Heavy Duty Folder?

rkmoore

rkmoore

Joined
Oct 30, 2010
Messages
2,870
When will KaBar give us a heavy duty folder? I own 3 of the KaBar Dozier folders and they are a great value but not exactly hard use knives. I would LOVE to see a line of folders to complete with Cold Steel's Recon 1 or even the Zero Tolerance line. Is there any interest in this or am I just nuts?
 
I'm in, but you need to convince others ;)

I hear production costs are kinda what's holding back. Lets face it, If they do it... they are going to do it properly... and not very many people other then us, will drop the coin necessary to cover production costs and profit margin. So many little parts, dies, man hours, and QC necessary :eek: it gets pricy. And I personally have spent $250 on a folder, but the average knife user has a hard time spending that $60+ on a production piece.

One day maybe ;) and when that day comes, I'll be there!
 
It's the price point, I think. One of the great things about Ka-Bar knives is the value you get for the money you pay.
However, a $200 folder changes the target audience and the economic model entirely.
Would I buy one? You bet your pants I would. Would many other people? Well, there's the rub.
 
I would be willing to spend $60 - 70 on a good pocket knife. I would not expect it to be made in America or from some kind of super steel. Buck Knives has been able to turn out quality knives with 420C for a long long time.
Personally, I would love it if they stuck with 1095. As long as they weren't made in China and were well made, I'd get in on it.
 
You got the Mules......

Bout it. They are tough as nails for a lockback.

Hard market to break into.......it's already saturated and prices right where it's hard to turn a buck on. Volume is the name of the game........or new designs that have been patented under your brand.....

Moose
 
Ka Bar will introduce an astonishing large hard use folder whenever they are able to sign Shane Sibert for a design or two. Sibert has done extremely well with his own folders and fixed blades let alone the couple of benchmark large hard use folders he designed for Benchmade. I feel Sibert would be like a fish in water at Ka Bar. Most likely would design 2 folders. One being the larger of the two the other being smaller and more basic both of which would be made in Taiwan to keep the price down. Sibert would have a field day working traditional Ka Bar aesthetics into his designs. I love his custom work and am quite pleased with the two folders hes done for Benchmade the 757 Vicar is most likely as close to a custom Pocket Rocket as I will ever get.

Alas, Ka Bar is owned by notorious vulture capatalists Cutco/Vector Marketing. Vector seems to have bought Ka Bar just to be able to strengthen their reputation they clearly have no intention of actually pushing product designs, new accessories etc. and maximizing Ka Bar's unbelievable profit potential. Until ownership changes and Ka Bar is bought by actual knife enthusiasts that are NOT vulture capitalists we will never see what Ka Bar is actually capable of you can forget about signing first rate designers anymore. Dozier has been under contract with Ka Bar for a very long time long ago enough that Ka Bar was under its former ownership then I believe.

I used to work for Cutco selling knives and kitchen sets door to door thus the rant...sorry its all true.
 
Moosez45 said:
You got the Mules......

Bout it. They are tough as nails for a lockback.

Hard market to break into.......it's already saturated and prices right where it's hard to turn a buck on. Volume is the name of the game........or new designs that have been patented under your brand.....

Moose
Click to expand...
:thumbup:

Maybe if the Mules sell well we might see some D2 versions like the BK24.
 
When talking heavy Duty do you mean large or just built heavy duty ?
As 1 of my favorite is a Dozier 4051 sorry old pic but spends time in pocket and hard use not in front of the camera often, D2 steel aircraft aluminum handles, knife is a great edc, price point on these back in the day was just under 100, I believe that a fair value as a heavy duty knife. The guys over in the becker forum where talking about a BK2 folder I think warrior did a rendering, but like guyon said how many of us or the public to put down 200 for a folder.

 
Heavy duty does not necessarily mean "high end"

The Mule is pretty cheap, but its the only folder KA-BAR has in its line up that is anywhere near heavy duty.

Personally (and not knocking KA-BAR here at all), I look at other brands for my folding needs whether it be for light utility, edc, gentleman carry or heavy duty folders.

Try looking at the DPxGear knives (specifically the H.E.S.T.). They are heavy duty, and appropriately priced for the materials you get.
 
Kabar mules. Look up my reviews on them, if they are tough enough for me..lol..they are tough as hell. Found my first one that I lost years ago, in the muck and mud..will post pics later today. Not the least of which I put it through..hammered it both blade and point through granite stone. Still serviciable after..5 or so years in the muck.
 
As has been said, I think the Mule fits the bill as far as heavy duty folders. I believe it is the only "heavy" one in the Ka-Bar lineup, however. I also think the Dozier Folding Hunter and Johnson Adventure Piggyback and Baconmaker folders are reasonable mid-weight choices for EDC, particularly given the price point. For me, this is fine since I've never really felt a need to carry a heavy folder. If I'm going for that hefty, I may as well carry a fixed blade.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top