HUNTER'S & COKEBOTTLE'S (Pre 60s)

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.
Philwil1
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Re: HUNTER'S & COKEBOTTLE'S (Pre 60s)

Post by Philwil1 »

Here is an oldie. Union on the blade, KA-BAR on the shield.. I have been putting this one in the pocket. Love that old bone, and closes like a bear trap.
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TPK
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Re: HUNTER'S & COKEBOTTLE'S (Pre 60s)

Post by TPK »

Philwil1 wrote: Sat Oct 31, 2020 4:52 pm Here is an oldie. Union on the blade, KA-BAR on the shield.. I have been putting this one in the pocket. Love that old bone, and closes like a bear trap.
Very classy looking knife Phil? ::tu:: Those scales are outstanding! ::nod::

To put it in the words of our friend QS I'd say your knife is..., "Quietly Spectaclar"! ::super_happy::
TOM - KGFG - (Knife-Guy-From-Germany)

I believe..., every knife is a soul, looking for a soulmate. :wink:

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https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weebit_Nano

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Re: HUNTER'S & COKEBOTTLE'S (Pre 60s)

Post by edge213 »

Philwil1 wrote: Sat Oct 31, 2020 4:52 pm Here is an oldie. Union on the blade, KA-BAR on the shield.. I have been putting this one in the pocket. Love that old bone, and closes like a bear trap.
Beauty! ::tu:: ::tu::
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Re: HUNTER'S & COKEBOTTLE'S (Pre 60s)

Post by Hideaway Knives »

Love that handle!
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Re: HUNTER'S & COKEBOTTLE'S (Pre 60s)

Post by Ridgegrass »

Here's a few: Top to bottom.
OLCUT
OLCUT
UNION CUT. Co.
KA BAR
KA BAR
OLCUT
VIKING
They're just what knives should be. (My humble opinion.) Thanks for the thread. ::tu:: ::tu:: J.O'.
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Kevin11b
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Re: HUNTER'S & COKEBOTTLE'S (Pre 60s)

Post by Kevin11b »

Seeing all the beauties on the previous posts may have caused me to do something impulsive and stupid. Purchased a dog head swing guard on eBay yesterday. I’m sure I paid to much but about impossible for me to get to shows I haven’t received it yet but here are some pics opinions please good or bad when I receive it will get better pics worried about the bolster cutout and handle etc thanks all Kevin
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Re: HUNTER'S & COKEBOTTLE'S (Pre 60s)

Post by RalphAlsip »

Kevin11b wrote: Mon Feb 22, 2021 8:42 pm worried about the bolster cutout and handle etc
Better pictures are certainly needed. In the meantime, I wanted to comment on the "bolster cutout" you mentioned. This is a lock back knife. The blade locking mechanism is controlled by the swing guard and that is the reason the information about the patent is engraved on the swing guard. The notch you see in the bolster is part of the locking mechanism so it is appropriate that it is there. This pattern is a desirable pattern to collect and it is difficult to find one of these in good shape.
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Re: HUNTER'S & COKEBOTTLE'S (Pre 60s)

Post by Kevin11b »

Ralph. Thanks for your response. Glad about the collectibility part I have never seen one in person but it looks like the front part of the “notch “ that the swing guard fits into may be missing but not sure cause I haven’t actually seen one. Yeah I know pics are bad really shouldn’t have pulled the trigger with pics like that ! Kevin
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Re: HUNTER'S & COKEBOTTLE'S (Pre 60s)

Post by Kevin11b »

Also any idea as to age of this knife
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Re: HUNTER'S & COKEBOTTLE'S (Pre 60s)

Post by RalphAlsip »

Kevin11b wrote: Tue Feb 23, 2021 7:57 am Also any idea as to age of this knife
The attached pictures are a modern re-make from Canal Street. I am providing them for reference to show how the swing guard integrates with the bolster. The original knife was likely made sometime between 1923 and 1940.
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stockman
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Re: HUNTER'S & COKEBOTTLE'S (Pre 60s)

Post by stockman »

Old Hunter has been showed. I thought might be appropriate here.

Harold
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Kevin11b
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Re: HUNTER'S & COKEBOTTLE'S (Pre 60s)

Post by Kevin11b »

Thanks for pic of the newer knife that’s a beauty. On that knife you can clearly see the indent in the bolster. That worried me Till Harold posted a pic of his. That bolster looks more like mine. Harold do you know when approximately yours was produced ? Ours look similar maybe the dogs look a little different. Harold can you post a pic of the tang stamp? Thanks again guys
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Re: HUNTER'S & COKEBOTTLE'S (Pre 60s)

Post by Pile Driver »

I was able to find this example recently for under 200 bucks which I was psyched about. I've always wanted one but they're pricey. Now I want the next one!
KABAR DOG HEAD.jpg
Kevin11b
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Re: HUNTER'S & COKEBOTTLE'S (Pre 60s)

Post by Kevin11b »

That’s a nice one and see on yours u can see the u shaped bolster that locks it up. Worried about mine but it’s been shipped so I will let you know in a few days and on top of the bolster issue looks like there may have been a handle repair. Well we will see. Thanks for all the support and response. Kevin
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Re: HUNTER'S & COKEBOTTLE'S (Pre 60s)

Post by Kevin11b »

Ok crew I got the knife ,the blade does lock up tight and has snap. From research and I can read most of it first line is :union. Second line: cut co third olean n.y. The other side of the blade tang KA-BAR. Wish the front pic came out better wondered if it was a repair to handle. But honestly if it is they did such a good job I am ok with it can it be dated closer with the tang info ? Really do appreciate the help from this forum ! mostly a Robeson guy but have a weakness for the little doggies and swing guards!
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Re: HUNTER'S & COKEBOTTLE'S (Pre 60s)

Post by stockman »

Kevin11b wrote: Tue Feb 23, 2021 10:14 pm Thanks for pic of the newer knife that’s a beauty. On that knife you can clearly see the indent in the bolster. That worried me Till Harold posted a pic of his. That bolster looks more like mine. Harold do you know when approximately yours was produced ? Ours look similar maybe the dogs look a little different. Harold can you post a pic of the tang stamp? Thanks again guys
I will get a picture,

Harold
Kevin11b
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Re: HUNTER'S & COKEBOTTLE'S (Pre 60s)

Post by Kevin11b »

Thanks Harold. Or if that’s a pain just let me know what it says. If ours are the same maybe one of the gurus can help us pin down a closer mfg date. But some knives all you can get is a range. Kevin
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Re: HUNTER'S & COKEBOTTLE'S (Pre 60s)

Post by doglegg »

Very knice Kevin. Wonderful knife. ::tu::
Kevin11b
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Re: HUNTER'S & COKEBOTTLE'S (Pre 60s)

Post by Kevin11b »

Thanks really panicked after buying that it would be a total disaster!
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Re: HUNTER'S & COKEBOTTLE'S (Pre 60s)

Post by stockman »

KA BAR/REG. U.S. PAT. OFF. You can kinda see the tang stamp.

Harold
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Re: HUNTER'S & COKEBOTTLE'S (Pre 60s)

Post by stockman »

Kevin Goin’s, some don't agree with this date.

Harold
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Re: HUNTER'S & COKEBOTTLE'S (Pre 60s)

Post by stockman »

Kevin you have a nice knife different tang stamp from mine. I would not worry about your knife. Enjoy it. Harold
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Re: HUNTER'S & COKEBOTTLE'S (Pre 60s)

Post by RalphAlsip »

Kevin11b wrote: Fri Feb 26, 2021 1:31 am Thanks Harold. Or if that’s a pain just let me know what it says. If ours are the same maybe one of the gurus can help us pin down a closer mfg date. But some knives all you can get is a range. Kevin
If you are expecting to learn that your knife was produced on October 12, 1926 at 3:00 PM by an employee named Sam Jones, you are very likely to be disappointed. As far as I know, those types of records do not exist.

This link will take you to a description of Union/Ka-Bar tangs stamps and approximately when they were used.
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=56208&p=633734#p633734

The documentation found at this link corroborates what Harold stockman provided, which is that the tang stamp on your knife was used between 1923 and 1952 - a span of 30 years. My personal opinion is that your knife was made closer to 1923 than 1952. Because 1938 is the mid-point between 1923 and 1952, one could also say my opinion is between 1923 and 1938.

Starting in 1970, Case started using "dot" system in their tang stamps that identifies the specific year of manufacture. As far as I know, this is the first instance of a knife manufacturer marking their knives in a way that would identify year of manufacture.
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Re: HUNTER'S & COKEBOTTLE'S (Pre 60s)

Post by Kevin11b »

Thanks Ralph and Harold for all the time you have given me and yes thanks to harolds pic I could see that the tang stamp sets the dates you have stated. No Ralph that wasn’t what I expected I would have also liked to have known sams middle name!! I tend to be overly detail oriented like I suspect most knife and coin type guys are. Not an American knife maker but puma has done an excellent job dating its knives since the mid sixties. 1923-38 really cool Thanks again to you both
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Re: HUNTER'S & COKEBOTTLE'S (Pre 60s)

Post by Kevin11b »

And....I want Harold’s knife !
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