- Joined
- Dec 3, 2010
- Messages
- 1,875
After completing my last thread about working on my uncle in laws KA-BAR USMC, I found myself going through my photobucket grabbing pics of my 1211. Its a blade I have had for a minute or two, but has undergone a couple different remodels. This is a knife I have thoroughly enjoyed and continues to beat out other blades for belt time. Even at its size its a very carry friendly blade. This is because of the small footprint it has with its leather sheath, and to me its light weight. The only hang up I had with the knife was it was not too great at doing all of the cutting tasks I ask of a knife every day which includes foodprep. After dialing in the grind on it though, it now performs very well. KA-BAR has since changed the grind on these knives for the better (higher saber). Either way, these are some great blades that inspire both passion and resentment, and have filled the hands of soldiers, campers, men, and women alike. It is one blade I wont ever part with. This thread is just kind of a collection of pictures over the years of this one knife.
When I first received the blade it was used, beat up, dull, and rusted. Unfortunately I did not get a pic of the knife with the original beat up black coating, and the nickel thick edge. After receiving it though, it went right to the stones, got the edge sorted out, then hit my belt. With about any knife I get I carry it around everywhere for awhile and just use it like my only blade. The coating was toast so I went ahead and let that 1095cv air out with some stripper and then gave it a bit of a acid etch. I think this is the first pic I took of it.
From there the blade just got put to work. I carried the blade around with the knife/sheath tucked into the front pocket of my jeans, and run through the belt. Surprisingly comfy and inconspicuous way of carrying it.
Cutting squares out of the snow...
After a while I went ahead and reprofiled this sucker by hand and stone. Thinned up the grind a lot with a slight convex edge. Improved the cutting performance a lot. Not quite there yet though.
Used it that way for a while, but wanted a bit more out of it. SO! To the belt grinder we go! Thinned out primary grind all the way up to the fuller then convexed/blended everything in. I also exaggerated the clip a bit giving it some more sway! Then after a little conversation with some of the guys in Beckerland, I hacked the back guard off, put a slight dimple behind it in the kraton, and gave everything a good buff. At this point the edge was very thin at what would be 0, so I usually run a microbevel on the edge. The knife cuts so well now and will process food stuffs easily. I also really like having the back guard gone. At first I maybe missed it a bit, but I like this A LOT better.
Such a fantastic knife... Time to hit the bricks...
Nothing too exciting but I hope yall enjoyed it a little bit. Thank you KA-BAR, and thank yall for looking!
When I first received the blade it was used, beat up, dull, and rusted. Unfortunately I did not get a pic of the knife with the original beat up black coating, and the nickel thick edge. After receiving it though, it went right to the stones, got the edge sorted out, then hit my belt. With about any knife I get I carry it around everywhere for awhile and just use it like my only blade. The coating was toast so I went ahead and let that 1095cv air out with some stripper and then gave it a bit of a acid etch. I think this is the first pic I took of it.
From there the blade just got put to work. I carried the blade around with the knife/sheath tucked into the front pocket of my jeans, and run through the belt. Surprisingly comfy and inconspicuous way of carrying it.
Cutting squares out of the snow...
After a while I went ahead and reprofiled this sucker by hand and stone. Thinned up the grind a lot with a slight convex edge. Improved the cutting performance a lot. Not quite there yet though.
Used it that way for a while, but wanted a bit more out of it. SO! To the belt grinder we go! Thinned out primary grind all the way up to the fuller then convexed/blended everything in. I also exaggerated the clip a bit giving it some more sway! Then after a little conversation with some of the guys in Beckerland, I hacked the back guard off, put a slight dimple behind it in the kraton, and gave everything a good buff. At this point the edge was very thin at what would be 0, so I usually run a microbevel on the edge. The knife cuts so well now and will process food stuffs easily. I also really like having the back guard gone. At first I maybe missed it a bit, but I like this A LOT better.
Such a fantastic knife... Time to hit the bricks...
Nothing too exciting but I hope yall enjoyed it a little bit. Thank you KA-BAR, and thank yall for looking!
