KA-BAR Tech Talk

Thanks for the info, Toooj. I have acquired several older hunters/fighters (kabars, westerns, case, etc) that had already passed into the "Oh, this leather handle is really... (hard, cracked, fubar, pick your descriptor)" status by the time I found/rescued them and I am hoping to re-invigorate their lives. I guess I'll pick one or two that I have more than one of and try your different method/options on them and see what happens.

I pick up strays from pawn shops and abusive parents like some people acquire cats.
pawnshop kabars.jpg
 
bigghoss,

I sorry.

zzyzzogeton,

Nice little collection. Good luck with the leather.

Best Regards,

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

Yeah, both the BK-10 and Gamestalker sheaths are on the same shipment. Sorry for the delay.

The Gamestalker was so well received at SHOT that we hope this delay doesn't kill any of the enthusiasm.

Best Regards,

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

I recently acquired a Kabar 1026 slipjoint. I was wondering if you had any info on the steel used in this type of knife?

Thanks a lot!
 
Toooj said:
worldwood,

Yeah, both the BK-10 and Gamestalker sheaths are on the same shipment. Sorry for the delay.

The Gamestalker was so well received at SHOT that we hope this delay doesn't kill any of the enthusiasm.

Best Regards,

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

Makes sense, thanks
 
cramsey,

Gamestalker is 440A.

Galeocerdoshark,

The 1000 series slipjoints were all 440A also. Early versions were made at KA-BAR in Olean. Later versions(After the KA-BAR factory closed) were made at Camillus.
Hope this helps.

Best Regards,

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

The 1000 series slipjoints were all 440A also. Early versions were made at KA-BAR in Olean. Later versions(After the KA-BAR factory closed) were made at Camillus.
Hope this helps.

Best Regards,

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

Thank you very much, this helps me out for sure. 440A is definitely adequate for smaller slipjoints like those, I'm pleased.

Would you be able to tell from the picture if this one was made in Olean or by Camillus?

kabar1026.jpg

kabar1026detail.jpg


Thanks in advance!
 
Galeocerdoshark,

It looks like a Camillus version. !980s-90s. Not much $ value but a good user.
Hope this helps.

Best Regards,

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

It looks like a Camillus version. !980s-90s. Not much $ value but a good user.
Hope this helps.

Best Regards,

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

how do you tell the difference?
I have one with the same blade markings, but the shield looks slightly different (longer) and the bevels across the scale where they transition to bolster is straight across - as though the handle material is flatter - where the one pictured above looks more rounded.
different make, or standard variation within a run?
 
Hey Toooj,

On another thread I noticed that the primary grind on the older USMC F/U and Navy MkII knives starts higher up on the blade, up to or even into the fuller. The blueprints that y'all used to put on your 1217 and 1250 knife boxes showed the same thing.

The current production of 1217 and 1250 knives, which, for me, is the last few year's purchases, has a primary grind that starts well below the fuller, along w/ a corresponding discontinuity where the primary grind transitions from the point grind to the blade grind. It looks as if the angle was decreased at that point to a more obtuse angle, and "thickens" knives that are already kind of thick. This is especially troublesome for the 1250, as it has a narrower blade, and makes them almost blunt.

My Questions are:

1. Why?

2. If I wanted to have my knives re-ground to the blueprint configuration, how much trouble would that be, and would there be any concern RE: steel temper?


Thanks Toooj.


P.S. "Ping!"

:D




GR
 
g a m e s t a l k e r

gimme! :>

cry, must wait. maybe blade show!
 
1066 vik,

You are headed in the right direction. I look at the shield, the way the shield is attached to the scales and the way the scales are blended into the bolsters. There are some other telltale Camillus manufacturing traits.

Garandimal,

Correct you are. it is a long involved story but just so you know, we are headed back to the higher grind bevels. I just introduced an MCR to restore the grind height back to the original 1942 drawings.

Bladite,

Hopefully you will see some at Blade.


Best Regards,

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

Correct you are. it is a long involved story but just so you know, we are headed back to the higher grind bevels. I just introduced an MCR to restore the grind height back to the original 1942 drawings...


Best Regards,

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

My Chemical Romance...?!?


:D


If I shipped you my KA-BAR's, could you have'em re-ground for me?

2x1217's and 3x1250's. They're already stripped so simply a regrind would do it.


Thanks Toooj.



GR
 
Garandimal,

MCR: Manufacturing Change Notice.

I've seen your work....You have the skill to do that your self. Just work carefully and with patience.
If you sent the knives to me, I'd have to take apart your knives...basically destroying the handle portion, regrind, refinish and then rebuild the knife with new components. It would be cheaper to buy a new knife.
The knives with the higher grinds should be available in a couple of months.

BTW: There may be another family member to the MKI. There is a request from some Super Secret Military Group for a revised MKI.
It may go .....or not. We'll see.
Hope this helps.

Best Regards,

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

MCR: Manufacturing Change Notice.

I've seen your work....You have the skill to do that your self. Just work carefully and with patience.
If you sent the knives to me, I'd have to take apart your knives...basically destroying the handle portion, regrind, refinish and then rebuild the knife with new components. It would be cheaper to buy a new knife.
The knives with the higher grinds should be available in a couple of months.

BTW: There may be another family member to the MKI. There is a request from some Super Secret Military Group for a revised MKI.
It may go .....or not. We'll see.
Hope this helps.

Best Regards,

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

Thanks Toooj, I'll break out the belt-sander.

Q.1 Do you have that new (orig.?) Grind Angle you can part w/, that won't require a NDA?

Q.2 Will the new Primary bevel be incorporated into the 1250 as well, or just the 1217?

Q.3 Will there be a model designation or packaging change so that the new grind knives can be identified in-the-box, or for on-line purchases?




Q.4 Does that new, super-secret Mk I look anything like...?


mk1garandimal.jpg



:D


Thanks again Toooj,


GR
 
Garandimal,

New angle is 12.7 included. The old angle was 17.3 included. We are starting with the large F/U blade and then moving to the small one.
There will not be any item designation just a running change.
The proposed new Mk 1 will have a Kraton handle with a different pommel, guard and blade...if it flies.

Best Regards,

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

MCR: Manufacturing Change Notice.

I've seen your work....You have the skill to do that your self. Just work carefully and with patience.
If you sent the knives to me, I'd have to take apart your knives...basically destroying the handle portion, regrind, refinish and then rebuild the knife with new components. It would be cheaper to buy a new knife.
The knives with the higher grinds should be available in a couple of months.

BTW: There may be another family member to the MKI. There is a request from some Super Secret Military Group for a revised MKI.
It may go .....or not. We'll see.
Hope this helps.

Best Regards,

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

If I guess the group will you tell me?
Is it the new marines force bushcraft company?
 
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