All About Pocket Knives

[image]https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4366/36574937215_f266fab08f.jpg[url=https://flic.kr/p/XJ17zM][/image]

Got a Saber Granddaddy Barlow with half stops! Carbon Steel Blade

I bought a box random knives at a tag sale and one of then is a 3 blade folder stamped Saber Japan but there is no number anywhere. Another poster said that the very oldest ones carbon steel, bone handle, and not stamped. I have tried to verify this somewhere else but not so much. Anyone hear of this?

That what I heard!

TreasureGoblin wrote:I bought a box random knives at a tag sale and one of then is a 3 blade folder stamped Saber Japan but there is no number anywhere. Another poster said that the very oldest ones carbon steel, bone handle, and not stamped. I have tried to verify this somewhere else but not so much. Anyone hear of this?

Pictures? We love pictures. Pictures must be uploaded to AAPK. No image hosted pictures, such as Imgur, Google Photos, Flickr, etc. The [img] feature is disabled on AAPK.

And before I forget it, welcome to AAPK.

Got a Saber Stockman and the blades are stamped USA.

Hard to find the one on the right anymore.
All well made in my experience.

deltaboy wrote:Got a Saber Stockman and the blades are stamped USA.

Ulster (1960's) and Colonial (1980's) both made Sabre brand knives in the USA.

They were also made in Ireland and in China.

I have 3-4 Saber brand knives that I haven't gotten to photograph yet but I have one that I did get some Picts of.
It is a Pakistan made Saber 520 (Slim Trapper)? .
My others are Japan Made so that is why I photographed this one first. The build quality is somewhat lacking but it is still a pretty knife, and someone had carried/used it for quite awhile.
I like it!

Interesting!! I never saw a Sabre made in Pakistan before. Add that country to the list.

knifeaholic wrote:

deltaboy wrote:Got a Saber Stockman and the blades are stamped USA.

Ulster (1960's) and Colonial (1980's) both made Sabre brand knives in the USA.

They were also made in Ireland and in China.

Thanks

Does anyone know who actually owned the name, and commissioned the knives?

While I do not know that I have read it I have always thought it was Taylor Brands but I am not certain.

americanedgetech wrote:Does anyone know who actually owned the name, and commissioned the knives?

While I do not know that I have read it I have always thought it was Taylor Brands but I am not certain.

It was Cole National of Cleveland, OH. They also owned the KABAR and Monarch brands. They aggressively marketed all three knife lines to both independent hardware and sporting goods stores and large chain stores during the 60's, 70's and 80's. In particular, it was common to see displays that included both Kabar and Sabre knives.

Kabar was their "premium" line, Sabre was the "low end" line, and Monarch knives were in the middle.

I do not know when they ceased using the brand name SABRE.

I have recently seen some displays of imported lockback knives sold under the Sabre brand, evidently the brand is now owned by a different company.

Thank you for the info on this Steve.
I've been trying to organize both my catalog of knives, and my new found knowledge. Keeping similar brands organized by manufacturer, and company owners is helping me remember some of these facts. Much more so than copy/pasting every post of interest... They all become a swirling mass.

Yet I copy/pasted your post...

edge213 wrote:Sabre was a trademark used by Cole National. They sold knives made in the USA, Ireland, Germany, Japan and Pakistan. Cole National also owned Kabar from 1966 to 1996.

Edge213 nailed it. Third post from the top in this thread!

Years ago my dad used to refer to a Sabre as a "Japanese Kabar". IIRC at the time (probably in the 1960s-70s IIRC) most of them were made in Japan.

Ken

knifeaholic wrote:
Kabar was their "premium" line, Sabre was the "low end" line, and Monarch knives were in the middle.

So what "line" was this?

Jerry; an interesting one. Made by Ulster, 60's to early 70's. The Monarch brand is one that is seldom seen, so I don't have a lot of experience with them. I have no idea why they put both brand names on one knife.

Ulster made some good knifes!

knifeaholic wrote:Ulster (1960's) and Colonial (1980's) both made Sabre brand knives in the USA.

They were also made in Ireland and in China.

I'd love to add one of those Ulster-made Sabres to my stable of Japanese Barlows and the occasional one-off trapper or jack.

I put my Saber Stockman out in the Shed to take care of stuff out College!

Gave another one to Dad cause he like the med Stockman size!