Unusual Kabar Hatchet Pre-1952

[zzyzzogeton]

Here's a Kabar Hatchet I have only seen once - this one.

It has an aluminum handle, or at least what is left of it. I know it's not full-sized any longer, but it would still work for a "short survival hatchet.

One side of the handle is marked KABAR and the other side is marked UNION CUTLERY CO. over OLEAN NY

 

[Tanker 1/66]

Here's a Kabar Hatchet I have only seen once - this one.

It has an aluminum handle, or at least what is left of it. I know it's not full-sized any longer, but it would still work for a "short survival hatchet.

One side of the handle is marked KABAR and the other side is marked UNION CUTLERY CO. over OLEAN NY

Now that's pretty neat. I wonder if it used to have a leather handle on it?

 

[zzyzzogeton]

Most likely, it had a handle similar to the handles Bridgeport hatchets had - all metal with wood slabs or a rubber handle that followed the wood slab models, but without a catalog page or an ad we won't know.

 

[gunsil]

This is what one version looks like, Zzzy's was a little different. This one has KA-BAR plastic inserts pinned onto the aluminum handle, Zzzy's had cocobolo inserts pinned into the aluminum. Mine has the marks on the hatchet head while the cocobolo ones had the marks on the handle. These do not appear in the 1938 KA-BAR brochure, but they are in the brochures from 1930-34. I have a cocobolo one also, just don't have the time to dig it out and photo it because I have to leave for the NCCA knife show today. (Show isn't until tomorrow but we can set up tonight) This hatchet has the only original sheath I have seen for this model. I like the aluminum handle but they must not have sold a lot of these since I have only ever seen 3-4 of each model in many years.

 

[gunsil]

Well I found this while packing, no sun here so the pics are a little dim. First is a cocobolo handle model like Zzzy's once was, last two pics are handle are of plastic insert handle.

 

[gunsil]

without a catalog page or an ad we won't know.

Actually Wayne, the KA-BAR brochures I have that show these only show the one with the plastic inserts, none show the one with the cocobolo like yours was. If you look at the pics of the handles you can see that the cocobolo one is a weaker design.

 

[zzyzzogeton]

Yeah, Gene, I can see how the cocobola handle design has an inherent flaw. That may be another reason there aren't that many of them floating around - they all broke, or Kabar pulled them from sales quickly due to complaints.