KA-BAR USSF Fighting Knife (a.k.a. the Space Bar)

[Uncle Buckmaster]

I just received a splendid Christmas gift from my brother in the form of the KA-BAR United States Space Force Knife. It's essentially a novelty version of the classic KA-BAR USMC Fighting Knife, with a gray powdercoat finished 1095 CroVan blade and a skyblue kraton (rubber) handle, complete with a matching gray kydex holster.
NOTE: I didn't bother to take any pictures because it was extremely dark outside today and I like to take pictures in natural light for the best results, although I suppose that it wouldn't hurt to take pictures under artificial lights, seeing as it is a futuristic knife, but I digress... It's honestly no different in appearance from any stock photo of the knife you can find online. Or heck, just imagine a KA-BAR USMC Fighting Knife with a gray powdercoated blade/guard/pommel and a blue handle, because that's precisely what it is.

It's a thoughtful gift because when we were growing up, I wanted to be an Astronaut, I've always been fascinated by outer space, and enjoy various works of Science Fiction ranging from the literary works of Issac Asimov, television shows like Star Trek, and videogames like Mass Effect.

Granted, the Space Bar is kind of an odd retro-futuristic piece, as in most works of Science Fiction, sharpened blades are most commonly absent, as technology has advanced to the point that there are more sophisticated — yet highly impractical — methods of cutting things, and weapons are typically firearms which emit beams or bursts of focused energy such as Hand Phasers, Blasters, Rayguns, or Pulse Rifles if not some form of gauss rifle or railgun which launches projectiles via electromagnetism.
However, there are often Alien Races which are less advanced or otherwise more culturally barbaric who still use bladed weapons.

That being said, I can't help but feel like KA-BAR sort of missed an opportunity with the Space Bar, as it would have been more thematic as well as compelling had they chosen to construct the blade out of a more modern martensitic stainless steel, perhaps even going so far as to alter the design a bit by giving it a thicker, more durable tang, and giving the blade a more stylized aesthetic.
I think that a bead-blasted martensitic stainless steel at the very least would have been a nicer choice for the blade, if only for the sake of keeping with the futuristic theme as well as variety.

Regardless, I'm extremely pleased by this gift. It's just a cool novelty blade which is actually usable, and I dig that. Honestly, I wish that more knife companies wouldn't be afraid to have some fun with their product lines by introducing more blades which are more about style and flair, yet still very much usable, durable, and reliable knives. Specifically, Rambo Knives with sawback blades and miniature survival kits included.

 

[NapalmCheese]

I think KA-BAR as a company is great. I love KA-BAR knives, and KA-BAR has some great knives. However, KA-BAR is not above gussying up a knife and selling them as commemoratives or on viral hype (as they did with their zombie knives). The USSF knife is a KA-BAR, and it's great, but it was a low cost way for them to bring in a certain type of buyer (collector, USSF enthusiast, something like that).

That said, I own a USSF KA-BAR, as well as the deck breaching tool. Who doesn't like grey and (almost) Tiffany blue?

 

[stabman]

Space Force!!!

 

[Uncle Buckmaster]

I'm honestly kind of hoping that they expand upon the Space Bar line in the future. I'd love to see Space Bar variations of the Big Brother — they could call it the Mother Ship — and the Fighter — they could call it the Starfighter — added to the catalog.

 

[zanussi01]

I just received a splendid Christmas gift from my brother in the form of the KA-BAR United States Space Force Knife. It's essentially a novelty version of the classic KA-BAR USMC Fighting Knife, with a gray powdercoat finished 1095 CroVan blade and a skyblue kraton (rubber) handle, complete with a matching gray kydex holster.
NOTE: I didn't bother to take any pictures because it was extremely dark outside today and I like to take pictures in natural light for the best results, although I suppose that it wouldn't hurt to take pictures under artificial lights, seeing as it is a futuristic knife, but I digress... It's honestly no different in appearance from any stock photo of the knife you can find online. Or heck, just imagine a KA-BAR USMC Fighting Knife with a gray powdercoated blade/guard/pommel and a blue handle, because that's precisely what it is.

It's a thoughtful gift because when we were growing up, I wanted to be an Astronaut, I've always been fascinated by outer space, and enjoy various works of Science Fiction ranging from the literary works of Issac Asimov, television shows like Star Trek, and videogames like Mass Effect.

Granted, the Space Bar is kind of an odd retro-futuristic piece, as in most works of Science Fiction, sharpened blades are most commonly absent, as technology has advanced to the point that there are more sophisticated — yet highly impractical — methods of cutting things, and weapons are typically firearms which emit beams or bursts of focused energy such as Hand Phasers, Blasters, Rayguns, or Pulse Rifles if not some form of gauss rifle or railgun which launches projectiles via electromagnetism.
However, there are often Alien Races which are less advanced or otherwise more culturally barbaric who still use bladed weapons.

That being said, I can't help but feel like KA-BAR sort of missed an opportunity with the Space Bar, as it would have been more thematic as well as compelling had they chosen to construct the blade out of a more modern martensitic stainless steel, perhaps even going so far as to alter the design a bit by giving it a thicker, more durable tang, and giving the blade a more stylized aesthetic.
I think that a bead-blasted martensitic stainless steel at the very least would have been a nicer choice for the blade, if only for the sake of keeping with the futuristic theme as well as variety.

Regardless, I'm extremely pleased by this gift. It's just a cool novelty blade which is actually usable, and I dig that. Honestly, I wish that more knife companies wouldn't be afraid to have some fun with their product lines by introducing more blades which are more about style and flair, yet still very much usable, durable, and reliable knives. Specifically, Rambo Knives with sawback blades and miniature survival kits included.

Ka-bar have done a Stainless model, 1221, as well as othe blade styles.

In the mid 90's they came out with the "Next Genereation" knives.
At first they had 12c27 stainless blades with bead blasted blades.
(My use,as well as others, with these showed the blades were mis-heat treated and "soft".
Not only that, the bead blasted blades stained/rusted at an alarming rate!)

Ka-Bar then changed the steel to 440A with wider tang.
These had slightly better edge retention and stain resistance than the 12c27.
Discontinued in 2011/12.

An "Extreme" version was also introduced,this has a D2 blade and is still available today.
It too has a wider tang,but no differential heat treat.
Edges chip rather than roll,handle is heavy and unbalances the knife.
Edge retention though it good,as expected with a Rockwell of 59-60.

As for the tang,there is nothing wrong with the standard version.
Problems only arise when the knife is used for things other than a knife.
It's a knife,not a pry bar,splitting wedge,crow bar,sledge hammer etc.
Using a knife outside its design parameters and braking it is no fault of the knife.
The design has served very well for 8 decades with little or no change to the original.
That's got to account for something.