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KA-BAR, Union Cut Co Olean NY fixed blade identification
Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2021 2:30 pm
by Gone2Three
Good morning friends, I wanted to share and possibly find out a little more information on this old knife. Was picked from the bay and arrived this Saturday. Only lightly cleaned to preserve the natural patina and also treated the sheath which was a little dried out.
It measures 7 7/8" OAL w/ 4" blade measuring from the guard.
The sheath caught my eye with its stamping of the bear hunter which I had not seen before.
Anyways, here it is and once again again thank you for sharing any information
Randy
Re: KA-BAR, Union Cut Co Olean NY fixed blade identification
Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2021 3:02 pm
by Gunsil
Shown in my 1938 KA-BAR brochure as model 5205, also available with a celluloid handle as R205. This is not an early model, does not appear in earlier brochures but the brochures were only issued every couple years so it could be as old as 1936 and the Union Cut Co mark on the back was discontinued around 1940-41 on most models. Funny thing, KA-BAR did not originate the guy with a knife versus a bear, Marbles used a similar image in a 1904 advertisement.
Re: KA-BAR, Union Cut Co Olean NY fixed blade identification
Posted: Mon Aug 23, 2021 4:08 pm
by Gone2Three
Gunsil wrote: ↑Mon Aug 23, 2021 3:02 pm
Shown in my 1938 KA-BAR brochure as model 5205, also available with a celluloid handle as R205. This is not an early model, does not appear in earlier brochures but the brochures were only issued every couple years so it could be as old as 1936 and the Union Cut Co mark on the back was discontinued around 1940-41 on most models. Funny thing, KA-BAR did not originate the guy with a knife versus a bear, Marbles used a similar image in a 1904 advertisement.
082C7C87-65F7-45DB-B793-F9628C585529.jpeg
Appreciate the quick response Gunsil
Good to put a model number to the knife and have a time period, tried like heck to find out on my own but had very little luck with limited resources.
I find the ad very interesting, the one I found while digging was this one
Re: KA-BAR, Union Cut Co Olean NY fixed blade identification
Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2021 12:25 am
by Gunsil
Gone, the illustration you show is the cover of the brochures I have. The "bear" sheaths must have only been made for a year or two, they are not often found.
Re: KA-BAR, Union Cut Co Olean NY fixed blade identification
Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2021 1:44 am
by Gone2Three
Gunsil wrote: ↑Tue Aug 24, 2021 12:25 am
Gone, the illustration you show is the cover of the brochures I have. The "bear" sheaths must have only been made for a year or two, they are not often found.
I'm grateful to you for sharing the information from your brochure. Trying to navigate Google wasn't as easy as I'd hoped... I appreciate you and everyone here in this great forum for everything I've learned over this past year.
Consider myself blessed to now own one, especially at such a reasonable cost for the condition of the knife!
