KA-BAR vs. Becker

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BushOgre

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May 18, 2011
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So are the Beckers the only members of the KA-BAR family made in the U.S.?

I was trying to find some specs on the Zombie Pestilence at the KA-BAR site and I started noticing how many knives were made in Taiwan or Japan. I am not xenophobic by any means, but I try to buy American made products.

Maybe that is why my KA-BAR large bowie split in two but my BK2 tells me I am a sissy and I don't have the brass marbles to break it.
 
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If you have the Ka-Bar product catalog it will tell you the country of origin for each knife. I mean, it won't actually tell you, that's absurd, but it's in there for you to read.
 
Murphnuge said:
If you have the Ka-Bar product catalog it will tell you the country of origin for each knife. I mean, it won't actually tell you, that's absurd, but it's in there for you to read.
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Ka-Bar estimates that it won't be until about the year 2015 before we see the first talking catalog! But I could have sworn that BK2 was calling me...
 
The Kabar lineup is diverse, in origins. BKT's and the Fighting/Utility knives, the large Jab blades, are all made in the states. Its a case by case basis on what's what, but if you check out Tomar's (largest Kabar online dealer, and Kabar history), each blade and its country of origin are detailed.

Moose
 
I have no hesitation in buying Kabar's offshore products. I like to buy USA as much as possible (and Kabar in general) but Kabar is still an American company, so buying any of their products is helping them get better and better.
 
cramsey3006 said:
I have no hesitation in buying Kabar's offshore products. I like to buy USA as much as possible (and Kabar in general) but Kabar is still an American company, so buying any of their products is helping them get better and better.
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This is true, and something I have been wrestling with. Honestly, the quality that you get in Taiwan, now a days, is quite good. You have to imagine, Taiwan has been one of the largest knife producers in the world, for a number of decades. You can't make that many knives, and not get better at it.

Kabar is an American company. All the money you spend on Kabar products, goes into an American Company. What Kabar does with its money, is Kabar's business.

I buy American Made stuff as much as I can, I spend my "play money" on American Made knives, with American companies. Its my decision. Not everyone agrees, and that's what makes the world so awesome. A difference of opinion. :D

Moose
 
Country of origin has nothing to do with the quality. The reason your knife split probably was because of an overseen defect. Kabar makes a good product, even outside of the states. :)
 
iirc, 70-80% of KaBar knives are made by 15 or so people in the USA. not bad.

certain lines, experiments, and such are made in Taiwan. more efficient.
 
I can't do taiwan or china. I feel like I sold a piece of my soul when I do, so it's mostly no go. I just do without or find a domestic equivlent.
 
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OREGON FAL'ER said:
I can't do taiwan or china. I feel like I sold a piece of my soul when I do, so it's mostly no go.
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your soul huh? interesting.

doesn't matter that's it's an american company speccing the designs with typically american designers, and the quality levels, handling all the marketing, distribution?, and so forth?

i'm sure KaBar would let an american 3rd party make their knives on soil, but such a thing does not exist and/or has capacity right now. so, should they still not innovate? confusing issue.
 
Vanguard41xx said:
Country of origin has nothing to do with the quality. The reason your knife split probably was because of an overseen defect. Kabar makes a good product, even outside of the states. :)
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I know. I was making a joke. I own Mora and Cold Steel and a few others not made in the States. Who knows where half of the little cheap folders I have are made.
 
Bladite said:
your soul huh? interesting.

doesn't matter that's it's an american company speccing the designs with typically american designers, and the quality levels, handling all the marketing, distribution?, and so forth?

i'm sure KaBar would let an american 3rd party make their knives on soil, but such a thing does not exist and/or has capacity right now. so, should they still not innovate? confusing issue.
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Yeah, my soul. It's not a quality issue stud, not for me it's not anyway. KaBar should do what's best for Ka bar, and they will. I can only control myself and I've had to not buy some things I wanted. I also have returned some things I bought because I forgot to check country of origin. I don't try to force my wife to my way of thinking either, she does what she does.
 
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Taiwan and China are apples and bowling balls. The Taiwanese government doesn't pull people out of their homes, stick them in forced labor camps, work them near to death, then shoot them.
 
Agreed, but between the two of them the good ole' USA is almost completely De-industrialized.
 
As long as we stick to quality of knives as the basis for discussion, I think this will be a good thread.

I've recently been educated on the Taiwan knife industry, and I have to say, there is some quality knives being made. I still buy American knives though. :D

Moose
 
moosez45 said:
As long as we stick to quality of knives as the basis for discussion, I think this will be a good thread.

I've recently been educated on the Taiwan knife industry, and I have to say, there is some quality knives being made. I still buy American knives though. :D

Moose
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Fer shiz, Go America.


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Stick to knife talk, politics is a black hole. :rolleyes: :p

We're lucky there still are so many good American-made knives.
 
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