Couple questions on USMC knife.

I got my commercial KaBar in 1984.
Periodically, every four or five years, I'll melt Snow Seal into the handle.
Could not care less about the darkening.
Washers smooth & still tight, running strong.
Denis
 
zzyzzogeton said:
Until you need to memorize them (or want to for some reason), the easiest way to figure out which one you already have, is to go to either tomarskabars.com (a BF sponsor here) or kabar.com and look them up and compare what you have with the pictures/descriptions on the sites.

There are 4 traditional leather stacked handle versions and 4 all black Kraton handled versions.

The leather (L) handle versions are clip point only, plain edge (P) or combo (partially serrated - S) and marked either USMC or USA (C or A)

LPC is 1250
LPA is 1251
LSC is 1252
LSA is 1261

The Kraton (K) handled versions are marked USA only, come with either a tanto (T) or clip (C) point, and either a P or an S edge.
KTP is 1254
KTS is 1255
KCP is 1256
KCS is 1257

All eight (8) of these model numbers come with leather sheaths, either tan for the Ls or black for the Ks.

By changing out the leather sheaths for the black plastic ones, the 4 K knives' model numbers change (as far as the factory inventory control procedures and box labels are concerned).

The 2 clip points become:
KCP is 1258
KCS is 1259

The 2 tanto points become:
KTP is 5054
KTS is 5055

On the sheaths, I really like the plastic sheath for these knives (at least when carrying for use in the barns and such around the farm). Some folks don't like the plastic sheaths, each for their own reason(s).

First, they are waterproof. No real maintenance required other than to let dry after getting wet or being washed.

Second, the sheath is ambidextrous in accepting the knives. If you put a lefty on the right, just pull out the knife and turn it around.

The sheath can be carried via
-a belt loop strap,
-a buckle-like fitting through which a 1" strap can be passed (say like a shoulder strap)
or
-by running straps/cords through the 4 slots (2 each side) and 8 para-cord sized holes (4 each side) along the edges of the sheath.

The sheaths also have 3 knife retention methods. If you loose a knife from one of these sheaths, you probably shouldn't be allowed to eat with anything sharper than a spoon.

The sheath has a "traditional" handle keeper strap, an ambidextrous, over-the-guard strap and a pair of little molded plastic "teeth" that engage over the guard when the knife is firmly seated in the sheath.

They look a kinda "tactical" or "tacti-lol" for city carry, so I usually use leather for going to town, but if I'm in a hurry, I just use which ever sheath they happen to be in. And around the farm under real working conditions? Who gives a rat's posterior about looks?
Click to expand...

Central Rural Texas,

Thanks! This has been extremely helpful. According to your info, I have a 1250, a 1252 and a 1256. Before I fell under the thrall of Ethan Becker, I had resolved to primarily use these knives for hiking -- at least when I was going light which had been most of the time up until recently. I liked the L knives better than the K and so thought I would save the Ls and use up the 1256 on hikes. The Kraton handle seemed much more secure in case I had to actually use one of these knives in an emergency. The dye and polish jobs on my 1250 and 1252 has turned out very well. Also, finishing everything off with some rubbed in mink oil seems to have caused the coating to setup pretty well. I can't promise that you could rub some mahogany coloring off with a cloth, but for the way I use the knives that wouldn't be a problem.

How many of these models do you have and are there people who collect them? I still haven't found any decent reviews of these knives and so I remain prejudiced in their favor -- although being a bit like you once mentioned, not wanting to push anything with these knives because they do not "look" as though they could take enormous abuse even if my mind tells me that they ought to be able to.

"Going light" for me means taking my lightest camera (currently the Olympus EPM2) and one of my lighter knives (until recently the 1250 or the 1256. I acquired the 1252 more recently.). I discovered the Becker knives in the midst of a drought here in San Jacinto. The brush has been dry and if there isn't enough food for the rabbits (one of the main food sources of the local coyotes) then the coyotes will be looking for something else to eat and my wife's little schnoodle, Duffy, might very well be at risk. I carry a little Walther 22, but what could I do with that if a coyote had Duffy? I wouldn't take the chance of hitting him. I could fire it into the brush and hope the coyote would let him go, but I would probably do my best to chase after them and more likely than not brandish and possibly use whatever knife I was carrying. While this scenario is possible, it isn't especially likely. The coyotes have been seeing me come down where they live their entire lives. Also, one of my dogs is a 110 pound Rhodesian Ridgeback who likes to chase coyotes. Also, I am always looking for and at these coyotes, not necessarily trying to menace them but at least being aware of them. Also, my dogs are also conscious of them; thus making it less likely that they could sneak up on Duffy who as a rule sticks pretty close to me. But as soon as I started thinking about these things I began acquiring more formidable knives. Sorry little 1250, 1252 and 1256. You just don't look very formidable.

Lawrence
 
Central Rural Texas,

Hmmm. I just looked up the 1251 and the 1261 on Amazon and they have them reversed from what you have above. 1251 is serrated and 1261 is not -- at least according to the photos they have of the product.

Lawrence
 
I just went out to tomarskabars (BF supporter and one of the overall cheapest sources of Kabars and to kabar.com. Both have the 1251 as plain edge and 1261 as a partially serrated edge. I will take kabar and tomarskabars for accuracy over the large, muddy river store any day. :D


ETA: my 3/4 inventory is:
5054 - 1x
1255 - 2x
1256 - 1x
1258 - 1x
1259 - 1x

All are users and were acquired used, either at pawn shops or via fleabay well under market value.

I'm sure someone collects them. In a way, I do as I will buy a used one of a model I don't have if the price is right. I'll also buy unused ones if the price is right, too. :D
I don't mind buying used knives because until a knife has been sharpened to the point of impracticality, or has been abused to the point of damage, a used knife is just as good as a new one and I don't have the angst of putting a scratch on a new knife.
 
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