KA-BAR REG US PAT OF?

[Jdashed]

stumbled upon this while cleaning a storage unit out! I done a quick look up on what i could read and got pretty excited only to be confused after doing some more extensive research. Hoping im at the right place to get some solid information! i have more tubs to go through the unit just trying to get an idea of year, value, and possibly some info on why the bottom spins loose.

[zzyzzogeton]

The split nut construction was primarily a pre-WW2 method of assembly, 1920s and 1930s.

KABAR was registered as a name used by Union Cutlery on 01/08/1924.

The KABAR over REG US PAT OFF is like "trademark" referring to that stamp.

So the knife was made after January 1924 but before WW2.

Gunsil will be able to provide more actual details.

[Jdashed]

Thank you for that break down! Are these found often? i'm thinking about holding onto it

[eveled]

It would be a dandy user. Not much that knife couldn’t handle well. From slicing a tomato to butchering a deer.

[Gunsil]

Knife is a model 598. If it as a four inch bade it is a model 598-4. This is a later model knife, it was not available in the 1920s. I think it came to be after 1936 and yours was made until 1942 with the brass guard and pommel nut in the aluminum pommel. They are one of the most commonly found KA-BAR knives and with the leather handles do not bring a lot of money even in near mint condition which yours lacks. Like Ed says, very good user for sure.

[cps1992]

Have a similar knife but different handle. Blade is marked ‘Steve’s Place Lansing Mich. ‘. Is there a good site with ka-bar history and models they sold…or old catalogs? Any input is appreciated.

[Gunsil]

Sadly there is no book on early KA-BAR knives. The early catalogs are mighty scarce too, you'd be lucky to find one. It took me thirty years to acquire five of the old hunting knife brochures, they are that scarce.

[Modern Slip Joints]

Yesterday in a thrift store's kitchen isle I bought a box of four hunting fixed blades without sheaths for $4. The one that most here would consider the best one is a Ka-Bar Model 598-4 made with the same brass and aluminum components as the original poster Jdashed's Model 598 so it was made during the same time frame. Mine's blade as pitted as Jdashad's but its handle assembly is tight. It has the same celluloid design as cps1992's Ka-Bar except where cps1992's is gold mine is silver. In either gold or silver was this celluloid pattern used after WW-II and is it an uncommon coloration?

[Gunsil]

Need a photo! Model 98s mostly had leather handles hence the prefix #5 which is for leather. It's possible you have a model 72 which came in several celluloid handles. By the way, these handles usually have a KA-BAR patent handle made of wood with a thin celluloid cover over the wood.