Unfamiliar Union Olean NY marking
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Unfamiliar Union Olean NY marking
Gentlemen and Ladies,
I have been away for a length of time but I have the itch again so here I am. Some of you may recognize my handle and some may not but I want to give a big hello to the many great people that I have had the opportunity to chat with in the past. Ok enough with the mush lets get down to what my subject is about. I found this great old knife today and got it for what I think was a steal ($25). The odd thing at least to me is the marking and the font. I could not find in any of my books where it said that any of the Union Cutlery, Union Cutco, or Union Razor was ever simply marked "Union" on them. I know that sometimes when may of these companies were going through the change or ownership or name change they often did some unusual things but this one had me scratching my head. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Richard
I have been away for a length of time but I have the itch again so here I am. Some of you may recognize my handle and some may not but I want to give a big hello to the many great people that I have had the opportunity to chat with in the past. Ok enough with the mush lets get down to what my subject is about. I found this great old knife today and got it for what I think was a steal ($25). The odd thing at least to me is the marking and the font. I could not find in any of my books where it said that any of the Union Cutlery, Union Cutco, or Union Razor was ever simply marked "Union" on them. I know that sometimes when may of these companies were going through the change or ownership or name change they often did some unusual things but this one had me scratching my head. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Richard
Re: Unfamiliar Union Olean NY marking
I have seen this mark before but can't help much outside of that. Union/KA-BAR knives can be some of the hardest knives to date. The knife looks 1940's to me.
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Wayne
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Wayne
Please visit My AAPK store https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/catalog/btrwtr
Re: Unfamiliar Union Olean NY marking
I have this beat up old scout with the same tang stamp. I've tried to get more info a few times but it all comes back to Kabar with no date available. Maybe one of the scout Guys can help dating this buy looking at the tools?
Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez
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Re: Unfamiliar Union Olean NY marking
I have seen and owned several of the scout pattern with that stamp (same as the one posted). That is the first I have seen it on another pattern. Based on the construction and handle material, these look to be contract knives made by Ulster, circa late 40's to 50's. My only guess is that it was a short lived experiment on behalf of Kabar/Union Cutlery to outsource some knives to Ulster to be sold at a lower price point (hence the unique tang stamp).
Steve Pfeiffer, author of Collecting Case Knives: Identification and Price Guide published by Krause Publications.
Re: Unfamiliar Union Olean NY marking
I agree with Steve's time line. The style of can opener on the scout above didn't appear in the official Boy Scout knife line until the late 40s (about 1948).
Phil
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Jesus died for you. Are you living for Him?
"Buy More Ammo!"
Johnnie Fain 1949-2009
Re: Unfamiliar Union Olean NY marking
Dang waz, if you call that "beat up" I'd hate to see what you would call some of my knives.wazu013 wrote:I have this beat up old scout with the same tang stamp. I've tried to get more info a few times but it all comes back to Kabar with no date available. Maybe one of the scout Guys can help dating this buy looking at the tools?
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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: Unfamiliar Union Olean NY marking
Thank you!!knifeaholic wrote:I have seen and owned several of the scout pattern with that stamp (same as the one posted). That is the first I have seen it on another pattern. Based on the construction and handle material, these look to be contract knives made by Ulster, circa late 40's to 50's. My only guess is that it was a short lived experiment on behalf of Kabar/Union Cutlery to outsource some knives to Ulster to be sold at a lower price point (hence the unique tang stamp).
Bladeguy
Re: Unfamiliar Union Olean NY marking
.edge213 wrote:Dang waz, if you call that "beat up" I'd hate to see what you would call some of my knives.wazu013 wrote:I have this beat up old scout with the same tang stamp. I've tried to get more info a few times but it all comes back to Kabar with no date available. Maybe one of the scout Guys can help dating this buy looking at the tools?
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It is a nice full knife but it looks like someone let sit in a puddle for about 20 years. It was rusted shut when I found it in a $10 box of misc junk at my local flea market. It took a good long soaking in WD40 just to open it up. Then I cleaned it up a little. It's a pretty solid knife with nice scales so I should be a little more respectful
Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez
Re: Unfamiliar Union Olean NY marking
It is really satisfying to find an old rusty knife for next to nothing and bring it back to life. Great job waz.
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
Re: Unfamiliar Union Olean NY marking
I believe this is a 1950s mark that coincides with a plain "Union" on some 1950s hunting knives. Both are definitely not pre-KA-BAR Union Cut Co. marks
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Re: Unfamiliar Union Olean NY marking
I found this on the Tang Mark page and that particular "Union" with that font shows up twice on this page and it shows 1912-1925.
Bladeguy
download/file.php?id=177292&mode=view
Bladeguy
download/file.php?id=177292&mode=view
Re: Unfamiliar Union Olean NY marking
Page is wrong, wrong on many KA-BAR/Union Cut Co marks. Goins' is wrong, the factory KA-BAR tang stamp sheet is wrong. OP knife is 1950s. Note that on the KA-BAR factory produced sheet you show that it says "ages approximate and to the best of our knowledge" Well, the folks at KA-BAR who produced that sheet know little of their history and there are also other improper dates shown on that sheet. Also for those disbelievers, please note that the can opener on Wazu 013's knife is a post ww2 can opener style.