Unusual Kabar Hatchet

[zzyzzogeton]

I acquired this old "half of a hatchet" a while back because it was different from any other Kabar hatchet I had seen, even though it was broken. I've never seen another aluminum handled Kabar hatchet.

The handle is aluminum. One side is marked KABAR and the other is marked UNION CUTLERY CO. over OLEAN N.Y.

Since it has a Union Cutlery Co. stamp it is from before they officially changed the name to Kabar in 1952.

[FRJ]

Well, that's a pretty neat artifact.
It's a shame the handle is broken.
Thanks for showing it.

[Gunsil]

Here is a complete one albeit a little different. Zzzy's being marked on the handle once had a handle with cocobolo inserts dovetailed in where this one has the KA-BAR plastic inserts. This one is marked on the head. These are hard to find, I have only seen three or four of each version in many years. I have a handle marked one with the cocobolo inserts, just don't know where it is right now and gotta leave for the NCCA show in a couple of hours. Joe, I hope to see you there. Wayne, I have two of this model, one is on the block. I sold my other cocobolo one last year, still have one. I think the all aluminum handle was a great idea but I don't think they sold a lot of them.

[Gunsil]

Well, I was packing some knives and ran across this one. Cocobolo is pinned on not dovetailed, this is what Zzzy's was like before broken. The plastic inset handle looks a little thicker. Sorry for the dim photos, no sun here this AM.