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Looking for info on an old Ka Bar

Hi, I've been pestered for two months by my dear old father in law about a knife he's had since he was young (he's 82). I've searched and searched online for a photo of this particular knife and any information about it. We know it's a Ka Bar...has a dog's head emblem on it and a stamp on the blade that says:

---- Cutlery Co. Olean N.Y. (can't read the first word).

He was offered $400. for the knife but that left him curious to what the value really is. Two weeks ago he took it to a gun and knife show and someone there valued it at $700. Now he's really interested in selling it but I have no idea if I should list it on Ebay or even how much to ask for it.

Someone please help...I dearly love my father in law but he's driving me crazy about this knife, lol.

Any information about it or it's real value would be greatly appreciated. I'm including a few pictures of the knife.

Thanks,

Robin

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by D ale on February 25, 2010 at 14:17

This is nice Robin ... I can see the pin in the shield ... I love it !!!

If "UNION" is the obliterated word in the stamping ... c. 1923~1951.

I'm not that informed re: KaBar. But ...

..You have your father-in-law to vouch for authenticity.
..It looks like a leverlock coke bottle folding hunter design.
..........the old coke bottle designs are desireable
..........the old folding hunters are desireable
..........didn't know KaBar made a leverlock that vintage.
..Jigged bone scales look intact. Got a pic of the other side ??

Given .. your father-in-law vouching for it's authenticity ... I've gotta say this is a 60/70 yr old Union Cut Co. leverlock folding hunter coke bottle w/ Ka-Bar dogshead shield.

!!! Sweet !!!

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Permalink Reply by Robin Bratek on February 25, 2010 at 14:40

Thanks so much for that information Dale!
I got out my magnifying glass and looked at the stamping again...it does say Union.
I also took a few more pictures of it for you. Unfortunately after looking the knife over with the magnifying glass I see that there are hairline fractures in the handle...one on each side of the knife...running through the pins. I made sure they showed up in the photos...love the "macro" setting on my camera ;)
Thanks again for your help,
Robin

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by D ale on February 25, 2010 at 14:56

I've no idea of value in current mkt ... pretty much hinges on the buyers desire to own it ... you've a keeper though !!!

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by D ale on February 25, 2010 at 15:06

Robin ... I'd lke to copy some of your pics over to our "Vintage American Knives" section ... would you mind ???

http://www.iknifecollector.com/group/vintageamericanknives/forum/to...

Nice ole knife w/ nice family story .... Ahahhh, my father-in-law is driven' me ... Hehe ... been there ... Dale.

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Permalink Reply by Robin Bratek on February 25, 2010 at 15:33

Not at all...be my guest : )

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Permalink Reply by Trent Rock on February 25, 2010 at 15:38

...doghead shields are very desirable

I bet it would get about 250-400 on EBAY

I'll look in my collector guides when I get home from work
Maybe we can find you a model number or a catalog pic

If not
We can always ask Bernard Levine and crew over on BF.com....

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Permalink Reply by Robin Bratek on February 25, 2010 at 15:41

That's very nice of you...thanks a bunch!

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by D ale on February 25, 2010 at 18:08

I found reference to a similiar one ... orientation of shield different ... scales diff ...

... it's often called a swell center folding hunter ... Levine's 5th ed., pg 225.

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Permalink Reply by Terry Truett on March 22, 2010 at 12:21

Here is some history that I found, but I couldn't find the knife. It going to depend on the tang stamp to give you an ideal what year it was produced. From the picture I can't read whats in front of cutlery co. on the tang, but here is history:

Union Cutlery Co.
Olean, NY 1911-1951
KA-BAR brand 1923-1951
Wallace R. & Emerson Brown
Danforth Brown Manufacturer

KA-BAR Cutlery Co.
Olean, NY 1951-1966
KA-BAR brand since 1951
Danforth Brown d.1956
Manufacturer

Cole National Corp.
Cleveland and Solon, OH 1966-present
KA-BAR and KHYBER brands
Manufacturer at Olean, NY 1966-1977
Sold KA-BAR brand to Alcas 1996

The way I see it is if the Tang Stamp has Union Cutlery Co. its a pre-1951 and if it has KA-BAR Cutlery Co. on the Tang its post-1951. I will keep looking and I have a few friends that I will ask that might have an ideal. Hope this helps some.

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by D ale on March 22, 2010 at 13:30

Terry .. I think this is the relevant info ..

Union Cutlery Co.
Olean, NY 1911-1951
KA-BAR brand 1923-1951
Wallace R. & Emerson Brown
Danforth Brown Manufacturer

.. the Union Cutlery Company tang stamp .. 1911~1951 .. then .. KA-BAR dog's head shield .. 1923~1951

.. the combination .. post '23 ,, pre '51 ..

????????? What entity is the current owner of the "KABAR" name ?????????

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In MemoriamPermalink Reply by D ale on March 22, 2010 at 21:10

Terry .. thanks for the accurate history line !!

I just highlighted the first part of your info as relative to Robin's knife.

Who is the current owner of the Kabar brand ??

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Permalink Reply by Terry Truett on March 22, 2010 at 21:31

I'm not sure who the current owner of the Kabar brand is but I found this info in "Blade's Guide to Knives and their Value". I was woundering the same. My main focus has been on Scrade pre-2004 Trapper and Muskrat knives. I have 2 Kabar Trappers and they both have Kabar USA on the tang. I was glad to help and plan to look for the owner of the Kabar Brand.