1980-1981 One dot on left side, two dots on right side. 6. In 1970, Case added ten dots beneath the U.S.A. on all knife tangs. A grail knife for me would be a WESTERN L-76. Most were referred to as "Kabars" no matter who the maker was. The legend itself. Ka-Bar offers the mule in a wide range of grips, serrated and non-serrated, and blade profiles. How to Determine the Age of a Western Knife. If a model number is inscribed, the knife would have been made after 1973 but before 1986. Quality is key when purchasing a knife, and KA-BAR does not cut corners. Traditionally, nearly every man or boy, from doctors to farmers, had a pocket knife with them. Questions from my research: Introducing the Made In Santoku Knife, a limited-run knife made from fully recycled materials that's running for $189. Tang stamps, steel, bolster and liner materials, blade etches, and scale materials all tell a part of the story. Our customers have a million different jobs to do. Since then, KA-BAR Knives, Inc. has done everything right in terms of marketing and product lines to return the brand to its former glory. Please refer to this chart to find out the age of your knife. So, we offer more than 80 knife patterns perfectly designed to do them right. Personally, the Black Mule with a straight edge and a clip point is my pick. It is not as big as the Ka-Bar full size, but big enough to do many of the same chores. Supporter . In this article I would like to highlight some points that may help determine the approximate age of the razor. There were no official ties between the NY and Solingen knife companies, other than family ties and the fact that BOKER USA still continued to import higher end knives from Solingen. Unfortunately, I can make out no markings on the blade, so the only clues are the handle & bolster styling. Check the knife handle for clues to the age of knives not bearing a symbol next to the model number. Consultation with a knife expert can yield clues based on rivet placement and other minute details to pinpoint the exact year of manufacture. A series of corporate buyouts and mergers that lasted from 1965 through 1983 left BOKER USA information a bit tricky to find as well. The form and quality of the early version of this knife make it the most popular model of Marbles knives among collectors. One of the blades will have a series of round dots and X's. Could someone help me date Ka-bar knives. Customs still use the anvil mark. 1981-1986 Two dots on each side *2002. 1980-1981 One dot on left side, two dots on right side. 2. From later in 1904 to 1917, the company spelled out “Schrade” in an arc, with “Cut. Key Collaborators. 4.7 out of 5 stars 1,462. Sort of like "Band-aid" or "Kool-aid" aren't necessarily related to the named product. But today, we’re going to talk about a lesser-known type of KA-BAR knife, known as the Becker knife, or perhaps more appropriately, knives. We know how difficult it is to determine the age of a Boker knife. Shawn Snow . Also anyway to tell the age of it? They are a bit of a secret amongst Schrade sellers and buyers (most don't know the difference … 110 & 112 MODELS: 1974-1980 One dot on each side of model number. More items to explore . Thanks. USMC Ka-Bar. This Pre-WWII Era Type 1 Ka Bar fighting knife features a clip pint blade with swedge and fullers. Learn More → Collecting antique and vintage pocket knives is a popular hobby. Ask any Marine and they will tell you that the Ka-Bar is one of the best knives ever made, and they would be … The differences are the “lightning” form of the letter S in Case and USA and the fact that the dots were put above the USA. Patina on blade, guard and pommel, has scratches, otherwise good condition for its age. Please refer to this chart to find out the age of your knife. I want to be sure that the money goes for the real thing!! KA-BAR 1216 Full-size Black Hard Knife Sheath. A year ending in 0 will have 5 x's and 5 dots. The anvil was used instead of model numbers (on all knives) this year only. Previous page. April 8, 2019 . I want to buy an original USMC WW II Kabar knife off ebay and I have little experience with these knives. There are many specialized knives made for certain professions or recreational uses. For example, entering 105 on Puma's "How Old is My Knife?" An important part of collecting is being able to identify the age of a pocket knife. Reactions: Eero, The Warrior, Boomstick and 19 others. The knives are produced in Olean, New York (you can visit the production factory) on a world famous production line. The handle is comprised of a steel guard and peened pommel with stacked leather handle over hidden tang construction. Page 1 of 1 Start over Page 1 of 1 . Each year after that will lose one dot or x. Joined Aug 28, 2017 Messages 8,078 Likes 67,782 Location On the farm and at the beach. I'd like to give him an idea of its worth, but I know so little about these old knives that I'm not sure I'm getting the correct info from Da Googles. While the KA-BAR knife is still the company's most famous knife, the diversification of its products has led to some popular knives and respected collaborations with custom knife makers. Pun intended. See how to identify your knife. Each year a dot was removed. I could stand on the opposite side of a alley way and plant my KA-BAR in … You might also be able to tell the manufacture date of your knife from a three-digit code. If sending a check or money order, please mail, payable to: The History Store P.O. Marines on patrol in … The USMC KA-BAR is produced with 1095 Cro-Van steel. It compares to the Short Ka-Bar fighting knife in size, but the Mark 1 blade is flat ground,wider, and better suited for slicing. Thanks for any help you can give! 1989 was the first year of the Cutlery Shoppe knives. Can you tell me what I need to look for in an original WW II USMC Kabar? KA-BAR is well known for making some of the very best fixed blade knives on the market. CDN$ 25.79 Ka-Bar 2-1212-3 Black Fighting Knife. KA-BAR is proud to be the living link between the tradition of John Ek and the Ek Commando Knife Co. Ek Knives was created by John Ek in 1941. Mid 2015 - The KA-BAR Ek43, Ek44 and Ek45 (Models 3, 4 and 5) are released under KA-BAR production . As an example, here's an U.S. Army 101st ABN DIV Paratrooper with one on his side. 2016 - The Model EK43 (Model 3) is dropped from production . 110 & 112 Models: 1974-1980 One dot on each side of model number. It will work in a defensive role if needed, but it is better suited for light survival duties. Beach Hiker AQC, LB 42. In that section there is a PDF file that has four digit codes for older knives and it will give you a year. Obviously, at the very beginning to be mentioned Benjamin Huntsman, a watchmaker from the town of Doncaster (about 20 miles north of Sheffield), England. Also, even though Kabar was one maker of that style of knife, there were many other brands of the same style of knife that were issued over the years. Would you like to tell us about a lower price? Their KA-BAR USMC 1942 knife , for instance, has seen extensive service throughout global military conflicts and is held in exceptionally high regard.. CS stands for "Cutlery Shoppe". Working with the Marine Quartermaster Department the original design was revised and production began of an improved fighting and utility knife for the Marines. Wicked sharp. The KA-BAR would eventually break, but stood up longer than other knives. Slightly thinner than your average chef knife, a Santoku knife was highly requested from the brand's customers and is best for more precise cutting and slicing. webpage yields the result that it was manufactured in the first half of 2005. Hope this helps Edit: Also, if you can't find the code there is a email address and you can send a picture of the knife and they can tell you. 1981-1986 Two dots on each side *2002. Knife Patterns. Probably won't happen. (Im the worlds worst speller if you haven't noticed) It was an increadable find, just wondering if any one can tell me how old it is. Truth be known, I find the M3 knives from WWII the most fascinating and charming of the War knives, but I have never owned the KA-BAR type before. To help collectors identify the specific patterns and determine the approximate age of their knives, we developed a unique blade tang stamping system. 2017 - The Model EK13 (Presentation Model 4) is introduced . Ek wanted to contribute to the American war effort during World War II and did so from his shop in Hamden, CT. I've got a friend's old Sabatier 12" chef's knife to fix. Fast forward through WW1, WW2, up until the mid 1960s. Metal blanks for these knives are punched from high quality steel. I'm not sure, but I seem to remember Camillus manufacturing the first of these Mark II knives. Can any one Identify this old Kabar USMC knife? Box 160 Llano, Texas 78643. CDN$ 114.49 Ka-Bar Attachment System, Black, One Size (9916) 4.7 out of 5 stars 192. Hunting knives soon followed with the introduction of the famous, Ideal Hunting Knife. More on that in the next section. KA-BAR Knives is proud to reintroduce Ek Knives, a legendary WWII American knife brand made in the USA. 4.7 out of 5 stars 245. Ka-Bar (trademarked as KA-BAR, pronounced / ˈ k eɪ b ɑːr /) is the contemporary popular name for the combat knife first adopted by the United States Marine Corps in November 1942 as the 1219C2 combat knife (later designated the USMC Mark 2 combat knife or Knife, Fighting Utility), and subsequently adopted by the United States Navy as the U.S. Navy utility knife, Mark 2. What are the specific "characters " to look for besides age appearances which can be manipulated. It is tricky, because one needs to be certain that the shield is original to the knife. The oldest of the tang stamps, used only in 1904, shows the words “Schrade Cut. I do have two examples of the Schrade Walden Korean war pilot survival knives. As far as figuring out where a particular knife ended up, sometimes you find names/laundry type "property of" markings on the sheaths, but the reality is they were traded around and without some sort of veteran's provenance, there is really no way of determining how your knife ended up where it has. They are true Gerber products but the prices should be adjusted accordingly on them as they were not made in the above serial number years. Dad gave me this knife. Includes original leather sheath with belt loop. How a bloody Ka-Bar knife fight during the Vietnam War got this Marine a Navy Cross 52 years later. If you go to the Ka-Bar website and go to their FAQ's section they have a question that reads "How can I tell the age of my knife". Knives that have an "XX" in the serial number or a "CS" are reproduction and commemorative knives. 30 May 2014 - KA-BAR Knives, Inc. acquires John Ek Commando Knife Co. Production to be done in Olean, New York . In addition, other collectible models include the Woodcraft, Canoe and the Safety Hunting Knife. Another method is by looking at the shields. Bushcraft Friend. I found this old USMC knife in its sheath in a river in Illinois last year. The anvil was used instead of model numbers (on all knives) this year only. Co” on the first two lines, followed by “Walden, NY” on a third line, with “Germany” beneath it. On December 9, 1942, after the start of World War II, KA-BAR submitted a knife to the United States Marine Corps in hopes that it would become general issue to that branch of the military. Collectors use the changes as a way to determine the general age of a specific knife. If you have a specific identification question, please see our Identification Request Page. The same dating system was used during the 1980s. If you are wanting to buy antique or collectible knives, please visit our Online Store and view our Knives for Sale page. 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