My custom Ka-Bar 1217

Billabong01 said:
Got my knife back today!!šŸ„²
Huge thankyou to zanussi01 for finding it at a pawnshop and buying it back for me.
You are the nicest, kindest, most generous guy in the whole world!
Thankyou very much mate, your awesome!!
ZICqpGR.jpg
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Leave it to a scum bag thief to steal a knife like that only to get a few bucks for it at a pawn shop. Iā€™m glad you got it back, that doesnā€™t happen very often.
 
Billabong01 said:
Got my knife back today!!šŸ„²
Huge thankyou to zanussi01 for finding it at a pawnshop and buying it back for me.
You are the nicest, kindest, most generous guy in the whole world!
Thankyou very much mate, your awesome!!
ZICqpGR.jpg
Click to expand...
Aww shucks ma'am, 'twern't nuttin'.
If you could though, can you type out all those nice things you said about me on to a piece of paper please.
I would like to add it to my resume.
 
Crag the Brewer said:
Wow.....as I was scrolling your post, I never imagined that the final outcome was going to look That Good!
Unbelievably Nice.
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Right? I was like "that's just the same as a reg'lar ol Ka-bar, and not that special if you ask m...... oh wait, oh oooOOOOHHHH!!!!"
 
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Late to the show, but lovin' that rework a *LOT*!!! As noted, some overtones of Randall beautimousness shining through. Well done!! Heartwarming to hear the prodigal found its way back home again. Thx also for the photos of the work in progress as they serve as inspiration to allay fears among the rest of us who feel that "I could never do that".
 
Just to reiterate , I absolutely love the modifications to your 1217 and its definitely a keeper to be handed down through the generations !
I cant see any problems but could the same be done for the short version of the 1217 ? Do the handle parts , leather , bolster etc just come off easily by removing the pin from the butt cap / pommel ? I thought all parts would have been epoxied for extra security !
Thanks
 
bigeard09 said:
Just to reiterate , I absolutely love the modifications to your 1217 and its definitely a keeper to be handed down through the generations !
I cant see any problems but could the same be done for the short version of the 1217 ? Do the handle parts , leather , bolster etc just come off easily by removing the pin from the butt cap / pommel ? I thought all parts would have been epoxied for extra security !
Thanks
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Yes they do come apart the same way, as they are made the same way, just a bit smaller.
No epoxy used, compression only.

Of all the 3/4 models I've rehandled, I didn't used the original parts.
The standard handle is somewhat short, so to fix this I did Randall style handles so to gain as much length as possible.
The tang though is the same size as the 1217.
Hope this helps.
 
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zanussi01 said:
Yes they do come apart the same way, as they are made the same way, just a bit smaller.
No epoxy used, compression only.

Of all the 3/4 models I've rehandled, I didn't used the original parts.
The standard handle is somewhat short, so to fix this I did Randall style handles so to gain as much length as possible.
The tang though is the same size as the 1217.
Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
Thanks
 
zanussi01 said:
Yes they do come apart the same way, as they are made the same way, just a bit smaller.
No epoxy used, compression only.

Of all the 3/4 models I've rehandled, I didn't used the original parts.
The standard handle is somewhat short, so to fix this I did Randall style handles so to gain as much length as possible.
The tang though is the same size as the 1217.
Hope this helps.
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Wish you lived in the UK so you could refurb one for me
 
bigeard09 said:
Wish you lived in the UK so you could refurb one for me
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You could always do it your self.
Not hard, and you don't need a shed load of tools to do it, a vice, hacksaw and a few rasps,files and sandpaper.

If its just a simple refurbishment,either get a rebuild kit from Ka-Bar,or find some leather locally.

Another option is to go full custom on the handle with different materials,eg, stag/leather, wood etc.
Not as hard as it looks and you could end up with something like these:-
GPQasb8h.jpg


anKyYCxh.jpg


zPIwfeeh.jpg

Whichever way you go,don't be afraid to ask for help or advice.:thumbsup:
 
zanussi01 said:
You could always do it your self.
Not hard, and you don't need a shed load of tools to do it, a vice, hacksaw and a few rasps,files and sandpaper.

If its just a simple refurbishment,either get a rebuild kit from Ka-Bar,or find some leather locally.

Another option is to go full custom on the handle with different materials,eg, stag/leather, wood etc.
Not as hard as it looks and you could end up with something like these:-
GPQasb8h.jpg


anKyYCxh.jpg


zPIwfeeh.jpg

Whichever way you go,don't be afraid to ask for help or advice.:thumbsup:
Click to expand...
Got to admit they are all first class conversions / customising or whatever you wish to call it . In the past I have done similar things with various types of knives and even used to make my own scandi style knives and sheaths . Getting older now with shakey hands but I might just attempt to do a stag handle conversion with brass guard and pommel at it looks classy . Reckon if I took my time I could still do it ! Thanks
 
I only wish well known companies like KA BAR would take the time and inclination during the manufacturing process to round the angles of the inner shoulders of their tangs and slightly taper them . This would take very little effort on their part and create a more stronger construction to take more of a beating without breaking off at the guard .
 
bigeard09 said:
I only wish well known companies like KA BAR would take the time and inclination during the manufacturing process to round the angles of the inner shoulders of their tangs and slightly taper them . This would take very little effort on their part and create a more stronger construction to take more of a beating without breaking off at the guard .
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The blades do have a radius in the corners,1/32.
Most breakages here occur due to pushing the design beyond its limits,it's a Ka-Bar,not a Crow-Bar.
I've found,as well as hundreds of thousands of others, that the design is plenty strong enough for use as a knife.
Use outside the design parameters to cause failure is not the fault of the knife.
The design has endured for 8 decades.
CrWkzjUl.jpg

The D2 version has significantly larger radius in the corners, like everyone that bitches about the original tang wanted.
However the blade does not have a differential heat treat.
r15nBMel.jpg
 
Agree with ya Zanussi01 ,as I said , horses for courses and no knife should be pushed beyond their limits ! why people would use them as a crowbar is beyond me . The chances are that if anyone is in a job or environment where cases need prizing open , then Im sure there will be a crowbar pretty much hany or something similar .
 
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