Kabar's Warranty

[gadgetgeek]

I wouldn't be putting much stock in youtube tests. the guy was out to beat that thing to death, and so he did. The how or why don't matter that much.

 

[Tachead7075]

Have you ever thought of using an axe to split wood?

Yes, I have split dozens of cords with one actually. But, axes are heavy and hatchets are less effective and more dangerous(especially when cutting up kindling). Axes are fine for chopping wood at your house or car camping maybe but, they are too heavy and bulky for backpacking and back country camping imo. They are also next to useless for cutting brush and many other tasks that a knife can do. A knife, even a large one, is just so much more versatile, light weight, and compact.

This isnt a batoning vs axe thread by the way.

 

[Tachead7075]

I wouldn't be putting much stock in youtube tests. the guy was out to beat that thing to death, and so he did. The how or why don't matter that much.

I'm not sure which video you are talking about but, a properly heat treated beefy hard use carbon steel knife should be able to stand up to anything a soft log can throw at it without fracturing/shattering. If it does, there is either a defect/problem in/with the design, the steel billet, or the heat treatment.

 

[RX-79G]

I'm not sure which video you are talking about but, a properly heat treated beefy hard use carbon steel knife should be able to stand up to anything a soft log can throw at it without fracturing/shattering. If it does, there is either a defect/problem in/with the design, the steel billet, or the heat treatment.

Just curious - instead of the hardened steel cracking, what do you think should have happened? That the log will always be severed, or that the knife bends rather than snaps?

 

[Tachead7075]

Just curious - instead of the hardened steel cracking, what do you think should have happened? That the log will always be severed, or that the knife bends rather than snaps?

Neither should happen under normal use if the heat treatment is done right for the steel being used and most of the time the log should be severed. These are 3/16"+ carbon steel knives purpose designed for hard use including chopping and batoning. I am not saying they could ever be invincible but, they should stand up to most hard uses. The first one of the Potbelly is a particularly bad failure and definitely shows some kind of defect in either the heat treatment(over hardened) or a flaw in the design or billet.

Even with the best of companies and suppliers a bad one gets sent out once and a while but, as long as the manufacturer stands behind their product and replaces it I am happy. I have never broke a knife yet but, I like to know they have my back if I do get a bad one and have an issue.

 

[gadgetgeek]

In the case of the potbelly, the blade broke in a very common way. Whether or not it was directly caused by his technique of having pressure down on the handle while hitting the tip, I don't know. Although the last few hits suggest to me that he'd managed to open up some sort of defect, as the last hits seem very weak.

What was the point of the broken knives list? is it to suggest that knives can be broken?

Anyway, I'm not quite sure where this thread is going, but generally they don't end well. Either it will end up about battoning, or bashing a MFG.

 

[sd550]

IDEA !!!! Watch a You Tube vid on how to make a knife and go from there, some great genius stuff on those things

 

[Tachead7075]

Well, I think I have all the info I need. Sounds like Kabar will back their products and most failures and defects are isolated incidents. Thanks for all the help guys, I appreciate it:thumbup:

Feel free to lock/close this thread if you read this mods. Thanks:thumbup:

 

[Bladite]

In my relatively short time here, I've never seen a failed BK not get replaced, regardless of circumstance.


Come join us in the Becker Knife & Tool subform -
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/827-Becker-Knife-amp-Tool

Ethan Becker posts regularly. If you have specific questions about the use of any of his blades, you'll get lots of expert info from the Beckerheads, maybe even Ethan himself.

i think in all the decades i've been aware of Becker, owning, collecting, and now being Beckerhead starter program, i've seen 3 cases of knives not being warranted. reason: scammers. someone bought a used one, tried to cause it to fail (angle grinder? seriously?)... ESEE will allow that (once at least), but will call you a jerk. KaBar is just like "uhm, no :>"

heat treat issues happen. they make a FREAKING TON OF KNIVES. they sell a TON OF KNIVES. we've seen, over 30 years, what? a couple dozen failures? mostly from people batoning incorrectly, and in particular, through knots, and *ESP* through silicated lignins - ie: fir trees - frozen usually...

stop batoning already. it's really stupid imho.

or at least, stop batoning through cold/frozen knots with poor technique.