Boker Plus KALS74?

[mozzy]

Hello all, noob to this forum, perhaps known to some on others. I have a Boker related issue. Seems I bought a KALS74 back sometime. It's drab handles/plain edge bead blasted blade. I never really even noticed till I bought a second one. This one a desert tan liner lock, but it seems there is no listing in Boker's catalog for my knife. The drab handles have black blades and the black handles have the bead blasted blades. To make this ever so much more puzzling is my KALS74 does NOT say Magnum. Instead it's a Boker Plus. I got it in the original packaging. has anyone else seen this? Is it possibly a "non-us market" thing? The knife is a full auto and doesn't appear to have been taken apart.

 

[Ravaillac]

The KAL74 knife exists in basically two pattern, each of which is available in two versions:

patterns:
* liner lock (your third picture, with a small fuller)
* and botton release automatic (first two pictures)

colors:
* bead blasted plain edge + black handle
* Teflon coated half serrated edge + tan handle

(since those they have added a few variations like desert color and wharncliff/tanto blades).

In places were automatics are not allowed (notably the US), the automatic version is sold without spring as a button lock knife (same system except you have to open it by hand).

The knife is sold since about 3 years, maybe more.
While the knives have stayed pretty much the same, inscriptions have had slight variations over time.

As far as I know, it has always had the "automat kalashnikov 74/Pohl design" inscription. The Boker plus brand only exists since abut 2007 so previously made versions obviously couldn't be labelled as Boker plus, and was de facto "Magnum" stuff although not necessarly written on the knife.

Since Boker Plus have been created, most of the best knives from Magnum (CLB Designs, Kalashnikovs...) have been rebranded "Boker Plus", the "Magnum" tag is still in use mostly for the cheapest knives lines (price range about $15 for a smalll folder).

EDIT:
Boker doesn't sell autos in the US, but this version is available as auto where allowed, so yes, that's probably a non-us-market thing.

 

[mozzy]

well the fact that Boker only offerred 6 (now 8 variations with the reverse Tanto blade) of the KAL74 series, is why I brought this up. I can not find another example of the Olive (more a grey than a tan) handle - I have seen other drabs (with the black blades of course) and the scales on mine are the same color. The "US market" question wasn't so much about it being an auto (though finding both factory autos and conversions in the US aren't hard, Boker may not officially export them here but they get here just the same). I was wonderring if they didn't use "Magnum" on non-us sales. Conversions are simple. Disassembly and installation of a readily availible coil spring (I've done 2 Magnums)

.
I don't recall the exact date I got the KALS74 but it was after I got the two tanto folders in the same picture. I didn't even notice the variation in markings till I got my desert tan liner lock, the font, size and position seem correct. It's just odd, especially since I've had the liner lock less than a week and the button lock atleast 6 months, maybe longer.

 

[theoldawg]

It's drab handles/plain edge bead blasted blade. I never really even noticed till I bought a second one. This one a desert tan liner lock, but it seems there is no listing in Boker's catalog for my knife. The drab handles have black blades and the black handles have the bead blasted blades.

What Ravaillac said...

Only Grey/Drab handle AK74 with plain satin blade I have seen, is one where I switched blades for a customer, so he could have a black handle & black blade model. The plain satin blade then went into the Grey/Drab handle; (which I did not have any trouble selling.

I have never seen them offered for sale in that configuration.

You are not in the Maryland area are you?

 

[mozzy]

Outside of St Louis and the vendor was from Illinios. Guy already lied to me once, said that another knife I bought was a Leverletto and its clearly not ... so who knows. Odd thing still remains the unstandard markings and the fact there are no tell-tale signs of disassembly. I'm hoping one of the Boker guys might weigh in here. I can post or take more pix if it helps.

sorry if this is a tad off-topic and if anyone needs to know the honey horn scaled knife is a real deal. The black one is fake.