Our History
KA-BAR history dates back to the very beginning of the 19th Century and includes more than 100 years of quality knife making. Below are some of our historical highlights.
1800 - 1899: The Cutlery Industry Takes Root in America
c1800The U.S. cutlery industry begins in New England when a group of cutlers from England's Sheffield Cutlery Industry ban together. |
April 29, 1897In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a group of 38 men form a Limited Partnership, known as Tidioute Cutlery Company, to manufacture and sell cutlery. The formation is now widely considered to be the beginnings of KA-BAR Knives, Inc. |
1898First sales of cutlery marks the beginning of KA-BAR as it is today 
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1900 - 1919: Union Cutlery Company is Formed
1902Mr. Wallace R. Brown purchases the assets of the Tidioute Cutlery Company, and applies to the Governor of Pennsylvania to form a corporation, the Union Razor Company (later changed to Union Cutlery Company in 1909), for the purpose of manufacturing and selling cutlery. 
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December 1911A new Union Cutlery Company is registered in Olean, New York, creating two Union Cutlery Company incorporations: the original in Tidioute, Pennsylvania and the new one in Olean, New York. Once the Olean facility is operating successfully, the Tidioute, Pennsylvania plant is closed down. |
1920 - 1944: The Birth of KA-BAR as a Brand
1920'sDuring this period, trademarks like OLCUT, KEENWELL, and KA-BAR are adopted and embellished on the knives. |
c 1942Soon after the start of World War II, the Union Cutlery Company submits a KA-BAR branded knife to the U.S. Marine Corps for issue to fighting personnel. 
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1942The Marine Corps accepts a reworked design of the submitted knife and begins using it as their standard issue fighting/utility knife. 
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1945 - 1974: The Making of Our Most Famous Knife - The USMC KA-BAR
1952Due to the role of the KA-BAR branded USMC knife in the War, the directors of the company decide to change the corporate name to KA-BAR Cutlery, Inc. 
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1960'sKA-BAR is sold by the Brown family and subsequently goes through a series of ownership changes ultimately being sold in 1966 to Cole National Corporation in Cleveland, Ohio. 
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1975 - Today: KA-BAR Thrives with Commemorative Knives and Improved Distribution
May 1996The KA-BAR product line and assets are sold to Alcas Corporation of Olean, New York. |
Late 1997KA-BAR Knives, Inc. dramatically enhances its national product distribution with the addition of five manufacturing representative firms whose territory spans the entire United States. |
1998KA-BAR celebrates its 100th year in the knife-making business. |
2003KA-BAR moves to its current location, 200 Homer Street, Olean, NY. 
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