Ka-Bar Identification.

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OpKey

Joined
Jun 6, 2011
Messages
600
To start off, I'm almost positive this isn't a real Ka-Bar knife just by the feel of it. It just doesn't feel like Ka-Bar quality, but you never know so I figured I'd post it. I've had this knife for a very long time, God knows how long. My entire life I've collected knives, wether they were cheap, rare, nice, high quality, or whatever. I collected all kinds and over time they all eventually found their way into boxes. A few weeks ago I finally got around to going through these boxes, and this was one that I found and was curious about. It says "China" on one side of the blade so this immediately made me think it was some kind of clone. Either way, perhaps one of the guys around here with alot of experience with Ka-Bar can help me out. Here we go, and thanks ahead of time guys.

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It's a liner lock folder, partially serrated, single thumbstud, and some jimping done on the top of the spine. Hope you guys can help me.
 
I believe that is a Frost Cutlery airborne knife. (I could be wrong on the name but it is Frost Cutlery)
 
I think you're right. I looked at some pictures of the Frost Cutlery Airborne Ranger knife, and this looks identical. I just don't understand why they would put "Ka-Bar Int'l" on it. That's some bull and kind of makes me mad. Make a name for yourself, don't try to just use someone else's. Cheap shot, Frost Cutlery, real cheap.
 
OpKey said:
I think you're right. I looked at some pictures of the Frost Cutlery Airborne Ranger knife, and this looks identical. I just don't understand why they would put "Ka-Bar Int'l" on it. That's some bull and kind of makes me mad. Make a name for yourself, don't try to just use someone else's. Cheap shot, Frost Cutlery, real cheap.
Click to expand...

Well, I've heard some guys that have been in the knife industry for a while make a comment, "You know your somebody when they start to copy your designs", or something like that. :D

Moose
 
Opkey,

That is a "real" KA-BAR. In the late 1990s KA-BAR had a line of low end Chinese knives to fill the bottom price point. They were labeled "KA-BAR International".
That is one of them; Model # 2781. Imported from Mitsuboshi. I'm sure that design was sold to others in the industry.
Hope this helps.

Best Regards,

Paul Tsujimoto
Sr Eng
Prod Dev and Qual
KA-BAR Knives
 
like may things, if it's made in china during the day, you can be sure the same factory is cranking out copies under a different name by night...

except for Apple. that we know of ;)

i've seen many a flashlight and other consumer electronics copied this way, and given the piles of $1-5 "spydercos" at shows... can't imagine that they're anything else but the FINEST quality ;)
 
Toooj said:
Opkey,

That is a "real" KA-BAR. In the late 1990s KA-BAR had a line of low end Chinese knives to fill the bottom price point. They were labeled "KA-BAR International".
That is one of them; Model # 2781. Imported from Mitsuboshi. I'm sure that design was sold to others in the industry.
Hope this helps.

Best Regards,

Paul Tsujimoto
Sr Eng
Prod Dev and Qual
KA-BAR Knives
Click to expand...

Oh, wow. Thanks, man. I was thinking it was some Frost Cutlery knock-off after seeing the pictures online. Aslong as it's a "real" Ka-Bar, I'll keep it around. I was just about going to junk it when I thought it was FC copying the Ka-Bar name. Thanks alot, Toooj.
 
All,

It was the end of the ACP era. Every knife with the exception of the 1217 USMC F/U and 1221 Next Gen knife was made overseas (Most in China). It was before the move to Alcas/Cutco. When the move back to Olean was completed, Sales VP Dick Hillegas (Now retired) took one look at the product line and he called me. (I was still at Ontario Knife). From 1996/7 to present we have been working hard to improve the product line. About 73% is made in the US now. We are working hard to up that to 85%. We look back at those old catalogs and do a combined laugh and cringe. A far cry from where we are now or were back in the 1920-30s.

Best Regards,

Paul Tsujimoto
Sr Eng
Prod Dev and Qual
KA-BAR Knives
 
Toooj said:
All,

It was the end of the ACP era. Every knife with the exception of the 1217 USMC F/U and 1221 Next Gen knife was made overseas (Most in China). It was before the move to Alcas/Cutco. When the move back to Olean was completed, Sales VP Dick Hillegas (Now retired) took one look at the product line and he called me. (I was still at Ontario Knife). From 1996/7 to present we have been working hard to improve the product line. About 73% is made in the US now. We are working hard to up that to 85%. We look back at those old catalogs and do a combined laugh and cringe. A far cry from where we are now or were back in the 1920-30s.

Best Regards,

Paul Tsujimoto
Sr Eng
Prod Dev and Qual
KA-BAR Knives
Click to expand...


+1 An American legend no doubt . I hope Kabar stays around and continues to produce most of its products in the US. The only thing I would like to see is Kabar have a resharpening service like many other companies; I didn't know this until I emailed yesterday and I was told they had no such service at the moment.

Other than that Kabar is one of my favorite companies besides spyderco ;)
 
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