KaBar Grizzly Stag Vintage #2179 switchblade knife

This is a vintage Kabar Big Grizzly switchblade made by Union Cutlery Co of Olean, NY sometime between 1923 and early 1950s. It was designated the model #2179 and it measures approx 5 1/2 inches closed and 9 7/8 inches open with brass liners and nickel silver bolsters & button. The straight back semi clip blade is mostly full at about 96% and the tang is marked KABAR over REG US PAT OFF and backside is stamped PAT. over Union Cutlery Co. The blade is mostly shiny with some light scratches. The genuine stag scales are yellowed with age and attractive with a couple of hairline cracks by one pin on the front scale. The knife works well with blade tip well below the liners closed, opens fully and pretty strong and locks open with movement both ways at the tip with about 3/16" up and down.  It does rattle if shaken with the blade open as most of these old Grizzlies do after being used for many years.

This Grizzly has the early production profile blade that is wider/rounder than the later profile blade. They made at least two changes to the blade profile and stamps over the years and the later stamps are mostly hidden behind the bolsters where these early ones are higher and easy to read. These early production Grizzlies usually have a hole in the bottom bolster for a lanyard ring as this one does, but Some of the later ones did not. Not sure if they came with lanyard rings, or just had the holes for them, because you rarely see one with the actual ring. Here's your chance to own a legendary piece of American switchblade history! Overall EX- condition.