Kabar Mk1/2 series tang

Dr Rez

Dr Rez

Pisser of the Couch
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Jun 7, 2012
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Why do you think Kabar has not or has no plans of putting out a stronger thicker full tang for the USMC or USN MK1/2 knives? I mean I have seen loads of people online mention it is their favorite knife with the exception on the weak point (rat tang). They would make an absurd amount of money, and the redesign would be pretty simple.

What first crossed my mind is that maybe Kabar doesnt want to mess with a good thing, but they have made every other modern variation of the knife including new steels, new handles, serrations...etc...I do not understand the decision not to make them. The only other option I have seen is the Stryder Usmc tribute or a custom blade.
 
Not a bad idea. Could be half Ka-bar (profile, guard) and half becker (full tang and thick!) and done in earth tones like some of the old Beckers. I'd get both tanto/serrated/kraton G and traditional clip point straight edge versions.
 
The full length tangs of the USMC and Navy are plenty strong for what the knives were designed for and even for a fair bit of outdoors/bushcrafting. They won't take heavy batoning but I've used them to go through smaller stuff without a problem. If you want a stronger version, there's always the BK7.
 
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I have batoned with my 1245 Tanto. Same tang as the Mk1/2, and as bigghoss said, if you need something stronger, get a BK7

 
Uxi said:
Not a bad idea. Could be half Ka-bar (profile, guard) and half becker (full tang and thick!) and done in earth tones like some of the old Beckers. I'd get both tanto/serrated/kraton G and traditional clip point straight edge versions.
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CDKJudoka said:
I have batoned with my 1245 Tanto. Same tang as the Mk1/2, and as bigghoss said, if you need something stronger, get a BK7

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Well yes obviously one could get a different knife of the same length. I mean a leather stacked same blade profiled USMC USN knife. Also I am aware the USMC was not made for the activities you get a bk7 for..which is exactly why I am asking this question..why not expand its boundaries since it is pretty much one of the much famous knives ever.
 
I will never get this argument. Millions of these type of knives have been made since 1942. I see it as trying to fix a problem that doesn't exist. If you want a knife with different features why not just buy one of those? It's not like we are limited to our choices.
 
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sac troop said:
I will never get this argument. Millions of these type of knives have been made since 1942. I see it as trying to fix a problem that doesn't exist. If you want a knife with different features why not just buy one of those? It's not like we are limited to our choices.
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You said it better than I would have. I was feeling a little snarky just now.

I have used and abused my USMC since I got out of boot camp in 1992. It never broke! It was chipped, rusted and the finish warn off of the front 1/3 of the blade. The leather handle was dried out pretty bad due to multiple salt water baths. Believe me, its pretty tough if a Marine can't break it.
 
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sac troop said:
I will never get this argument. Millions of these type of knives have been made since 1942. I see it as trying to fix a problem that doesn't exist. If you want a knife with different features why not just buy one of those? It's not like we are limited to our choices.
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Bingo. I have both knives. My MkII is from 1942, and was heavily abused for years. Not broken still. MkI, not broken. Why would Kabar change a proven design? Seems useless effort to appease folks who think nothing short of a full tang will do. Like telling Mora, Helle, Bruscletto, et all, to change from stick tangs that work just fine. Buy a full tang knife if you want a full tang knife.
 
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To Dr. Rez,
It was not my intent to be snarky or off putting in my response to your OP. If I came across that way I would like to apologize. Your inquiry did remind me of a story that happened some years ago on a fishing trip. One of the fellows on the trip who I didn’t know that well at the time was trying to clean a salmon he caught with his very nice new 6 inch camp knife. I volunteered to finish it off with a fillet knife before he ruined anymore of the nice 15# fish. Later that evening he started to complain about his knife that he bought because of all the recommendations he got from others about what a fine general purpose knife it was. I ended up looking at him and saying that “ I bet you haven’t tried to baton anything with a fillet knife yet, have you?”.

At this time I think we are still waiting for someone to make the knife that can be all things to all people at all times.
 
Yeah it's an old and proven design but some of it's design was dictated by economics and technology that no longer applies. Don't get me wrong, I'll keep my USMC fighters forever but doesn't mean the design couldn't be improved by modern techniques or materials while keeping it's heritage going. I'm sure that's what they were shooting for with the Next Generation but...
 
How many times must it be said that a Classic KA-BAR does not have a rat tail tang, it is a full length hidden tang. The tang throughout it's entire length is nearly as wide as the handle, not as wide as the part you see pinned on at the pommel, thats only square cut out to fit the pommel on the tang.

I can post pics if you need to see of a 1245 I broke.

If you ask me the only weaknpoint is not in the tang but the squared corners in how it joins to the rest of the blade. Still, it's a strong knife.
 
Some of the later models have wider - and "stronger" - tangs. I have a KBD-1, and the tang is definitely wider than my #1217 C/U. Still, if you use the standard #1217 C/U within its limits, I don't see the issue. (I know for sure that the D2 Extreme has a wider tang than the #1217 C/U.)

Post #1, sixth pic, Kabar #1245 Tanto. Tang is definitely wider. (I think the #1264 tang is the same width.)
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1037320-Kabar-1245-Tanto-review

I asked in the Tech Talk with Toooj thread and this was Toooj's response (post #763):
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/872443-Tech-Talk-With-Toooj?p=12550151#post12550151

~Chris
 
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Can they even change the USMC design without having a new set of testing/certifications done for whatever military contracts exist? That itself could be an issue.

I don't think the tang size is an issue, however I would love to see them round out the blade and tang junction a little more to minimize any weak spots. On another note, I'd also love to see a tough stainless version of the Mark 1 in AUS8 or 440C.
 
I don't think Ka-bar supplies the USMC design to the USMC. The Ka-bar I had issued from the armory wasn't branded Ka-bar. Don't really remember what it was cause it usually stayed in my sea-bag. The regular USMC fighter doesn't have an NSN.
 
ID# MIL-DTL-20277J (2007), NSN 1095-00-392-4102 is assigned to these knives made by the Ontario Knife Company.
 
And it drones on and on and on......

The answer is still simple: if it ain't broke, don't fix it.


Pontificate all you want. I highly doubt the design team is even thinking about this. I'm pretty sure the Mark 1 and 2 aren't losing sales. Why? The design is perfect as is!
 
I don't get the sentiment, it is what it is, if you change the design of the knife, it's a different knife.

If you ask asking if the Marine Corps should adopt a differed knife? Sure, kabar isn't under contract anyway, many marines carry a different knife lol.

If you want something else to be called "a Marines knife" though, well then you may have noticed how big they are on tradition during your time in the corps.
 
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