KA-BAR Tech Talk

Hey Toooj,

I notice that the 5011 F/U has a foliage green handle, matching the UCP the US Army adopted in 2004, around the same time the USMC adopted coyote brown as its accoutrement colour. For a knife synonymous with the Marine Corps, having a coyote brown kraton handled F/U and matching sheath would seem like the logical evolution of the 1217 F/U. That's why I find it rather odd that KA-BAR would introduce a handle and sheath colour for the Army but not one for the Marine Corps. Are there currently any plans for a coyote brown F/U?
 
DFD,

The Army soldiers wanted the foliage green. (BTW; foliage green is on the way out)
However, the USMC don't want no stinkin' Kraton handled knives. It's leather or nothin'.

I'm gone for a while....Blade show. If you're attending, stop by the booth. Bladite, Moose, Guyon, Ethan, Steve Johnson, Tara and I will be there.

Best Regards,

Paul Tsujimoto
Sr Eng
Prod Dev and Qual
KA-BAR Knives
 
Thanks for the info, Toooj. I greatly appreciate it

Toooj said:
I'm gone for a while....Blade show. If you're attending, stop by the booth. Bladite, Moose, Guyon, Ethan, Steve Johnson, Tara and I will be there.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I'll have to pass. I live halfway across the world, so I won't be able to go without selling a kidney and half my liver. Damn, you Americans always get to have the best conventions. The best thing to ever come to Singapore was the... uh, Food Network Fair. Oy vey.
 
Hi, Toooj,
Honor to be able to ask you questions here.

I came across an unidentifiable (to me) KA-BAR. I bought it at a vintage shop in Chicago, complete with the sheath you'll see pictures of. Any ideas of what specific model it is, timeframe manufactured, and so on? Anything interesting about the knife, other than it being a very neat KA-BAR?

Also, any care for the crossguard, which is a tiny bit loose? Any other recommendations on general care? Love this knife.

Many thanks for your willingness to share your expertise and knowledge.

Ge6MN.jpg

pBfMC.jpg

A3a3S.jpg
 
Noyfe,

That knife is a 6" commando knife.
Produced from approx 1940-45
It came in two versions: full flat grind Mk1 type blade and a blood grooved clip point ( shown)
This could have been the knife submitted to the Naval procurement group as the forerunner of the
USMC F/U / Navy MK2 knife. We'll never know for sure.
Knife and sheath are in great condition
Care? Keep the metal parts oiled and the leather parts wiped down. Don't store the knife in the sheath. Keep in a controled environment.
Hope this helps.

Best Regards,

Paul Tsujimoto
Sr Eng
Prod Dev and Quality
KA-BAR Knives
 
Toooj,
I know you're a busy person and I can't thank you enough for taking the time to reply to my question in less than a day. If it's OK with you, I'd like to post your reply in another forum where the best reply I got was: "It's a KA-BAR, man. That's all I can say." I think it would benefit those knife folk to learn more about KA-BAR history.

I would have kept the knife in the sheath. I didn't know it's better not to. Thanks!

Thanks again for sharing your knowledge and time. Have a great weekend.




Toooj said:
Noyfe,

That knife is a 6" commando knife.
Produced from approx 1940-45
It came in two versions: full flat grind Mk1 type blade and a blood grooved clip point ( shown)
This could have been the knife submitted to the Naval procurement group as the forerunner of the
USMC F/U / Navy MK2 knife. We'll never know for sure.
Knife and sheath are in great condition
Care? Keep the metal parts oiled and the leather parts wiped down. Don't store the knife in the sheath. Keep in a controled environment.
Hope this helps.

Best Regards,

Paul Tsujimoto
Sr Eng
Prod Dev and Quality
KA-BAR Knives
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Noyfe, that is one sweet Kabar that you have there. It sounds valuable especially in that condition. Congrats on a good find! :D
 
noyfe,

Sorry for the late post...I was at Blade show over the weekend.

You may use my post on another forum...as long as it's okay at the other forum.

Best Regards,


Paul Tsujimoto
Sr Eng
Prod Dev and Qual
KA-BAR Knives
 
Dear Tooj,
I was wondering what the likelihood is of KaBar making a ''Beckerhead'' run of 14s? Utilize their new laser system.

Perhaps in the new D2? Would be a sales boost..Im sure a majority of BHs would buy one, if the price point was reasonable. Everyone likes the 14.

Not neccasarily serialized with our Numbers (although that would be cool) but just marked with the normal KaBar/BK&T/BK14/ESEE stamps....plus a tasteful ''Beckerheads'' logo.

Perhaps on the spine of the handle? Would look better then on blade.

Thanks,
Clayton
 
thrillbilly,

We have a great, limited ed. project going that will be aimed at the Becker Forumites. Designs and talks already underway. You'll know it when you see it.
Thats all I can say for now....However, you won't be disappointed.

Best Regards,

Paul Tsujimoto
Sr Eng
Prod Dev and Qual
KA-BAR Knives
 
Twinstick,

I'm trying to get Offical_KA-BAR to go but it's still in the air.


Best Regards,

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

We have a great, limited ed. project going that will be aimed at the Becker Forumites. Designs and talks already underway. You'll know it when you see it.
Thats all I can say for now....However, you won't be disappointed.

Best Regards,

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

Thanks Tooj, Im excited already!

BTW, I think I heard the 17 was ur idea..if so I wanna thank you, just got mine in today and I love the thing, that clip point is
killer!
 
Toooj,

In that same thread I am trying to figure out how to order a leather sheath for the MK1 Kraton without having to buy the leather handled knife with it. Someone told me I should come here and ask you. Any help would be great.

Thanks,
Dr Rez
 
Toooj,
I was wondering if KaBar/becker are going to release a knife similer to the 11/14 but with a clip point. Also what are the odds of a wharncliff style blade?
Thanks
 
Hi Toooj.

Have there been any previous inquiries as to why, after a few minutes usage, the grass machete may develop a "loose" blade roughly at the area where the blade enters the handle? Is it a common problem with the grass machete? Also, would there be a danger of the blade further loosening inside the handle during use?

Any advice or possible fixes to the problem would be appreciated, thank you.
 
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