All About Pocket Knives

Got a KaBar Trapper at a sale today,plastic or
delrin scales, nice knife,well made.On both blades after the KaBar stamp it has a star. Is this a knockoff ? Whats the story?

mikek

I just recently sold a 50's era Kabar trapper with jigged delrin handles that was used but in great condition. I never noticed a star on that particular knife but it could very well be a difference of when it was made.

If you can please try to put up a picture so the other members of this forum can look at your knife, it's almost a guarantee that someone here has an answer to your question.

Thanks,


Sunburst

Thanks Sunburst, I will make an attempt to do that. MikeK

I don't know the star either, but here are a few hints about dating Kabar knives. These are rough time frames and I have never seen documentation as to exact dates.

Union Cutlery = oldest, WWI era into 1920's

KA-BAR with Union Cutlery on secondary blades = 1920's to 1930's

The above older knives will have brown bone or green bone handles.

KA-BAR with jigged black imitation bone handles = WWII era to early 50's.

Kabar (script) with jigged black imitation bone handles = mid 50's to about 1968.

Kabar (script) with jigged brown delrin imitation bone handles and with a 4-digit pattern number under the Kabar tang stamp = after Cole National buyout, late 60's onward, virtually unchanged through 1990's when all "standard product" Kabar slipjoints were discontinued after ALCAS buyout of Kabar trademarks.

Note that from about 1976 on, all Kabar knives were made on contract mostly by Camillus, club knives by Queen.

Here is one of the later models described by knifeaholic...
Kabar
1071
U.S.A.

Bill

Thanks Bill, yes that is a later one - and another thing to look for - at some point under Camillus manufacture, probably in the 80's, the two handle pins disappeared from the delrin models - instead the handles were molded with little projections that snapped into holes in the handles.

Doh...

Sorry mikek, I should've at least checked Goins before completing my post. Sigh.
Goins' book mentions the Kabar* (that's a STAR for now) as being used circa 1962-1964, to indicate stainless steel.

Bill

You guys are super,thanks for the info.The k-bar is indeed stainless and does have scale pins but not a model number anyware. I have access to a camera but no way of getting it into my PC. Baby steps here.Thanks again, Mike

Hey K-A & Lobo;
Bill im sure you remember these. but knifeaholic may not have seen. I am still trying to narrow down the dates. K-A do you have an educated guess.
The swing guard has nothing but KA-BAR over USA. The trapper has
KA-BAR over OLEAN, N.Y. the bottom line is in about one third size letters
Nothing on spey.
Thanks,
W.B.

W.B.

The KA-BAR over OLEAN, N.Y. stamp was in use between 1923-1950, according to the late Mr. Goins.

I'll leave the other one for knifeaholic...or another helpful soul.

Nice knives.

Bill

Trapper post WWII to 1950's when the stamp was changed to script Kabar

Swing guard 1950's to later 6o's when genuine stag was discontinued