KA-BAR Tech Talk

Ok, that PTP is one of the cooooolest blades I've seen in a while, and the name is fantastic.

Thanks Toooj. I'll be callin' ya'll soon, just to chat.

Moose
 
Moosez45 said:
Ok, that PTP is one of the cooooolest blades I've seen in a while, and the name is fantastic.

Thanks Toooj. I'll be callin' ya'll soon, just to chat.

Moose
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I know what I am going to be searching for now...
 
Moose,

Haven't heard from you in a while. Give me a call.


Brian,

You da man! You always know how to dig up those old patents. Good info. We do have a copy of that one but I didn't think to look.


Best Regards,

Paul Tsujimoto
Sr Eng
Prod Dev and Qual
KA-BAR Knives
 
Toooj said:
What was your "tough spot" in the wood? a nail :) Seriously, knots are pretty hard and can deform, roll and chip out edges. Bladite has a whole archived section over in the Becker forum on the discussion of wood knots and their destructive nature on knife edges. Even the best knife steels wear, chip, and roll. It is not a matter of only using the knife twice. It is more a matter of how the knife was used during those two times. The black coating on the MULE is teflon and will wear off fairly easily.
The black coating on the 1214 is epoxy powder coat and is much more durable, but again, it is a matter of how the blade was used.
If you are unhappy with the knives, you can: 1) send them back to the dealer where you bought them for exchange or refund or 2) send them back to KA-BAR for exchange. (We won't refund if you didn't purchase from us) If you take route #2, please send to my attention.
Hope this helps.
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i'd also point out that 2x4s are tougher than people seem to give them credit for. they're used for making things, buildings especially :D

how many people have bent a nail, more than once hammering on a 2x4? or dulled up a saw blade going through knots? even thrown sparks? MMM.

those things are seasoned, dry (sometimes in a kiln), solid chunks of tree goodness. don't mess with them :)
 
Bladite said:
i'd also point out that 2x4s are tougher than people seem to give them credit for. they're used for making things, buildings especially :D

how many people have bent a nail, more than once hammering on a 2x4? or dulled up a saw blade going through knots? even thrown sparks? MMM.

those things are seasoned, dry (sometimes in a kiln), solid chunks of tree goodness. don't mess with them :)
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I wont be anymore thats for sure. haha lesson learned
 
I am glad you guys like it! Here's a better shot of the whole knife. I posted this in the Trad Forum, but why not here also...

DSC02790_zpse42f538e.jpg
 
Toooj,
The question has been asked in Bernard Levine's forum but I thought I'd ask you too.
Do you know who first used stacked leather washers for knife handles and perhaps when they were first used?
 
Moose: I hope this is the appropriate thread for a sheath question. I didn't see it mentioned before.

Toooj:

Let me start by saying that we love Kabar here. :thumbup: I recently got a #1217, and it's hands down still one of the best values in the knife industry today. (My son has decided that my #1217 will be his on his 18th birthday. Apparently I have no say in the matter.;))

So, on to my question.

Regarding the leather sheaths, does KABAR use more than one manufacturer? Are all the leather sheaths made in Mexico? Are the sellers who sell the sheaths by themselves getting them directly from KABAR, or from your OEM, or are they having them made by their own supplier?

Some background: I recently bought a sheath for the Kabar #1225 U.S. Navy knife. I was surprised at the difference in the way the sheath was made. The leather finish appears to have more of a matte finish; the "KABAR", emblem, and "U.S. NAVY" stampings are not as deep and defined as they are on the #1217 USMC sheath; the rivets are in different locations on the #1225 sheath; when you look at the lanyard hole at the bottom, the gusset doesn't line up - it's visible through the hole.

Pics:
9-27-2012Kabarsheathsetc029.jpg

9-27-2012Kabarsheathsetc020.jpg


I bought this sheath to use for my Kabar KBD1. The KBD1 fits the #1217 sheath just fine, and it fits the #1225 sheath as well.

I was originally planning on buying the #1225 to serve as a reminder of my navy days, but I love the KBD1 and figured I'd just get the sheath instead. A friend of mine who does leather work was going to stamp some information on it for me, but as you can see, there's quite a finish difference between the two types. I bought the #1225 Navy sheath (made in Mexico) on ebay.

Is there a way to get a sheath finished the same way as my #1217 in the photo? It seems to me that the leather KABAR sheaths I've seen always matched the #1217 sheath I have. Before I have the sheath customized, I'd like to get one closer in appearance to the #1217 sheath in the pic.
 
Protourist,

I'm not the expert that BRL is but I know that the Collins Model #289/90 knives/machetes had stacked leather handles back in the 1850s. They called the leather handles "corrugated" handles. I also know that Webster Marbles had stacked leather handled knives but that wasn't until the late 1920s. Case and all of the Case related companies really popularized the stacked leather handled knives. (Especially Union/KA-BAR, Case and Western) From the late 1920s to present.
Sorry I can't give you more info.

Orca,

Part of the reason with the different sheath looks is that we had several sheath makers. We have since consolidated to Atcheson/Berger so that is no longer an issue. All of the buyers buy from us not our contractor. (That is verboten)
Yes, the sheaths are made in Mexico. Berger has a very good factory there and Mexico has a strong leather working tradition. I know that USA made products are a big plus for many of you, but sometimes it is a very problematic issue for us to keep pricing down. USA Made sheaths will be probably be 3x more (or higher) and drive the price on the product accordingly. It is always a balancing act.
Leather is a natural material and there will always be variations as far as look. You can redye/oil it to change the color. That is an easy thing to do.
Hope all of this helps.

Best Regards,

Paul Tsujimoto
Sr Eng
Prod Dev and Qual
KA-BAR Knives
 
Thanks Toooj, I really appreciate all the expertise you bring to our little community.
 
Thanks, Toooj. :thumbup:

Since this idea was to personalize my knife/sheath combo anyway, I'll try my hand at dying & refinishing the sheath myself.

~Chris
 
Hi Toooj,
I just resently bought a becker camillus brute stripped and was wondering where I can get a professional coating? Bladite mentioned in one of my threads
"but for "exotics", Ethan "knows a guy". Toooj might have some pointers" so here is my brute.
IMAG1114.jpg
 
The 710,

The Becker knives are easy to coat. There are many options:
1) Take the blade to a gunsmith and have them hot blue the blade. (You can also cold blue the blade but it doesn't look quite as good as a good hot blue)
2) You can patina the blade yourself. There are tons of posts in the Becker sub forum on patinaing (?)
3) In most areas of the country, there are powder coaters who will coat your blade for a nominal fee. We use epoxy powder coat, but there are polyesters, and hybrids that will also work. Our spec is for 1.5-2.0 mils per side.
4) You can black oxide, e-coat or phosphate the blade. There are places that will do this.
5) There are several other commercial coatings out there. If you search, you will find them. I personally don't have much experience with them.
6) There are places that will PVD your blades. Cool colors, good protection, but expensive.

There are probably others. Go find what works for you
Good luck.

Best Regards,

Paul Tsujimoto
Sr Eng
Prod Dev and Qual
KA-BAR Knives
 
Hey M.r Tooj, I was just curious if you guys had planned to come out with anymore Becker knives similar to the 11,14? I've seen the 24 and that is a sweet blade. But would a 14 with a handle size of the Izula 2 handle ever have a chance? Thanks for your time and as always it is appreciated!
 
blazerman,

Don't know. Let me look at some Izula 2s and maybe something will come of it. I'll be at Smoky Mt Knifeworks rep weekend and Jeff and/or Mike are usually there so we can talk. Then we have to get Ethan's approval; etc, etc.
It's sort of like the Dodge Dart II ads except we have Jeff and Ethan instead of Tom Brady. :D

Best Regards,

Paul Tsujimoto
Sr Eng
Prod Dev and Qual
KA-BAR Knives
 
Haha thanks for the response and I appreciate you looking into it. Is it still to early to asked for a hand picked 14? I figured it was worth a shot to ask.. again lol
 
Toooj said:
blazerman,

Don't know. Let me look at some Izula 2s and maybe something will come of it. I'll be at Smoky Mt Knifeworks rep weekend and Jeff and/or Mike are usually there so we can talk. Then we have to get Ethan's approval; etc, etc.
It's sort of like the Dodge Dart II ads except we have Jeff and Ethan instead of Tom Brady. :D

Best Regards,

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

I will buy a few! Izula 2 handle is a 4 finger grip instead of 3 much better!!!!
 
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