New Ka-Bar bowies.

A

averageguy

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I just noticed these "Heavy Bowies". These look pretty darn nice.
Camillus (Becker) - Ontario - now Ka-Bar all offering flat ground, high carbon, high value bowies.
Looks like Cold Steel pulled the Bush Ranger a little early. Or is it the case that once Camillus was to offer its own line (Becker), they didn't want to make these anymore for CS.

Here's a link.
https://www.kabar.com/product_search.jsp?categoryId=7&mode=category
 
The Kabars look a bit like Swamp Rat knives to me with the lack of handguards. I like the blade shape - its unique enough - I was thinking this would be there Combat Bowie which looks alot like the Ontario Fighter (sp6). These are new though... Me likes :)
 
Looks like the UK site was hacked by a bunch of pseudo-anarchist nerds.

The .com link doesn't directly lead to their new models, click on "New Products" to check 'em out.
 
Here is the smaller of the two knives. It is 12 5/8" overall with a 7 3/8" blade. Both knives have flat grind 1085 blades and Kraton G handles.

1276_large.jpg


This is the larger knife. Overall 14 1/4", blade 9"

1277_large.jpg
 
Anyone have an opinion of 1085 steel?

That's a really nice little Bowie for about $50 - perhaps a little more, at least until some of the discount websites get ahold of it. I am pretty enamored with the blade shape but it would benefit from a choil.
 
James Green Dragon said:
Anyone have an opinion of 1085 steel?
Click to expand...

It's a simple low alloy steel. the "85" in its designation means that it contains .85% carbon (and little else). That stuff is extremely tough and very easy to re-sharpen in the field - two capabilities that are crucial in a large outdoor survival knife.
On the downside, it will rust readily when neglected and it won't hold an edge for extended periods of time.
 
Here's another new production knife. This one from Browning, not a bowie but flat ground. A tactical hunter?
 

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1085 alloy is sort of a sweet spot for steel. As I recall .85% carbon is sort of an optimal amount that wants to blend evenly with the iron. This is tough and yet hardens to a reasonable amount. For a large blade I think this is better than 1095. It seems like they are also keeping the hardness down to the mid 50's RC which is a good idea for a heavy duty knife. This one interests me. I am tired of big knives with 59 RC hardness.
 
Well, I really like those Bowies - especially the smaller one. However, it kinda bothers me that the knife is made in Tiawan :( . I did not realize that Ka-bar is outsourcing. The only Ka-bar knife I've got currently was made in USA and I just sort of assumed for a minute there.
 
"I just lost interest."

I'm not sure why. Taiwan has a long history of producing knives for major brands. Outside of Japan this is the top asian manufacturer. :confused:
 
After spotting these once on ebay and on the Ka-bar site I haven't seen these offered since.
Does anybody have any info on these?
This was the finest product at the best price I've ever seen Ka-bar offer. :confused:
 
jackknife said:
Tiawan?

I just lost interest.
Click to expand...

Ka-Bar has been outsourcing to Tiawan for a long time now. Most of their smaller knives are made there. The classic Ka-Bar and the Gen. 2 knives are still made in America.

I don't really have a problem with Tiawan (or China for that matter if it's good quality), but I don't really like this knife a lot from the picture. I don't like the handle design, but the blade design is great. I'd like to see a little stouter (is that a word?), possibly micarta handle and it would be a little more to my liking. Whatever the case, I'd like to get my hands on one just to fondle and see what it's like.

But from design standpoint, I like the RAT-7 a lot better.
 
Contacted Ka-bar this morning - they said they are hoping to have these by the end of June.
 
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