Eskabar (BK14) Update

S

StSumwhere

Joined
Aug 26, 2008
Messages
8
First post here after months of lurking. Wanted to contribute a reply I just received from the factory regarding expected ship dates for the Eskabar:

Thank you for your inquiry. There is a lot of interest in the ESKABAR!
We are working through production issues at the main plant right now and
expect to have full production by January 2011, or sooner. Please keep
an eye on our website (www.ka-bar.com) and the knife forums online for
the latest news.

My best,

Tara
KA-BAR​

My question now is will any of the online dealers accept pre-orders for this knife?

Cheers,
Hector
 
Sweet! My birthday is in January, and who don't like a nice new knife for their birthday?;)
 
Thanks for the post. Not sure I will get one right away, but at some point I will have to get one :thumbup:
 
Thanks for the info, StSumwhere, and welcome to the Becker forum, and Blade Forums in general.

Hmmm. January, 2011 just happens to coincide with the Shot show. Interesting.
 
Glad its coming, wish it were sooner, I just sold my BK11 and rig to my little brother. I was going to get another, but when I heard the Eskabar was coming, I decided to wait. Oh well, patience is a virtue. Thanks to all. Moose
 
Thanks for the update. As for online pre-orders I don't know. I would start contacting them and ask. Sorry, I know that's not much of an answer, just what I would do.

And, to steal someone else's phrase:

Welcome to Beckerland (and BladeForums), StSumwhere. Stay, and lurk no more.
 
as to pre-orders? that's up to the dealers. call your favorite and ask them.

pre-orders can be a tricky business. a lot will probably say "no", but you never know.

i'm told the BK14 should be coming a LOT sooner than Jan 2011. we'll see :)


Bladite
 
Bladite said:
i'm told the BK14 should be coming a LOT sooner than Jan 2011. we'll see :)
Click to expand...

Let's hope so. Frankly, I was a little bummed by the January 2011 ETA considering only half of the knife is a new design. Maybe they're rethinking the sheath. I plan to use it as a necker and would love a low-profile kydex sheath like those from Double Barrel.

Image borrowed from Double Barrel Sheaths
DblBrlShths.jpg
 
StSumwhere said:
Let's hope so. Frankly, I was a little bummed by the January 2011 ETA considering only half of the knife is a new design. Maybe they're rethinking the sheath. I plan to use it as a necker and would love a low-profile kydex sheath like those from Double Barrel.

Image borrowed from Double Barrel Sheaths
DblBrlShths.jpg
Click to expand...

actually, the entire knife is new...

when it comes to tooling a new knife, there's probably no such thing as "well, we've already done half of this" ;) whole knife process.

don't know what the delays are about, but again, i'm told way before Jan 2011. course, SHOT is the big big big show to display them at, but much better to get them into hands (late Summer would be nice :>)


Bladite
 
Bladite said:
actually, the entire knife is new...

when it comes to tooling a new knife, there's probably no such thing as "well, we've already done half of this" ;) whole knife process.

don't know what the delays are about, but again, i'm told way before Jan 2011. course, SHOT is the big big big show to display them at, but much better to get them into hands (late Summer would be nice :>)


Bladite
Click to expand...

A very good point that most would never think about. Sure, it's a marriage of two existing knives, but those two knives were never designed to just merge into one. Also, I would think that as they went along, they found little things to tweak to make the new knife even better than either of the originals, and that could take time. Not to mention refining the manufacturing process to be more efficient for the new knife.
 
dawsonbob said:
A very good point that most would never think about. Sure, it's a marriage of two existing knives, but those two knives were never designed to just merge into one. Also, I would think that as they went along, they found little things to tweak to make the new knife even better than either of the originals, and that could take time. Not to mention refining the manufacturing process to be more efficient for the new knife.
Click to expand...

prior posts from THOSE IN THE KNOW indicated that the handles are not 100% compatible with the ESEE handles (don't know why), so ESEE micarta needs a small tweak. perhaps the delay was to correct that? no idea. no details. all will be revealed at some point, i'm sure... me? i was expecting to have these in my hands by late April and/or just post post Blade 2010.

bigbadboom said:
Will the current necker stay in production , or will it be discontinued ?
Click to expand...

i assume so, yes. they're a big seller on the necker market with good reason.


Bladite
 
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Bladite said:
prior posts from THOSE IN THE KNOW indicated that the handles are not 100% compatible with the ESEE handles (don't know why), so ESEE micarta needs a small tweak. perhaps the delay was to correct that? no idea. no details. all will be revealed at some point, i'm sure... me? i expecting to have these in my hands by late April and/or just post post Blade 2010.



i assume so, yes. they're a big seller on the necker market with good reason.


Bladite
Click to expand...

Uh, I say, Bladite old boy, I hate to draw attention to it — and not to put to fine of a point on it — but both April and Blade have already come and gone for 2010.

Did you by chance just cut and paste old estimates?
 
dawsonbob said:
Uh, I say, Bladite old boy, I hate to draw attention to it — and not to put to fine of a point on it — but both April and Blade have already come and gone for 2010.

Did you by chance just cut and paste old estimates?
Click to expand...

"i was expecting" :)... and those were the old dates, indeed.

now we're looking at Jan 2011 ;) or earlier ;) ;) ;)


Bladite

(has your cut and paste RIGHT HERE :>)
 
Bladite said:
prior posts from THOSE IN THE KNOW indicated that the handles are not 100% compatible with the ESEE handles (don't know why), so ESEE micarta needs a small tweak.
Click to expand...

Yes, i can attest to that. It took 10 minutes to correct with a Leatherman file, and then the scales fit fine. No big deal.

4820933286_d4f400a4e8_z.jpg
 
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PropThePolecat said:
Yes, i can attest to that. It took 10 minutes to correct with a Leatherman file, and then the scales fit fine. No big deal.

4820933286_d4f400a4e8_z.jpg
Click to expand...

a lucky dude :) [sneaking pictures in there too]

see this thread for details / etc on the handle sizing and scales and stuff...

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=747513

Basicsily Toooj says '''You are correct. The Rowen Izula handles will not fit on the BK14 handle. The esteemed Mr. Becker wanted a bit more width on the handle struts and the opening is smaller than the Izula. When we were developing the BK14, the Izula Micarta handles were not out yet.
If one takes the Rowen Micarta handles and shaves down the edges with a file or exacto knife, they will fit. If there is a lot of teeth knashing and chest beating, we can change.'''

more pictures and information:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=759339
(missed this thread, perhaps it should be moved to Becker and not General?)

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=758842

and let us not forget the origin story:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=646719


Bladite
 
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