Originated as the Union Razor Company in Little Valley, New York in 1899. In 1902, Union Razor relocated to Tidioute, Pennsylvania. About 1912, they moved to Olean, New York. as the Union Cutlery Company. In 1923, Union Cutlery began using the trademark “Kabar.”
The name of the firm was changed in 1952 to the Kabar Cutlery Company. In 1954, Kabar moved to Dawsonville, Georgia. They stayed in that town only for about one year, and moved back to Olean.
About 1966, they were sold to the Cole National Corporation of Cleveland, Ohio who ran the firm as a subsidiary. Many of the older marking have been used on reproductions and special issue knives since 1975. In 1996, Alcas Cutlery Company of Bradford, Pennsylvania purchased the Kabar name and all trademarks.
(Featured image) Kabar box label, post-1952.
Kabar box label c.1930s. (as Union Cutlery Co.)
c 1923-present