All About Pocket Knives

Thought it be neat to see everybody’s old Union cut co’s. This is one of my favorite brands for fixed blades. I’ll post a couple to start and add more later.

Another stag

Nice

Love the 271-5!! I have probably posted fifty or more KA-BAR hunters, definitely my favorites. Don't wish to re-post them all but if you look at some of my older posts you will see some of the best and rarest. I've probably posted these before, a few of my model 71s.

2 beauties for sure.

Was hoping you’d post Gunsil . I know you’re the man when it comes to Ka-Bar! Here’s another one. Don’t know what model it is if it has one or not

Here are a few:
#1 KA-BAR floating knife with cork handle and opening cut into blade.
#2 KA-BAR model 1202
#3 KA-BAR MkII with original sheath bought for $5. What looks like rust on blade is actually dried cosmolene.
#4 Another MkII with a non original sheath.
#5 A Keenwell knife/ax set;a secondary brand from KA-BAR.
#6 A fillet knife made for L.L.Bean.
#7 An Olcut Union Cutlery Co. woodcraft pattern with wood handels jigged to look like bone.
#8 A Union Cutlery Co.(Dardevle)woodcraft pattern with a thistle handle.

Gunsil wrote: ↑Sat Jan 09, 2021 10:32 pm Love the 271-5!! I have probably posted fifty or more KA-BAR hunters, definitely my favorites. Don't wish to re-post them all but if you look at some of my older posts you will see some of the best and rarest. I've probably posted these before, a few of my model 71s.

816DA53A-68CB-46DC-A606-24253BD32A0E_1_105_c.jpeg

I especially like the green celluloid.

Eye Brand Man wrote: ↑Sat Jan 09, 2021 11:10 pm Was hoping you’d post Gunsil . I know you’re the man when it comes to Ka-Bar! Here’s another one. Don’t know what model it is if it has one or not

Looks like a 637-6, they all had model numbers before WW2, and many had model names. The 37 series was called "Oldboy". Look on the blade side of the guard, it may have the model number stamped there as many of the early KA-BARs do.

edge213 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 09, 2021 11:28 pm

Gunsil wrote: ↑Sat Jan 09, 2021 10:32 pm Love the 271-5!! I have probably posted fifty or more KA-BAR hunters, definitely my favorites. Don't wish to re-post them all but if you look at some of my older posts you will see some of the best and rarest. I've probably posted these before, a few of my model 71s.

816DA53A-68CB-46DC-A606-24253BD32A0E_1_105_c.jpeg

I especially like the green celluloid.

That is actually not celluloid, it is karolith, another early "plastic" and karolith is casein based. They are pretty scarce with these handles and I have only seen model 71s and model 82s with these handles.

knife7knut wrote: ↑Sat Jan 09, 2021 11:24 pm Here are a few:
#1 KA-BAR floating knife with cork handle and opening cut into blade.
#2 KA-BAR model 1202
#3 KA-BAR MkII with original sheath bought for $5. What looks like rust on blade is actually dried cosmolene.
#4 Another MkII with a non original sheath.
#5 A Keenwell knife/ax set;a secondary brand from KA-BAR.
#6 A fillet knife made for L.L.Bean.
#7 An Olcut Union Cutlery Co. woodcraft pattern with wood handels jigged to look like bone.
#8 A Union Cutlery Co.(Dardevle)woodcraft pattern with a thistle handle.

Nice group Ray!! The thistle top Union Cut is actually a "Kamper" I have them etched Kamper with a sheath also marked Kamper. I also have them marked Olcut and Keenwell with the Kamper etch. I saw one on ebay a while back with a Dardevlel etch, I think it was a promotional item for the fishing lure company with that name.

Gunsil wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 12:30 am

edge213 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 09, 2021 11:28 pm

Gunsil wrote: ↑Sat Jan 09, 2021 10:32 pm Love the 271-5!! I have probably posted fifty or more KA-BAR hunters, definitely my favorites. Don't wish to re-post them all but if you look at some of my older posts you will see some of the best and rarest. I've probably posted these before, a few of my model 71s.

816DA53A-68CB-46DC-A606-24253BD32A0E_1_105_c.jpeg

I especially like the green celluloid.

That is actually not celluloid, it is karolith, another early "plastic" and karolith is casein based. They are pretty scarce with these handles and I have only seen model 71s and model 82s with these handles.

Thanks for the information.

Gunsil wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 12:30 am
That is actually not celluloid, it is karolith, another early "plastic" and karolith is casein based. They are pretty scarce with these handles and I have only seen model 71s and model 82s with these handles.

sounds like the same material they used to make dash knobs and steering wheels on early cars. I think they also used it to make those yellow handles for screwdrivers that would get a chalky glaze to them when they got old.Smelled like sour milk too.

Gunsil wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 12:37 am
Nice group Ray!! The thistle top Union Cut is actually a "Kamper" I have them etched Kamper with a sheath also marked Kamper. I also have them marked Olcut and Keenwell with the Kamper etch. I saw one on ebay a while back with a Dardevlel etch, I think it was a promotional item for the fishing lure company with that name.

Thanks Gene.The Dardevle etch is very faint.Thanks for the clarification on the model.I only called it a woodcraft because that is the term I was familiar with. Hope all is well with you and stay safe!

Not sure if I ever posted this one. A model 659-6, called "Pistol Grip" in the old brochures. Some have steel bolsters and some were nickle silver. Only available in bone or genuine stag and two blade lengths, the smaller one than this is more common. A fairly hard to find model in general it is also one of Union Cut's earliest hunting knives and can be found without the KA-BAR mark, only Union Cut Co mark. I think these were discontinued by 1930. Oh, and some will have the model number stamped on the bolster, some won't. Let's see what others have!!

That’s a beauty Gunsil . I have to say I’ve never run across one at a show or market. I really like the fish scaler spine.

Gunsil, I appreciate seeing your knives and that one is no exception. A rare one I probably would never have a chance to see. Thanks for your knowledge you share here as well.

This old slab sided ka-bar is listed in one of my books as being worth $400

I'm not sure if this 1232 was made in Olean but, it has been on hundreds of hunting trips with me over the last 45 years.

ken98k wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 6:49 pm This old slab sided ka-bar is listed in one of my books as being worth $400

What book is that?? I have never seen a book with KA-BAR hunting knife values other than the few shown in Levine's. Would be interested in seeing it. $400 would be more in the range for a dead mint one with bone or stag scales. Your cool KA-BAR has jigged wood scales, model name was "Faithful", model number 62. Look on the front of the guard (blade side), it may have the model number stamped on it. This is one of my favorite patterns and were even available with genuine mother of pearl scales.

Gunsil wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 7:35 pm

ken98k wrote: ↑Sun Jan 10, 2021 6:49 pm This old slab sided ka-bar is listed in one of my books as being worth $400

What book is that?? I have never seen a book with KA-BAR hunting knife values other than the few shown in Levine's. Would be interested in seeing it. $400 would be more in the range for a dead mint one with bone or stag scales. Your cool KA-BAR has jigged wood scales, model name was "Faithful", model number 62. Look on the front of the guard (blade side), it may have the model number stamped on it. This is one of my favorite patterns and were even available with genuine mother of pearl scales.

I guess the $400 was a combination of poor memory and wishful thinking!
The number stamped on the guard is 662-5

Yup, that book is just a copy of Levine's book and the prices shown are the same. Also those prices are for pre-KA-BAR Union Cut Co knives which are worth a little more than the same knife with a KA-BAR mark. I think were your knife in mint condition it would be worth upwards of $300 with the jigged wood scales. They also came in 4&1/2" and 5&1/2 inch blades with the larger blade rarer and worth more. I once paid north of a grand for a mint large blade example with factory genuine mother of pearl scales. I think it is shown in one of my older posts, it is the queen of my collection. I also have a stag handled one with 4&1/2" blade marked Western States as KA-BAR/Union made many knives for Western in the 1920s. Really cool that you have the original sheath with yours, it is a hard to find sheath and old hunters commonly are missing their original sheaths.

Here's another "different" KA-BAR, marked Utica Knife and Raxor with their "Hunter's Pal" blade etch. This is an early KA-BAR model 272-5 and a rare version with four pin handles whereas most 272s will only have two pins. By the way I am always looking for near mint-mint harder to find Union Cut and KA-BAR hunting knife models.

Somebody else must have some fine KA-BAR/Union Cut knives, let's see "em!!

Here’s my model 62 with the jigged ebony wood handles. It came with the original sheath but it was almost falling apart so I made a reproduction.

Eye Brand Man wrote: ↑Tue Jan 12, 2021 2:58 pm Here’s my model 62 with the jigged ebony wood handles. It came with the original sheath but it was almost falling apart so I made a reproduction.

Wow! That is a beaity!