KABAR KBD1 Dozier (with #1217 C/U & #1225 USN)

[orca8589]

I wanted to dedicate a specific thread to pics for this model. I know there's a Kabar picture thread already, but there isn't much posted on the KBD1 here on BF, at least that I could find. Everything about this knife speaks of "Heavy Duty", and it's one of the most comfortable I've held while wearing gloves; without gloves, even when wet, the handle simply doesn't move in your hand until you switch grip positions. Compared to the standard #1217 C/U, the guard is thicker, and the tang is a little wider. I've read complaints from people about the lack of strength in the tang on production Kabar 1217-types, but my #1217 has held up just fine with some pretty heavy use.

I've had this for several years now, and it's one of my favorite models from Kabar. The previous owner had stripped the finish off the blade, and this one came to me without the nylon sheath, and I found out through trial & error that the nylon sheath for this model is a dedicated design; no other nylon sheath from other Kabar models will fit it. The cool thing, though, is the standard black leather sheath fits it perfectly, nice & snug with almost no looseness. Unfortunately, it was discontinued, I assume due to low sales. Furthermore, it, like the Kabar Big Brother, isn't carry-legal here in California.

Here's some pics of this fine model; I'm sad to see it discontinued, and it would sure be nice to see it come back again in a more carry-legal configuration someday. In post #2 I'll show it with a regular #1217 C/U and #1225 USN.

~Chris

 

[orca8589]

#1217 USMC, #1225 USN and #1273 KBD1:

Tang stamps:

Pommels; the Navy's pommel [pic. 2] is much narrower at the base than the other two:

Sheaths; I'm not sure how much older the USMC sheath is - it looks polished compared to the matte finish of the Navy's, and it doesn't have the extra rivet at the back:

~Chris

 

[orca8589]

Kabar #1225 USN and KBD1:

Blade styles:

Stacked leather & Kraton grips:

Sheaths:

~Chris

 

[stvpourciau]

I like that knife man, very nice. Hits me as a nice cross between the 1245 and 1217 classic with a spear point twist. Love it!

 

[Brad "the butcher"]

I have one, not too much use but out of the box it has better cutting/edge ergo's over the 1217 IMOP.