Fit for warranty, or not

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Tdhurl1103

Tdhurl1103

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Dec 6, 2012
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Hi all,

This is a question mainly for KA-BAR, but others are free to chime in with opinion of course.

I have this KA-BAR peanut (pen knife) I inherited from my Great Uncle. He died in the mid 80's but this knife sat in a box, gathering dust and rust for a long time after that (totally my fault there). My Uncle was a WW2 Vet, having survived the second or third wave on Omaha Beach (Normandy) on June 6, 1944. He didn't talk about that day very much only to comment, he remembers how cold the water was and he remembers "hitting the shingles." He also admitted that that day was so traumatizing, he blocked out the journey from the waters edge to the somewhat safe/safer part of the beach. He was a good honest man, and taught me a lot about what it was to be a man. He always had a knife on him from what I can remember but they were all these small types. He had a few in his effects when he died, although I did not get them all. Various family laod claim to some of the others, but I got this one, and a Case brand small stockman. He carried the KA-BAR knife sometime (I think before 1980) before he died . And I surmise the reason he stopped carrying it is it developed, or he caused it, blade play in the main blade.

My question is: Can I send this to KA-BAR for warranty? I'd like the knife cleaned up and the blade play fixed. Is that something KA-BAR would do under warranty or would I have to pay? Or would KA-BAR even do the work to restore it? If I have to pay, I will. I just want this one fixed as a reminder of my Uncle.

Thanks




 
Since you invited the peanut gallery to comment also, I'll take you up on it. ;)

IMO that old knife tells a better story as-is rather than being "restored." If it was a yardsale find or something like that then giving it an overhaul would make sense. But if I was in your shoes (and I have been), I'd want all the mojo left behind by your Grandfather. You could still tighten the joint while leaving everything else untouched.

The most I've done with any knives I've inherited from my two Grandfathers was a very light buffing with dry polishing wheel on a Dremel. This removed only the surface gunk and anything not very sincere about hanging on, while leaving all of the patina and character that my Grandpas built while using them.

Naturally YMMV, but that's my feelings on the subject. :)
 
a) you'd be better of sending an email to Kabar about this if you really want an answer from them.
b) if they decline, because this sounds more like normal wear and tear rather than a warranty issue, you might PM BF member Glennbad and see what he would charge to do some cleanup and restoration.
 
The knife appears to be a delrin handled knife from the 1970s that has suffered abuse by a previous owner. It definitely is not a WW2 era piece. Warranties are generally applied to cover factory defects, not improper sharpening and abuse. I agree with 1066 that if you'd like to clean it up or tighten it up you should find a knife repair guy to do it. The main blade has been treated so badly that it will never be able to look right again. It was a cheap knife when new and is not a great candidate for restoration to be used again, might be better left as is as a memento of your predecessor.
 
Thanks 52100 and Vik for your responses.

I wanted to get it fixed to use it. I don't particularly like to have knives just sit around to be looked at. But it's no big deal if I can't get it fixed. And, I was just curious if ka-bar would even do it for me. I just took a stab at the warranty thing totally expecting people to say no. Thanks again

Gunsil: I did not expect to read about how the knife was so abused and mishandled that the knife was not worth fixing.

A few more things: I knew the blade play was not a defect in manufacturing, and I am quite certain I never made such a claim. I said it either developed blade play or he caused it. What I meant by that was; By "developed" I meant he used the knife in such a way that over time the pivot became stretched. By "caused it" I meant one time he used it he wrenched the knife and stretched the pivot. It seems that I apparently didn't get specific enough for you to not be insulting toward my Uncle.

Also I said he got the knife sometime before 1980. I DID NOT SAY he got it in the 1940s. So, I NEVER said the knife was WW2 era, I know for a fact it's not!!!! I honestly don't know where someone could have read I thought it was made during the 40s in my words.

Really I only wanted to let you all know my Great Uncle was a WW2 vet, and that I respected him emmensley and I liked this old beat up Ka-bar of his and I wanted to get it fixed after he broke it so that I could carry it/use it as a tribute to him.

But I totally do not understand how someone could completely misread or fail to understand what I wrote and answer me in a manner that was demeaning and disrespectful.

In fact; screw it. I'm sorry i even posted this. as soon as I get to a computer I'm closing this thread.
I don't think I can take someone else coming in here to tell me the knife is a POS, and it's not worth my efforts.

not a great candidate for restoration? Who the hell are you to decide that?
 
Tdhurl1103 said:
Thanks 52100 and Vik for your responses.

I wanted to get it fixed to use it. I don't particularly like to have knives just sit around to be looked at. But it's no big deal if I can't get it fixed. And, I was just curious if ka-bar would even do it for me. I just took a stab at the warranty thing totally expecting people to say no. Thanks again

Gunsil: I did not expect to read about how the knife was so abused and mishandled that the knife was not worth fixing.

A few more things: I knew the blade play was not a defect in manufacturing, and I am quite certain I never made such a claim. I said it either developed blade play or he caused it. What I meant by that was; By "developed" I meant he used the knife in such a way that over time the pivot became stretched. By "caused it" I meant one time he used it he wrenched the knife and stretched the pivot. It seems that I apparently didn't get specific enough for you to not be insulting toward my Uncle.

Also I said he got the knife sometime before 1980. I DID NOT SAY he got it in the 1940s. So, I NEVER said the knife was WW2 era, I know for a fact it's not!!!! I honestly don't know where someone could have read I thought it was made during the 40s in my words.

Really I only wanted to let you all know my Great Uncle was a WW2 vet, and that I respected him emmensley and I liked this old beat up Ka-bar of his and I wanted to get it fixed after he broke it so that I could carry it/use it as a tribute to him.

But I totally do not understand how someone could completely misread or fail to understand what I wrote and answer me in a manner that was demeaning and disrespectful.

In fact; screw it. I'm sorry i even posted this. as soon as I get to a computer I'm closing this thread.
I don't think I can take someone else coming in here to tell me the knife is a POS, and it's not worth my efforts.

not a great candidate for restoration? Who the hell are you to decide that?
Click to expand...

:thumbup: I don't see much wrong with either blade except rust and the need for a good sharpening. I'd go with what Vik said and contact a knife restorator.
 
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