KA-BAR Tech Talk

Toooj said:
Cam H_16,

There is a very large, impressive Becker in the works. It's taking awhile because we need to get the usual paperwork signed and out of the way. However, this has been completed and the project is moving. I can't say a lot right now but it will be a collaborative effort between Ethan and a very big name. I am also thinking that this knife will make you forget about the BK-6. (It is that good)
I'm keeping this under wraps right now but if Ethan wants to divulge anything, that's his perogative.

Best Regards,

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

Very interesting! Can you give us an approximate time-frame?
 
Ray Settannta/bigghoss,

It will be 2015, if everything goes according to plan.
It has been done before but not like what we are planning.

Best Regards,

Paul Tsujimoto
Sr Eng
Prod Dev and Qual
KA-BAR Knives
 
Toooj said:
Ray Settannta/bigghoss,

It will be 2015, if everything goes according to plan.
It has been done before but not like what we are planning.

Best Regards,

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

Made before? This knife wouldn't have been inspired by a blade of Nepalese origin and made in collaboration with someone with the initials HR would it? Haha...Really appreciate the info Toooj!
 
I just purchased a BK17. Kabar and Becker hit a grand slam with this design. There is, however, a problem I noticed with edge retention due to the sheath liner. Has there been any mention of this happening by other owners?
 
hawkhead said:
I just purchased a BK17. Kabar and Becker hit a grand slam with this design. There is, however, a problem I noticed with edge retention due to the sheath liner. Has there been any mention of this happening by other owners?
Click to expand...

I own all 3 tweeners and all of the large Beckers that come with the nylon sheaths...Never had any problems. Only the hard GFN sheaths have issues with dulling from my experience and from what I've heard from others.
 
MechanicsDoBushcraft said:
Is there any mention of any new blade materials going to be used by Ka-Bar in the furture?
Click to expand...

I am not intending to steal any spotlight from Tooj here, but, I believe not. Why try to "fix" what isn't broken. Ka-bar is a very purpose driven company and quite honestly, all of the fix blade knives I use are Ka-bars. No other knife stands a chance. The reason being is that the 1095CV is an excellent choice for steel, their HT is about as close to perfect as you can get, and these blades are very low cost. I am not interested in picked up an S30V BK2 because I won't use it an it would just be way too expensive.

So, if for some reason 1095CV starts to crumble apart, literally, I really doubt any change will happen. But honestly, why should there be a change? What they are doing works so well already.
 
They use more than just 1095 as it is just in the becker line. the bk24 is d2 and the remora is 440a i believe, look at the other lines as well. Its not all just 1095.
 
MDB,

We are playing with some of the high end Crucible steels such as S30V/S35V/154CM/CPM154 for some new lines. Niagara Specialty Metals is just north of us in Akron, NY so getting the steel is easy. The factory engineers are doing some rigorous testing as we speak. As most people know (or maybe don't know) it's not as easy as just substituting the steel through the factory. Each process has to be examined and optimized for the particular steel. That takes some time. However, when we decide to turn the new steel on, things will fly.
BTW, we have no plans on getting rid of 1095CV. That is still our bread and butter.


alfonzo 1955,

The LDK thickness is 0.083".

Hope this helps.

Best Regards,

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

We are playing with some of the high end Crucible steels such as S30V/S35V/154CM/CPM154 for some new lines. Niagara Specialty Metals is just north of us in Akron, NY so getting the steel is easy. The factory engineers are doing some rigorous testing as we speak. As most people know (or maybe don't know) it's not as easy as just substituting the steel through the factory. Each process has to be examined and optimized for the particular steel. That takes some time. However, when we decide to turn the new steel on, things will fly.
BTW, we have no plans on getting rid of 1095CV. That is still our bread and butter.


alfonzo 1955,

The LDK thickness is 0.083".

Hope this helps.

Best Regards,

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

Thank you Tooj. I was thinking it would be great if you could maybe make some of your new line (or older models) in different metals to individualize each knife. But like you said it's going to take time. Food for thought.
 
aldoraine,

Unfortunately, side to side symmetry is an issue that we struggle with. It has to do with blade bend and warpage. But please be aware that our factory engineering group is addressing this problem as we speak and hopefully it will start to get better. A lot of the warp and bend can be taken out of the blade during Heat Treating and we are investigating some new methods. Test samples from the first trial runs are in the Quality Engineers hands and we shall see shortly.
The warp and bend problem starts at the steel mill and residual stresses start to surface during the blade processing. We are also looking at some new types of steel and new steel companies to see if the problem can be fixed. (don't worry we aren't getting rid of 1095 CV.)

Hope this helps.

Best Regards,

Paul Tsujimoto
Sr Eng
Prod Dev and Qual
KA-BAR Knives
 
So last I heard the BK10 was supposed to be out on April 15th. Any word on when they'll hit retailers? I'm itching to get one!
 
What is the proper treatment of OLD KaBar leather stacked grips?

On some of the early knives I have collected, some of the leather discs have cracks and most of the handles feel almost as hard as wood.

What, if anything should be done to / used on these older knives to reduce additional cracking?

And, lastly, what would the proper treatment be for brand=spanking new ones?

TY
 
bigghoss,

Sorry to inform you but the sheaths are being held up in customs so our original date of April 15th is not good. We don't know when they will be released.

zzyzzogeton,

There is much discussion on the best way to preserve old leather...I'll give you the low down on the prevailing methods:
1) Do nothing at all. Just wipe down with a clean cloth. (Most preservationists use this method)
2) Apply pure lanolin. Wipe down with cloth. (This is Bernard Levine's method)
3) Neatsfoot oil and parrafin wax dip and wipe (This is my preferred method. It also swells and tightens the washers)
4) There are a myriad of leather care products on the market that you can add to the leather. (Do they work? Anyone's guess)

There is much discussion on what works and doesn't. You have certainly hit on a touchy subject matter among collectors.
Here's the low down: Leather is a natural material and will degrade if given half a chance. It doesn't like wet. It doesn't like very dry. Oil it, wax it, keep it dry when wet and
oiled in real dry climates and it will last a long time. Don't do those things and you end up with hard, cracked, falling apart leather. It is very hard to bring back leather in that condition. So it is best not to let it get in that condition in the first place.

For new leather; oil and wax periodically. Handle the leather often and you should be good to go.

Hope this helps.

Best Regards,

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

Sorry to inform you but the sheaths are being held up in customs so our original date of April 15th is not good. We don't know when they will be released.
Click to expand...


First I find out my truck needs a new fuel tank and now this. FML haha
 
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