This company began in Little Valley, New York as a jobbing business. Wallace R. Brown and his brother R. Emerson Brown were the owners. While in Little Valley, they used the name “Union Razor Company” and “Brown Bros.”
In 1902, they purchased the Tidioute Cutlery Company, and began manufacturing under the name “Union Razor Company.” They made straight razors, and “Tidioute Razor Co.” marked pocket knives.
The company name was changed to the Union Cutlery Company in 1909. In 1911, the move to Olean, New York was started. Upon moving to Olean, the Olean Cutlery Company and the Union Cutlery Company seem to have been one and the same. Olean Cutlery was at 434 Ninth North, and Union Cutlery at 436-438 Ninth North. W.R. Brown was manager of both companies.
The trademark “Ka-Bar” was first used in 1923. This marking became so popular that the name was changed to Ka-Bar Cutlery about 1951. They are still in business under that name. In 1975, Ka-Bar revived the name “Union Cutlery Company” for use on commemorative knives. In 1996, the KaBar name and all trademarks were sold to the Alcas Cutlery Company of Bradford, Pennsylvania.
c 1923-1951