Ka-Bar/Becker Quality, Take 2

Plumberdv

Plumberdv

Joined
Sep 26, 2008
Messages
8,160
I recently purchased a Ka-Bar USMC Fighting Knife, model 1217, not as a user but just because my wife's father (a Marine) carried one something like it in the Pacific Theatre during WWII. I just wanted a representative example to add to my collection. Then I happened on the Becker line and purchased a BK9 which I'm sure will get some use around the place and on camping trips. They both seem like pretty nice pieces to me, but then I never use any knife often enough or hard enough to make a real evaluation on my own.

On the sub forum that I frequent the most, there are two regulars who really bashed Ka-Bar, saying that they produce nothing but junk now.

All I'd like to know is how the majority really feel about the Ka-Bar's, in particular the "fighting knives" such as the 1217. Are they as good as ever or have they been downgraded?
 
I've got a few Ka-Bars and have been quite impressed with them. I haven't done much actual fighting with them however. I do most of my killing with my bare hands these days. But I'd say the 1217 will still get the job done.:thumbup:
 
I have the Taiwan made Kukri and Cutlass machetes, and they are both well worth the money. I prefer US made blades, but they are strong, sharp, and chop like crazy.
I haven't used either as a prybar, killing tool, throwing knife, or chopped through concrete with those or most knives. What I can say is, I guess it depends on how hard you are on your knives. The full tang vs stick tang might be your only real issue with the knife. But, like you say, if you aren't that hard on your knives, then you will never break a Ka-Bar.
IMHO, if you are breaking a Ka-Bar, you are doing something wrong, or need a different tool.

Moose has broken 3 Ka-Bars by using a baton, at home for firewood. All three broke where the tang meets the blade. I'm just saying they broke after many beatings, where maybe the Beckers would not break in the same place, if at all.
 
Plumberdv said:
On the sub forum that I frequent the most, there are two regulars who really bashed Ka-Bar, saying that they produce nothing but junk now.
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I made my views pretty clear over there, so I'll let others do the talking here. KA-BAR is top notch. Glad that you made it over this way.
 
I bought a kabar produced Becker BK7 the other day. It came with a few irregularities in the steel and I was not pleased. I wrote a thread about it and Ethan Becker himself replied to it both apologizing and assuring me that if I contacted Kabar they would take care of me.

Long story short, I exchanged the BK7 for another one and am completely satisfied by the fit and finish of the knife and its performance.

Any product you buy has the inherent possibility of having manufacturing defects. The first Kabar/becker blade I picked up was somehow overlooked by QC. The fact of the matter is, no matter what company makes the product, there is a possibility that it may have defects that were overlooked by QC. A family member of mine bought a Lexus, spent well over 100k, only to learn that the car had multiple defects. The dealership he bought it from would not exchange it, but were willing to "fix" the issues. Needless to say, even after the work was done, the car still had issues. Lexus customer service was no help. I guarantee you that if he posted about it on a car forum, he would not have received the customer service that I did with my Kabar Becker.

I cannot speak to the 1217, but I can say that I am very happy with my Kabar/Becker purchase, not only because the knife is well manufactured, but also because of the level of customer service I received when I had a problem.
 
I've owned Kabar knives for over 20yrs. I have broken 3 in those 20 some odd years, and they took a helluva lot of punishment before they gave up the ghost. I think that the 1095CV steel they are using, along with Toooj's cookin', is taking 1095 as far as you can go with edge retention and toughness. The last 1217 that broke, was a constant companion through many trips to the mountains, fields, rivers, lakes, and many other places, then, it spent the last 3 yrs of its life, as my "stove knife", the knife I use inside, to split dry, seasoned hardwood for my stove. Just about every piece of wood that went in my stove, got split by this knife, for 3 seasons. The paint was all wiped away by use, but I did have to sand out the fuller. The day that it broke, I had just went and bought a brand new 1217 at the Smoky Mountain Knife Works earlier, that night, it let loose. I'd say that's pretty tough, wouldn't you?

100_1353.jpg


I have and would trust my life to a Kabar knife.

Moose
 
IMHO, you would be better served with this one, as i believe the tangs are a little wider. Ontario Spec-plus Marine Combat OKC # 4691.
 
lonewolf_94 said:
hey moose, you should have someone weld that kabar back together, and maybe make some custom handles?
Click to expand...

I was just thinking the same thing!! Thats one Pretty knife right there.

After I turned 19 in 2000, I bought my first 3 nice fixed blades, a SOG Mini Pentagon dagger, CRKT Stiff Kiss and a Shorty USMC Kabar. All of those knives have served me well over the years. A friend has my Shorty Kabar now and it's serving him well too. I currently have a Full sized partly serrated Kabar with the Black Kraton handle and kydex sheath and a partly serrated Black blade, Desert Tan Handled Mule Folder. Need to get the mule out of storage to add to my folder rotation and pick up a new Shorty Kabar. IMO Kabar's and Beckers are very nice knives and have good value IE bang for buck.

I know why you heared so much flack about the Kabars from the other forum and if you'd like to know more, PM or email me. This forum isn't the place to talk about it. Buy some Kabars, use them and talk about them here. Sure we might like them, but we will also take any complants/problems seriously and help you throught them. :) If you get a leather handled Shorty Kabar or full sized and don't like it, I'll gladly take it off your hands.
 
Plumberdv said:
On the sub forum that I frequent the most, there are two regulars who really bashed Ka-Bar, saying that they produce nothing but junk now.
Click to expand...

Your two regulars know not whereof they speak. Use your BK9 hard and decide for yourself. As to the 1217 - give me a break - it's an outstanding example of what it was designed to be. I like my BK9 better (use it all the time) but wouldn't hesitate a moment to work the heck out of the 1217.

If you ever do have a quality problem with a KaBar, just contact the company or post in the Becker thread. Ethan / Toooj will take care of you.

Silly haters.

---

Beckerhead #42
 
For the money they are an awesome deal. People bash older steels like 1095, but when it comes down to it, with routine maintenance they will last a life time. They worked for the last few generations, it will work for us...today we elu's have more choices so we can be snobby in our choices :D
 
Thanks to everyone for their input. I have a large collection of another brand of knife and I'm sure that they will remain my focus and my favorite's but that doesn't mean that I'm enough of a knife "bigot" to bad mouth another brand. The two posters in question gave the impression that Ka-Bars were now much like the Hamilton Mint line of "collectables", good only for display in a shadow box. I had really no idea what the real story on the brand was, so I came here. I like the two I have now so much I'm ordering a 1251 and a BK5, not to collect but to use.

Thanks again!
 
For what it is worth ......Every time I go to the plant I go through the area where they put the Marine Combats (1217's) together......Every time I do there is some improvement, in fit or finish......The steel is as good as carbon steel gets and the heat treat protocols are FIRST class.......Ka-Bar has been making this blade since 41 0r 42 and IS STILL LOOKING FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE IT......THAT SAYS SOMETHING.........GOOD !!!!!!

All Best......

ethan
 
I have 4 kabar knives. I've used them for the past 10 years and they have been beat to hell.

They still are as good as the day I got them. Only one has major issues with the black epoxy coming off because I dropped it in the camp fire last year.

Other than that they have a great edge and I'd love to carry them every day but they are just a little too big, great for camping tho!
 
My Kabar 1217 earned its place of final rest. I don't keep every blade I break, but this one is mounted on the inside of my knife cabinet. It was used harder than any knife I have ever owned, and though some say I'm crazy, I think it waited until I had a sutable replacement, before it retired. It broke on the same day I got a brand new 1217. Its term of service was at an end, and its replacement was there to takes its place.

Damn good knife, me thinks.

Moose
 
moosez45 said:
My Kabar 1217 earned its place of final rest. I don't keep every blade I break, but this one is mounted on the inside of my knife cabinet. It was used harder than any knife I have ever owned, and though some say I'm crazy, I think it waited until I had a sutable replacement, before it retired. It broke on the same day I got a brand new 1217. Its term of service was at an end, and its replacement was there to takes its place.

Damn good knife, me thinks.

Moose
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like the shards of Narsil, it too can be remade... :) like Andúril, you could bequeath it to your eldest when they become the ruler of the land? :)
 
Ethan Becker said:
For what it is worth ......Every time I go to the plant I go through the area where they put the Marine Combats (1217's) together......Every time I do there is some improvement, in fit or finish......The steel is as good as carbon steel gets and the heat treat protocols are FIRST class.......Ka-Bar has been making this blade since 41 0r 42 and IS STILL LOOKING FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE IT......THAT SAYS SOMETHING.........GOOD !!!!!!

All Best......

ethan
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Thanks for the input. How do the newer versions differ from the mil spec. knives that were produced?

I have another Ka Bar and another Becker on the way.
 
The two posters in question gave the impression that Ka-Bars were now much like the Hamilton Mint line of "collectables", good only for display in a shadow box
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Plumberdv,

LOL. That's a good one. Let me give you my 2 cents worth.
I am a 23 year vet in the knife industry. I've worked at 3 companies and visited many other companies. I stay at Cutco/KA-BAR because they are the best that I have encountered(IMHO). Well managed, superb technical expertise, great quality from the factory. 75% of our knives are made in our USA Factory. That figure will climb as we are pulling more projects back to the US.
In addition, our owners take great care to make sure the employees, vendors, dealers and customers are treated fairly and honestly. In the surrounding area, Cutco/KA-BAR is legendary for it's charitable works to the many communites.
Ask our designers which company has done best by them. Our ask many of the industry insiders what they think of KA-BAR. I think you are already getting a nice earful from our loyal users in this forum.
KA-BAR does appreciate our customer's loyality.
The haters can say and do what they want to.
You will be well served with KA-BAR.


Best Regards,

Paul Tsujimoto
Sr Eng
Prod Dev and Qual
KA-BAR Knives
 
Last edited:
Last thread was basically hijacked. Just giving this one a restart.
 
I have two Beckers and have owned a total of 3 ka-bars - I've never had any issues.

My old man did complain that his Ka-Bar Tanto was out-of-the-box dull, but as he was re-sheathing it, he sliced his palm open when he was finishing that very sentence. I guess it was sharp enough after all. :)
 
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