What makes the Dog's Head Ka-Bar valuable?

The dog's head shield was used on Union Cutlery's premium folders from the 1920s to the 1940s and is the most collected Ka-Bar pattern. Condition of the shield, bone and blades sets the price; ours is described with all three.

Ka-bar

1–5 of 5 knives

Ka-bar

Union Cutlery Co. Olean, N.Y. Antique Two-Blade Jack Knife – "UNION" Bar Shield, Jigged Bone

$95.00

Ka-bar

Ka-Bar Union Cutlery Dog Head Folding Pocket Knife – Jigged Bone

$325.00

Ka-bar

Ka-bar 1097

$90.00

Ka-bar

The Becker Combat Bowie

$174.00

Ka-bar

Ka-bar 1277

$125.00

Ka-bar at Austin Blade Co.

Union Cutlery of Olean, New York, before and after the KA-BAR name.

Ka-Bar began as Union Cutlery, founded in Tidioute, Pennsylvania, in 1898 and moved to Olean, New York, in 1912. The KA-BAR trademark came in 1923, from a trapper's letter about killing a bear, and became the company name in 1952. For collectors the prizes are the Union Cutlery and early KA-BAR folders, especially the Dog's Head shield knives, alongside the WWII fighting knife everyone knows.

In the case: a Ka-Bar Union Cutlery Dog's Head folding knife in jigged bone, an antique Union Cutlery Co. Olean two-blade jack with the UNION bar shield, a Becker Combat Bowie, and Ka-Bar 1277 and 1097 fixed blades.

Questions we get at the counter

What makes the Dog's Head Ka-Bar valuable?: The dog's head shield was used on Union Cutlery's premium folders from the 1920s to the 1940s and is the most collected Ka-Bar pattern. Condition of the shield, bone and blades sets the price; ours is described with all three.

Ka-bar

Products

Union Cutlery Co. Olean, N.Y. Antique Two-Blade Jack Knife – "UNION" Bar Shield, Jigged Bone

Ka-Bar Union Cutlery Dog Head Folding Pocket Knife – Jigged Bone

Ka-bar 1097

The Becker Combat Bowie

Ka-bar 1277

Ka-bar at Austin Blade Co.

Questions we get at the counter