Folding Hunter/Clasp knives

[ken6]

Went to the Ohio Gun Collectors Assn Show today in Wilmington and bought a Blade Guide - due to recommendation on this forum recently. I bought a .45 holster, a sheath knife and 2 folding hunters.

l. A 2 blade KaBar 1184 U.S.A. - 5 l/4" - with a hole thru the end for maybe a lanyard.

2. A 2 blade Case XX - 10 dot - USA # 6265 SAB with a hole thru the end.=Also 5 1/4"

Questions: What are these knives usually used for? Why are they called Clasp? Whats the hole for?

Both are in pretty good condition. Also - whats the SAB on the Case stand for?

Thanks for considering these questions.

[sasquatch]

I have always heard and referred to yours as folding hunters. The clasp is yet larger. I believe the case clasp knife is a 72 pattern. To my knowledge most of these were single bladed. The SAB designation is for a saber ground blade.

[FRJ]

Ken,
you got some great knives. I sure like mine. Yes, they are called folding hunters. I would say most companies made them.
I read somewhere, and I hope this is correct, that the original folding hunter and a much earlier frame design, was the swell center hunter. Sometimes called a cokebottle, which is the black plastic handled Ka-Bar right of center. My swell center is not an early knife.
The knife on the right is the Case 72 sasquatch is refering to.

[ken6]

Sasquatch and FRJ: Thanks much for the info. I really like them, never had one before this. Still wonder what the hole is for, Doesn't seem like a lanyard would be appropriate. Maybe it is.

Thanks again, Ken

[Elvis]

Sasquatch and FRJ: Thanks much for the info. I really like them, never had one before this. Still wonder what the hole is for, Doesn't seem like a lanyard would be appropriate. Maybe it is.

Thanks again, Ken

Case used the term "Lanyard Hole" in their product guide the year they stopped putting them in the folding hunter (6265) model).*
(*Info from Steve Pfeiffer's book: Collecting Case Knives, Identification and Price Guide.)

[rexstubbins]

I piss myself off for selling a Western 062 folding hunter. Always beatin myself up for doing stupid stuff like that. I didn't sell the case hunter though. Happy bout' that.

[rexstubbins]

OK Here's the Case hunter.

[rexstubbins]

Ken,

Your Case is a '70' I believe. Post some pics. The one I posted is a '74' 6 dot.

Keep the Case man....

Went to the Ohio Gun Collectors Assn Show today in Wilmington and bought a Blade Guide - due to recommendation on this forum recently. I bought a .45 holster, a sheath knife and 2 folding hunters.

l. A 2 blade KaBar 1184 U.S.A. - 5 l/4" - with a hole thru the end for maybe a lanyard.

2. A 2 blade Case XX - 10 dot - USA # 6265 SAB with a hole thru the end.=Also 5 1/4"

Questions: What are these knives usually used for? Why are they called Clasp? Whats the hole for?

Both are in pretty good condition. Also - whats the SAB on the Case stand for?

Thanks for considering these questions.

[rexstubbins]

BTW I think that SAB means Sabre but not completely sure. Still learning myself.

[Elvis]

BTW I think that SAB means Sabre but not completely sure. Still learning myself.

Correct. SAB is for the Sabre ground main blade as opposed to the flat grind. I'm usually at those OGCA Shows in Wilmington, but have missed the last two. It's hard to walk away from there without picking up at least a couple of knives and their selection of ammo sure beats what the retail stores are able to stock these days.

[Old Hunter]

Here is the Buck version, a model 317 complete with a lanyard hole. The Buck's were made by Camillus under contract, Camillus made the same knife in their own version and for Remington - probably for other companies too. These seem to be popular knives, but I think for collecting more than hunting - some may use them to skin and butcher big game, but I have never seen anyone use one in the many hunting camps I have been in over the years (in hunting camps you see mostly fixed blades or single blade drop points and Buck 110 style knives). OH