The knife in question, like ZZZY says is a collector's club knife from 1991 and was actually made by Queen as were all the collector's club knives. Sadly, KA-BAR hasn't actually made a folding knife in Olean, NY for decades.
- tongueriver
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Re: Kabar Jumbo Whittler
Thanks, Gunsil for a very valuable bit of KABAR/KA-BAR/Kabar history that I have been wanting for some time. Saved. I missed out on a GOOD ONE this last week; I was shocked at the selling price.
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Re: Kabar Jumbo Whittler
Calvin what knife did you 'miss out on' ?
Surprised by price being too high ? or too low ?
I paid just over $80 for this Kabar Jumbo Whittler which i see as a good deal for the buyer. The Jumbo Whittler is usually one of the most expensive of traditional folding knife patterns.
kj
Surprised by price being too high ? or too low ?
I paid just over $80 for this Kabar Jumbo Whittler which i see as a good deal for the buyer. The Jumbo Whittler is usually one of the most expensive of traditional folding knife patterns.
kj
Re: Kabar Jumbo Whittler
Roland, I believe the collector's club did issue a few knives in genuine elephant ivory. I searched through my old collector's club literature but do not have or could not find the 1991 issues to see if yours was actually made in real ivory but I suspect it may be. If you can find anybody with the 1991 issues of the KA-BAR Collectors Club newsletters they could say for sure since all the specs are listed in the newsletters when the new club knives came out. Many KA-BAR guys don't recognize the Queen made knives as true KA-BARs, and they do not have the same quality of build as the original KA-BARs but ones like yours are still nice knives. I don't think KA-BAR actually made a jumbo whittler like yours in the days when they actually made their own knives.
Best, Gene
Best, Gene
Re: Kabar Jumbo Whittler
Don't think they are piano key ivory, the ones I have only measure .035 to .040 thick unless they made heavier ones. Terry
If it ain't broke, don't fix it!
Re: Kabar Jumbo Whittler
Here are 3 Elephant Toes from that era ..... or not ...........
As Gene says, these are nice knives.
As Gene says, these are nice knives.
Joe
Re: Kabar Jumbo Whittler
OK Roland, I got the real low down, I found it in my copy of the Christmas 1991 KA-BAR Knife Collectors Club news bulletin. Your knife was a "limited edition" with "alternative ivory" and they state only 500 will be made. It was only for sale as a pair along with the standard model ETN91 and the price was $94.00 for the pair. Serial numbers 001-500. So we know for sure it isn't real ivory. The standard model ETN91 had "black swirl" poly scales and cost $44.50 if ordered alone. This is from the original price list and catalog/news bulletin description. I'll scan and e-mail you a copy!
Best, Gene
Best, Gene
Re: Kabar Jumbo Whittler
Roland, I e-mailed you five pages, I hope the copies weren't too large. I sent you a copy of the order form front and back, the front of the news bulletin, and the two page ad for the ETN91 knives, ENJOY!! Nothing like having definitive irrefutable info!!
Re: Kabar Jumbo Whittler
Even though it's not real ivory, it's still a great looking knife.
David
"Glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife" Meat Loaf
"Glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife" Meat Loaf
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Re: Kabar Jumbo Whittler
I just got home from the P.O. and opened up the package with this knife. Wow ! Real elephant ivory, with nice grain too even better with a 9x loupe. What a score for $80 !
Then i opened my computer and received emails from Gunsil showing the 1991 Kabar advertising flyer. And it says "Handles of "Alternate Ivory", so close to the real thing they will amaze you"
Well, i am amazed.
I will take pics in am although even genuine ivory can look rather 'flat' in pictures.
The 'faux ivory' layer is rather thin and is backed by a thicker piece of what looks to be black wood. Can you see any evidence of this black 'liner' piece in any of the printed pictures ? It just seems odd that if a faux ivory material is made for knife handles why would also use underlying wood slabs ?
Or, is the total 'faux effect' intended to be a piano key with original ivory covering ?
It sure fooled me.
Joe thank you for posting your fine Toenails, all Kabar i'm assuming ? or actually Queen ?
Gene, thanks so much for figuring this out.
kj
Then i opened my computer and received emails from Gunsil showing the 1991 Kabar advertising flyer. And it says "Handles of "Alternate Ivory", so close to the real thing they will amaze you"
Well, i am amazed.
I will take pics in am although even genuine ivory can look rather 'flat' in pictures.
The 'faux ivory' layer is rather thin and is backed by a thicker piece of what looks to be black wood. Can you see any evidence of this black 'liner' piece in any of the printed pictures ? It just seems odd that if a faux ivory material is made for knife handles why would also use underlying wood slabs ?
Or, is the total 'faux effect' intended to be a piano key with original ivory covering ?
It sure fooled me.
Joe thank you for posting your fine Toenails, all Kabar i'm assuming ? or actually Queen ?
Gene, thanks so much for figuring this out.
kj
Re: Kabar Jumbo Whittler
old post-I have one of these in box-dated same-91 ck=collectors club plus year---knifeworld mag. showed current value of these last year-of course I cant find mine now that I have the knife--kabar collectors club=1979 to 06-per price/zalesky book..handle feels like cow bone --why would they laminate bone on plastic-may or may not be thin layer of prehistoric ivory..