KaBar Large Grizzly Stag #2179 Vintage 1930s switchblade knife made USA

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 approximately 5 3/8 inches closed and 9 7/8 inches open with brass liners and nickel silver bolsters & button. The clip blade is mostly full at about 96% and the tang is marked KABAR (though hidden by the bolster & liner) and backside is stamped PAT. over Union Cutlery Co (also mostly hidden by the bolster/liner. The blade has light patina with some light scratches and scattered light pitting. The genuine stag scales are yellowed with age and attractive with no cracks but small flaw by bottom pin on front scale shaped like a crack. The knife works well with blade tip below the liners closed, opens fully and pretty strong and locks open with a little movement at the tip, about 1/16" up and down. It barely rattles if shaken with the blade open. Most of these old Grizzlies do after being used for many years.

This Grizzly has a mid production profile blade that is wider/rounder than the later profile blade, but not quite as full as the early profile. 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 the early ones are higher and easier to read. These 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. (You rarely see one with the actual ring.) Here's your chance to own a legendary piece of American switchblade history! Overall VG+ condition.