help ID an old Ka Bar folder

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.
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okie gunner
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2012 9:34 pm

help ID an old Ka Bar folder

Post by okie gunner »

I found this old Ka Bar and have only recently started collecting, so I don't know much about Ka Bars.
Can anyone tell me what model and when it was built? And does anyone repair these?

The tang stamp just says Ka-Bar USA, all on the front side of the primary blade. That's the only marking I see.

thanks, first time on this site and have already found it very helpful and informative.
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Old Hunter
Posts: 8407
Joined: Mon Sep 19, 2011 12:14 am
Location: Beaufort County, NC

Re: help ID an old Ka Bar folder

Post by Old Hunter »

Let me welcome you to AAPK! I am not a knife mechanic, but you will find several very good ones here on AAPK - try placing a post down in the "Knife Repair and Restoration Forum". Hope you can get this knife repaired - looks like a complete rebuild will be in order. Kabar knives are difficult to put exact dates on, all you will find is general spans of time. There are several posts in the Kabar forum (where we are now) which discuss the parameters of figuring a general date for a Kabar knife. Good Luck! OH

Ps Try this link for some date by tang stamp info: http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kni ... 78&t=30170
Deep in the guts of most men is buried the involuntary response to the hunter's horn, a prickle of the nape hairs, an acceleration of the pulse, an atavistic memory of his fathers, who killed first with stone, and then with club...Robert Ruark
nutoknives
Posts: 104
Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2011 10:12 pm

Re: help ID an old Ka Bar folder

Post by nutoknives »

The trapper was produced in between 1950's-1970's hope that helps
okie gunner
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2012 9:34 pm

Re: help ID an old Ka Bar folder

Post by okie gunner »

Thanks for the info, at least now I know it's a trapper and the time period.

I'm interested in restoring this knife, and was referred to someone who can do a full restoration,
but I'm concerned the restoration might cost more than the knife is worth.
Does this knife have value if restored? I just started collecting knives and bayonets and have no idea how rare or valuable this knife is.
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