BK-16 Grind Problems

[Greebe]

So I brought this up about a month ago or so on the forum and talked to Ethan on the phone about the 16, and all sorts of other stuff. I really enjoyed talking with him and think he is a great guy.

At the time I did not post pictures because I do not like airing problems on the open forums. However Ethan said to go for it back then and I never did.

The problem my knife had was some grind problems. I talked to Ethan about how I was not worried about this knife being a safe queen but a general use tool for around my farm. My concern at that time was that the gouges in the blade might make it weak and break which would not be good when I am relying on this blade. He said that he would swap out the blade for me if I liked and I said not to worry about it. I said if it ever broke then I would want to try to get a replacement.

However, as much as I like this blade and have got good use out of it since getting it for Christmas, these grind problems keep bugging me.

First there are two gouges in the blade, that when sharpening with a flat ceramic stone, are too low to touch the stone and do not get sharpened well. This is the biggest problem with this blade's functionality.

Then there is a large hump on one side of the blade and a dip on the opposite side that makes the edge not straight. The front portion of the blade is also ground off of centerline making the edge wander off to the side. I could not get a picture of this though as the focus kept getting wonky.

You can see how the grind is off to the side here.

So those are the problems I have with this blade. Overall the design is great but these faults bother me every time I use or sharpen this blade. I am struggling with whether to just live with it as I had originally planned to, or to get it swapped out. Had I not put all the work into this blade I would just swap it out.

Regardless of liking the way I have it set up, the grind faults are starting to get on my nerves making me not want to use it. If it weren't for the two gouges in the blade making sharpening difficult, I would not really care too much about the other problems. When I had talked to Ethan I did not realize that the gouges would keep me from getting those areas sharp. It is kind of like having two random serrations on the blade.

Like I said, I post this just as information not to trash talk this knife, as despite the problems, it has become one of my favorite users on the farm.

Greebe

 

[DerekH]

Talk to the boss and get it swapped out. If it bothers you, then just do it, be done with the swap, and have one to use that doesn't have those issues. Easy-peasy. The boss is very chill about things like that and more than understanding about issues with his knives. They get made by other folks, not him, and there are bound to be issues with how many get pushed out, so he definitely understands.

Seeing those issues that you have there, I say you have every right to be bothered by it, and things like that are hard not to notice. That isn't a slightly off kilter grind, that isn't the stamping not being right or one side being ground more than the other, that is a honest to goodness massive dent that is affecting the overall structure of the knife, and I bet as a result putting more stresses on the blade in those areas than one without.

 

[sd550]

I can appreciate someone not wanting to air their problems on the open forums, waaaay too much of that happens IMO !!!

I see this as more of blade warpage due to whatever reason and the grind just has to follow the edge, I would try to contact Ethan and maybe get it replaced, cause you'll never get the blade sharpened like it should be. Good luck in getting this issue dealt with and I'm sure Ethan will take care of you.

 

[Greebe]

Seeing those issues that you have there, I say you have every right to be bothered by it, and things like that are hard not to notice. That isn't a slightly off kilter grind, that isn't the stamping not being right or one side being ground more than the other, that is a honest to goodness massive dent that is affecting the overall structure of the knife, and I bet as a result putting more stresses on the blade in those areas than one without.

Thanks Derek for your thoughts on this. I think you are spot on about the issues of this blade. I just don't want to be a PITA and seem like I am complaining about a non issue. Glad to hear that it is just not me being anal.

 

[Greebe]

I can appreciate someone not wanting to air their problems on the open forums, waaaay too much of that happens IMO !!!

I see this as more of blade warpage due to whatever reason and the grind just has to follow the edge, I would try to contact Ethan and maybe get it replaced, cause you'll never get the blade sharpened like it should be. Good luck in getting this issue dealt with and I'm sure Ethan will take care of you.

Thanks. I like to keep things civil. I own a small manufacturing business, and prefer people bring problems to me instead of trash talking. So far I have not had that ever happen, but I am aware of the way the internet can be, so I try top do the right thing when I have problems with a product as well.

 

[Guyon]

Thanks Derek for your thoughts on this. I think you are spot on about the issues of this blade. I just don't want to be a PITA and seem like I am complaining about a non issue. Glad to hear that it is just not me being anal.

It happens. I recently bought a Spyderco, which I typically associate with really clean grinds, good fit/finish, and polished internals. This one had an unfinished part on the inside that, try as I might to ignore it, just bothered me for some reason. Probably because of what I spent on the knife. I knew I was being nitpicky, and lots of Spyderco folks said it was typical on this particular knife. It did not affect function at all, but I wound up sending it back and buying a different Spyderco, and I'm glad I did.

 

[Rebel Nimrod]

That looks like a warped blade to me, send it back. Stuff happens sometimes.

 

[daizee]

That could be warpage from heat-treat, which would then affect any subsequent grinding operations.

 

[1066vik]

looks like warped steel to me -- take E up on his offer of a trade for a fresh blade.
a small fraction of a % of the blades made each year leave the factory imperfect but not caught by QC -- it happens.

 

[Greebe]

Thanks guys, I think you are right I should go ahead and ask if he wouldn't still mind swapping it out for me. I just hate to be bothering him, as it is KaBar's mess up not his. However when I talked with him he seemed super cool about it.

 

[Dexwithers]

Yea Man, I'd send that back to Ka-Bar for sure.

Almost all the 16's have a slight bend where the handle portion meets the blade from heat treat, but that is way beyond ok.

Good Luck! I am sure Ka-Bar will take care of you.

 

[Greebe]

Thanks.

However when I called KaBar they said it would not be under warranty because of removing the bed liner type of finish. I guess they have that policy as you most likely would not see these problems with that heavy coat of paint. So after removing the paint you see the problem and they say no dice because it is no longer under warranty. The paint is a cover up for finish problems I think.

Oh well, maybe I will send Ethan a message and see what he says.

 

[knife chop]

Ever since Tooj left kabar these thing started popping.

 

[NJBillK]

Talk to the boss and get it swapped out. If it bothers you, then just do it, be done with the swap, and have one to use that doesn't have those issues. Easy-peasy. The boss is very chill about things like that and more than understanding about issues with his knives. They get made by other folks, not him, and there are bound to be issues with how many get pushed out, so he definitely understands.

Seeing those issues that you have there, I say you have every right to be bothered by it, and things like that are hard not to notice. That isn't a slightly off kilter grind, that isn't the stamping not being right or one side being ground more than the other, that is a honest to goodness massive dent that is affecting the overall structure of the knife, and I bet as a result putting more stresses on the blade in those areas than one without.

Don't let them fool you! This is the Only prototype Becker camp tool that has made it out alive, it is a knife/spoon hybrid, all you need at a camp site utensil wise! It would have sold for plenty of money if it hadn't been used...

In all seriousness, send it back, it is in rough shape. I am honestly surprised that they are not willing to issue a replacement. That knife shouldn't have left the factory to begin with... There is a significant flaw in the creation of that knife, so much so that Anything you could have done, shy of snapping it in half, would have been an improvement.

 

[Dexwithers]

Thanks.

However when I called KaBar they said it would not be under warranty because of removing the bed liner type of finish. I guess they have that policy as you most likely would not see these problems with that heavy coat of paint. So after removing the paint you see the problem and they say no dice because it is no longer under warranty. The paint is a cover up for finish problems I think.

Oh well, maybe I will send Ethan a message and see what he says.

You know, this really pisses me off.

You didn't get the knife from me, but I still feel like calling them up and asking them what the hell is going on over there.

Coating or or no coating, the blade is bent. And unless you were prying open a door or something, it got got that way during Ka-bars heat treat!

So yea Ka-Bar needs to make this right. BS if you ask me.

Did you send them pictures or direct them to this thread?

Any way you can can send me a few shots of it? With a straight edge pic from both sides?

tate@coyleoutdoors.com

Also, who did you talk to?

 

[Greebe]

I do not remember who it was I talked to as that was back at the end of December. That was before I talked to Ethan about the knife. Ethan offered to replace it and that was before I noticed the sharpening issue due to the gouges. However I didn't feel that Ethan should have to replace a knife bought from KaBar so told him I appreciated the offer, but I would just live with it. Then I started noticing the other problems listed in my OP and have since kind of felt a bit put off by these grind problems when I use this knife. Maybe I should give KaBar a call tomorrow and see if someone else gives me a different answer concerning a swap.

Thanks again everyone for your thoughts.

 

[NJBillK]

Also ask for the person's email address so you can link them this thread while speaking with them. Being able to see the issue will likely make the process go a bit more smoothly.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[tobiism]

I do not remember who it was I talked to as that was back at the end of December. That was before I talked to Ethan about the knife. Ethan offered to replace it and that was before I noticed the sharpening issue due to the gouges. However I didn't feel that Ethan should have to replace a knife bought from KaBar so told him I appreciated the offer, but I would just live with it. Then I started noticing the other problems listed in my OP and have since kind of felt a bit put off by these grind problems when I use this knife. Maybe I should give KaBar a call tomorrow and see if someone else gives me a different answer concerning a swap.

Thanks again everyone for your thoughts.

Yeah, try again. Plenty of people have had warranty exchanges honored even with the coating taken off.

 

[TravisH]

However I didn't feel that Ethan should have to replace a knife bought from KaBar ...

Was he going to personally replace it or see to it that it was replaced?

I'm sure he has a few contacts to make that happen.

 

[Greebe]

I called Kabar today and talked to a lady named Brea Ann, Bre Ann, Breann, one of those.

Anyways she said that even thought pain removal normally voids the warranty, they would honor it if I would send it in. Only bummer is that will take 2-3 weeks to get it processed which is a long time not to have this knife as It gets used a lot.

My only concern about sending it back is that I might get one that is worse then this one. I have that sort of luck. Seems like I always get the defective products out there. Ask my wife, she has seen many of the items I have had to send back.