Ka-Bar TDI Law Enforcement Review with Pics

[alude904]

This model Ka-Bar is the KA1481. It is the short bladed combat black serrated variant. This knife was designed to be an off hand self defense knife, although it works well with your strong hand. Designed by John Benner, a former Law enforcement officer, this knife has other law enforcement officers in mind as well as anyone else who is trained in close combat self defense.

Blade length: 2 5/16"
Overall Length: 5 5/8"
Blade Material: AUS-8 SS with black powder finish
Handle Material: Zytel
Weight: .18lb
Blade Type: fixed, drop point full serrated

To start with, the name of this knife pretty much explains this purpose. It was designed mainly for law enforcement officers as a back up self defense knife to be used in their off hand as a last option if they could not access their firearm. While it is made for that group, it is a great self defense tool for anyone else. I would first like to say that this knife should be carried with proper training. The blade style and angle as well as it's intended off hand use requires more know how than your average fixed or even folding combat knife. With that being said, it makes for a very trustworthy and lethal self defense knife.



Next, we have knife materials. The design of this knife is very simple. It consists of a strategically cut and angled piece of AUS-8 Stainless Steel that is black powder coated with two Zytel (plastic) handles on either side. While being made in Taiwan, this fixed blade is very simple so it goes without saying that this knife is solidly built. I can't see anything going wrong with this knife during proper use. The Zytel handles on it are comfortably formed and grip well but the material itself isn't too textured. The Steel is your average to low end Japanese steel which reflects on the knife's $35 to $60 price tag but is super sharp. My specific model being reviewed is the serrated variation and will cut the crap out of anyone. While the blades edge is super sharp, it is very very thin (hollow grind) and will dent real easily with improper use. You have to keep in mind that while this is a cheaper steel, it's intended purpose is for self defense against a person (flesh). I believe this steel and handle material is well chosen for the job while keeping it at a very affordable price range.





Looking further into the use of this knife, I feel that it makes an excellent self defense knife and was designed with much thought. The dimensions of this knife make it very versatile and comfortable to handle. Depending on your fighting style, you can have a forward knife grip or a reversed knife grip (edge out) and either way still being extremely comfortable and natural. This also extends to the way you draw the knife from the sheath on either side of your persons.

With that being said, the included sheath is also very well designed and thought out. The sheath is a black plastic friction sheath with great retention.



The sheath also very customizable for any style of carry. I mean ANY style of carry. You can carry this thing with the handle up, handle down, handle directed for a forward grip draw, handle directed for a reverse grip draw, on your strong side, your weak side, cross draw(forward or reverse grip), small of back, anywhere. This is possible with the two included belt adapters that can easily be fastened onto the sheath with hex screws. While this might sound cheap, it is designed with very well and with good materials. One of the belt adapters is so you can feed your belt through and have it fixed. This is the more stable method of carry but it's fixed.



The other belt adapter is a metal clip. I personally like this better and carry with this the most. I'm not certain of it's accommodated belt sizes but mine is between a 1.5" to 1.75" belt and it fits on there perfect. I do know that the metal clip will accommodate bigger belt sizes than the other belt harness will.



Overall, depending on your fighting style and training, this knife makes a great self defense knife. It's designed well with proper materials for the job, it's small size for a conceal ability, the affordable price, and the adaptability of the sheath for your fighting style. I've carried this knife on and off for about six years now and while I've never had to truly use it for it's intended purpose, It's always given me some piece of mind knowing that I can rely on it when the time comes.

[PropThePolecat]

Personally, i wouldnt carry this in plain view on a dutybelt, as it could be used against me in a fight. Thats why gun holsters have Level II and III retention systems.

Does the TDI sheath have any form of built-in retention? If not, whats to prevent a offender from drawing it and using it against the officer carrying it?

[alude904]

You make a very valid point. And honestly I never thought about that. Theres really no retention. So a bad guy could easily draw it from the officer's duty belt. It he or she got into that kind of confrontation. As for concealed carry on a civilian like me, theres no problem there. Kind of curious now as to where the designer intended on it being carried by an officer.

[JH-slice]

I have owned the tdi for a number of years.. my only qualm with it may be unwarranted but I will share it anyway.. If an attacker would pin my weak side hand against my body on deployment the blade would be easily forced into my side because of the profile and angle of the blade. I just do not like how the blade is angled in toward the body at the beginning of the draw...Im sure it's different for everybody...ymmv

Great review on a cool little shank

[jayinhk]

I have owned the tdi for a number of years.. my only qualm with it may be unwarranted but I will share it anyway.. If an attacker would pin my weak side hand against my body on deployment the blade would be easily forced into my side because of the profile and angle of the blade. I just do not like how the blade is angled in toward the body at the beginning of the draw...Im sure it's different for everybody...ymmv

Great review on a cool little shank

That's something I never considered and a very interesting point indeed.

[discdoggin]

Personally, i wouldnt carry this in plain view on a dutybelt, as it could be used against me in a fight. Thats why gun holsters have Level II and III retention systems.

Does the TDI sheath have any form of built-in retention? If not, whats to prevent a offender from drawing it and using it against the officer carrying it?

HHhmmmm. Great point. Perhaps justification to select something on my belt with a little more steel? ...and lead... Truly, you bring up a good point. I carry strong side, behind my right hip, handle outward. Although, I primarily carry it more as a tool than a last ditch. Perhaps I should do some re-thinking. I do already carry a leatherman wave that can handle cutting tasks... Thanks for the insight.

Great review, also!

DD

[jayinhk]

I believe there's a thread here on BF where I read about an LEO who had his TDI grabbed and used against him...with fatal results.

[sutured]

I tried one for about a week and found it to be completely useless. A poor tool and a worse weapon. Never found a place to keep in on my duty belt that wasn't in the way and never felt like it was enough of a weapon to rely on. Despite honing the back of the serrations I never could get it very sharp. Sold it on Ebay.

[Jamesbern]

Just picked up one to try out for EDC. It will be concealed on my off hand side. For the price I figured i'd have to give it a shot.

[alude904]

So supposedly the blade is a hollow grind but i dont think it was very much. At least i never noticed.

[EricV]

I just bent some kydex to boost the retention on the one I'm gifting to a LEO friend. I agree with the other comments that this knife should have a true retention sheath given its intended users/use.

[senoBDEC]

From what I recall, it's meant to be carried off-hand side, front of hip, behind magazine pouch on duty belts. It is supposed to be used as a "weapon retention" tool, where it is used if someone tries for your gun, you clamp down with main hand, then immediately maneuver to strong base and draw the TDI and put it to use.

I have one, sheath is kinda okay but is quite versatile. Mike Sastre had some nice sheathes for it if you prefer aftermarket.

[Jason Johonnesson]

I love my TDI. I had my wife stitch my sheath into a Blackhawk pocket pistol holster in size #1. It is in a superfast and ready position. More than twice as fast to deploy as a folder and I can keep my hand on it while I pump gas without looking like my hand is on a weapon. My pistol is my get away from me and keep away from me weapon. If I wind up with an attacker on me the TDI is my get off me go to. If my hand is in my pocket the attacker cannot wrestle the TDI away. Once it leaves the end of that sheath and its out of my pocket than the attacker is going to have the chances against him in regards of being able to get it out of my hand without himself suffering some deep cuts. The grip on this weapon is very firm and the angle makes it very easy to twist.

[GeauxTigers1]

I'm not trying to pick on you, but why would you ever want to go to your pocket in the middle of a fight? That leaves you open to all sorts of attacks

[senoBDEC]

I love my TDI. I had my wife stitch my sheath into a Blackhawk pocket pistol holster in size #1. It is in a superfast and ready position. More than twice as fast to deploy as a folder and I can keep my hand on it while I pump gas without looking like my hand is on a weapon. My pistol is my get away from me and keep away from me weapon. If I wind up with an attacker on me the TDI is my get off me go to. If my hand is in my pocket the attacker cannot wrestle the TDI away. Once it leaves the end of that sheath and its out of my pocket than the attacker is going to have the chances against him in regards of being able to get it out of my hand without himself suffering some deep cuts. The grip on this weapon is very firm and the angle makes it very easy to twist.

I love my TDI. I had my wife stitch my sheath into a Blackhawk pocket pistol holster in size #1. It is in a superfast and ready position. More than twice as fast to deploy as a folder and I can keep my hand on it while I pump gas without looking like my hand is on a weapon. My pistol is my get away from me and keep away from me weapon. If I wind up with an attacker on me the TDI is my get off me go to. If my hand is in my pocket the attacker cannot wrestle the TDI away. Once it leaves the end of that sheath and its out of my pocket than the attacker is going to have the chances against him in regards of being able to get it out of my hand without himself suffering some deep cuts. The grip on this weapon is very firm and the angle makes it very easy to twist.

I rather agree with GeauxTigers, admittedly better concealment for certain, but I'm not certain the rationale holds for a very small knife versus a potentially longer-distance weapon such as a pistol.
I'd just carry it IWB under a loose, relatively short shirt/polo etc.

Also, re: the draw and having the point towards you - the same thing happens with guns carried barrel down .

I'm not a particular fan of the TDI, but I believe it has its uses as, essentially, a legal push-knife-styled self-defense tool. Also, I would think it would take LESS training (not none), versus longer, non-angled blades.

[brewdog21]

Alude 904, You don't happen to have an extra Ka Bar 1481 sheath do you or know where I can get one? I want the one that threads throught the belt and not the metal clip. The reason is because I will be carrying it on the under belt of my duty belt and the metal clip tears my pants and cuts my side. I have looked everywhere and I was told they do not make the one I am looking for any more. If you are interested in selling the sheath I need or for that matter the knife as well, I would be interested. Thanks .

[alude904]

Sorry for the late reply brewdog. Are you looking for the actual sheath or just the plastic piece that attaches to the sheath. If alls you need is the piece the belt threads through then I'll just give you that. I don't use it. Let me know.