Ka-bar fighting/utility knife problems/ new grind??

B

BlackenedSteel

Joined
Jul 15, 2014
Messages
17
The name KA-BAR has been legendary for decades, so I was more than a little disappointed when I bought my first one just last month. Since I was little I heard stories of the excellence and quality of KA-BAR, so I was expecting something beautiful and sharp when I opened that box. ...Only to be massively disappointed.

I ordered the 5011 model (full size foliage green kraton G handle with straight edge blade and kydex sheath) via Amazon.com, and instead received a knife with an ash gray color (the sheath as well) and a new grind angle. The classic KA-BAR fighting utility knife blade has a space between the grind and fuller, along with the classic clip point (the beautiful shape of the blade is the main reason I love it so much, it's just a damn sexy knife). But the blade I received had a new grind, much higher up on the blade, practically IN the fuller, which is thinner, smaller, and shallower than the previous model fuller. The new height of the grind ruins the whole classic clip-point shape I loved and KA-BAR will not back it up...

Upon contacting KA-BAR through the Customer Service tab on their site, I was told that "our fighting/utility knives will no longer have a space between the grind and blood groove. This was a decision made by our production team."

This is not the blade I wanted and does not match the photo advertised by Amazon.com. I do not want it, meaning I basically paid money for something I don't even want to look at, let alone use.

I contacted them again asking if they know where I can get the older, nicer looking model and explained the wrong picture/product, and they replied "we no longer carry blades with the older grind model. Other retailers may carry them, but KA-BAR no longer has these knives".

Basically I got a middle finger and a 'have a nice day'. Anyone else know about this?? Where can I find the older grind model? Also, since when does KA-BAR no longer make it's own most popular knife?

Very disappointed in the fact that I paid good money for one knife and got something radically different. Also I'm now very hesitant to order anything else from KA-BAR, fearing more hassle and screw-ups... Is KA-BAR really all it's cracked up to be? This remains to be seen...
 
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BlackenedSteel said:
The name KA-BAR has been legendary for decades, so I was more than a little disappointed when I bought my first one just last month. Since I was little I heard stories of the excellence and quality of KA-BAR, so I was expecting something beautiful and sharp when I opened that box. ...Only to be massively disappointed.

I ordered the 5011 model (full size foliage green kraton G handle with straight edge blade and kydex sheath) via Amazon.com, and instead received a knife with an ash gray color (the sheath as well) and a new grind angle. The classic KA-BAR fighting utility knife blade has a space between the grind and fuller, along with the classic clip point (the beautiful shape of the blade is the main reason I love it so much, it's just a damn sexy knife). But the blade I received had a new grind, much higher up on the blade, practically IN the fuller, which is thinner, smaller, and shallower than the previous model fuller. The new height of the grind ruins the whole classic clip-point shape I loved and KA-BAR will not back it up...

Upon contacting KA-BAR through the Customer Service tab on their site, I was told that "our fighting/utility knives will no longer have a space between the grind and blood groove. This was a decision made by our production team."

This is not the blade I wanted and does not match the photo advertised by Amazon.com. I do not want it, meaning I basically paid money for something I don't even want to look at, let alone use.

I contacted them again asking if they know where I can get the older, nicer looking model and explained the wrong picture/product, and they replied "we no longer carry blades with the older grind model. Other retailers may carry them, but KA-BAR no longer has these knives".

Basically I got a middle finger and a 'have a nice day'. Anyone else know about this?? Where can I find the older grind model? Also, since when does KA-BAR no longer make it's own most popular knife?

Very disappointed in the fact that I paid good money for one knife and got something radically different. Also I'm now very hesitant to order anything else from KA-BAR, fearing more hassle and screw-ups... Is KA-BAR really all it's cracked up to be? This remains to be seen...
Click to expand...

While I understand the frustration of not getting a knife like the one in the picture, the decision to go to the higher grind serves 2 purposes. Better slicing and more historically accurate. The original Kabar knife from WWII had the higher grind that meets the fuller. Before getting so upset, do some research and you will find the newer grind to be historically accurate. I like the change because it more accurately reflects the govt specs for that particular style of knife.
 
Personally I would stick with the knife you have, for the reasons stated above, the new design was chosen for good reasons. Try it out, i'm sure you'll grow on it, and if you dont like it, it won't break the bank. Also I have had problems with multiple Ka-Bar knives coming in with bad edges, just work on re-profiling your edge and you're in for a blade that will serve you right
 
Check out the blueprints from Ka-bars earlier packaging showing the WWII govt specs:

 
It's not Ka-Bar's fault if a retailer doesn't provide and accurate stock photo. Did you try returning it to Amazon? They have a pretty good return policy.
 
D R E said:
While I understand the frustration of not getting a knife like the one in the picture, the decision to go to the higher grind serves 2 purposes. Better slicing and more historically accurate. The original Kabar knife from WWII had the higher grind that meets the fuller. Before getting so upset, do some research and you will find the newer grind to be historically accurate. I like the change because it more accurately reflects the govt specs for that particular style of knife.
Click to expand...

Yes I know the new grind is more "historically accurate", but this does not change my OPINION that it does not look as nice
 
Ray Settanta said:
This thread discusses the new grind and a person states that it is like the original way it was done in WW II.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1131372-New-USMC-with-a-Higher-Grind
Click to expand...

I understand it is more historically accurate, I knew that before I even got it, also the customer service woman said this multiple times as well, but it still does not change my opinion, it doesn't look as nice... Which is a shame because I really wanted to love this knife
 
bigghoss said:
It's not Ka-Bar's fault if a retailer doesn't provide and accurate stock photo. Did you try returning it to Amazon? They have a pretty good return policy.
Click to expand...

They will not take the item back, even though it is still brand new, still in it's box, Amazon.com will not refund, also kinda disheartening.
 
D R E said:
Check out the blueprints from Ka-bars earlier packaging showing the WWII govt specs:

Click to expand...

I understand this, the higher grind is how the originals were made, however they've been selling the lower grind model for a longer period of time and it just looks nicer in my opinion.
 
Kershaws said:
Personally I would stick with the knife you have, for the reasons stated above, the new design was chosen for good reasons. Try it out, i'm sure you'll grow on it, and if you dont like it, it won't break the bank. Also I have had problems with multiple Ka-Bar knives coming in with bad edges, just work on re-profiling your edge and you're in for a blade that will serve you right
Click to expand...

I understand this, however I fear the blade will not "grow on me", as I don't even like looking at it. Also I figured for that kind of money I would not HAVE to reprofile the edge, I'd figured for that amount of money it would already be sharp...
 
This thread was started more or less to warn fellow KA-BAR lovers that you can no longer purchase blades from KA-BAR with the older grind, all blades produced henceforth will have the original high grind, and KA-BAR no longer sells the low grind model. Essentially it is extinct unless you can search for them under a rock... What a waste. Think I'll just get a benchmade or BK2, unless ka-bar screws that up for me as well.
 
Sounds like you're going to be looking to sell. There will be many here who will take it off your hands. If it's good as new, you will make someone happy.

Zieg
 
BlackenedSteel said:
They will not take the item back, even though it is still brand new, still in it's box, Amazon.com will not refund, also kinda disheartening.
Click to expand...

Just happened across this thread...you better read up on Amazon's return policy. I have never had a problem returning a knife (2 of them) or anything with a valid reason. Research the process of returning an item at Amazon. The picture being different is valid enough reason for them to take it back.

The two knives I bought at Amazon had problems (different knife and problem though...). I have been purchasing from Tomars and GPKnives ever since.
 
jonc123 said:
Just happened across this thread...you better read up on Amazon's return policy. I have never had a problem returning a knife (2 of them) or anything with a valid reason. Research the process of returning an item at Amazon. The picture being different is valid enough reason for them to take it back.

The two knives I bought at Amazon had problems (different knife and problem though...). I have been purchasing from Tomars and GPKnives ever since.
Click to expand...

I'm really not sure why, but they will not take it back, even though it is still in perfect condition. Tomars is looking promising though.
 
Yes, you read that right, I got a shitty KA-BAR fighting/utility knife. I posted before about this individual blade. It is the new grind model ka-bar with the WWII original high grind. Though this wasn't what I ordered, I can look past the different blade shape now. However there are a few things I can't look past, things that all point toward bad quality craftsmanship.

-The newer model fighting/utility blade is offset from the handle like all the others, but it's now so far to the side, that it hardly fits in it's kydex sheath, specifically made for it. Instead of the two sides of the finger guard clipping into place on the kydex, the handle is so offset from the blade, that only one side of the finger guard touches the kydex, and the other doesn't even come in contact with the sheath. In short, the extreme new offset is NOT compatible with the fighting/utility kydex sheaths that COME WITH THE KNIFE. Kind of a fail in my book.

-The angle cut into the steel for the stick tang is extremely thin and offset. I've noticed this looking at KA-BAR's official site that ALL the new models are like this. Where the tang goes into the handle, it is NOT a straight line, but a slight angle up, making the blade feel weak in your hand. I will not be stabbing this blade into ANYTHING whatsoever, for fear the tang will snap. I've never had that hesitation before...

-The grinds on the clip point were way off, as far as a full centimeter off. Neither side looks like the other, one grind is long and thin, and the other is short and wide. Slight differences in the grinds are not important but it is when they are THIS far off.

-The edge was hardly sharp at all, barely cutting paper and very roughly cutting wood. I was a bit shocked that halfway through carving a tent peg I had to pull out a better, sharper knife to finish the job, and banish the KA-BAR back to it's sheath. A utility knife that hardly works is unacceptable in deep woods.

Guys, I need some help here :( is the legendary KA-BAR plummeting in quality over the years and I should stay away from other purchases or did I just get an individual dud?
 
I bought a USMC KaBar when I got out of the Marine Corps in 2009, it was pretty much in the same condition as yours. On the other hand, I've bought others that were perfect. In my limited experience, KaBar's QC is hit and miss. As far as the Kydex sheath goes I've never been able to properly fit or secure a leather handled one in it. Only the "next gen" and "extreme" models fit properly.
 
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