Question on Warranty and Service?

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happytom

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Oct 13, 2015
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This is my first post.. and I am very happy to be a new member here. I have a question in regards to your company warranty on KA-BAR knives. I've sent emails to info@ka-bar.com, and I get no response back. And I was totally dismissed by your rep on your Facebook page. In both my emails and Facebook correspondence, none of this seems to matter, and I'm don't understand as I have read great things about your company products.

I'm not going to get into my main line of work, but I'm pretty tired after the flood disaster here locally in South Carolina. I realize that I really need a good fixed blade knife with me daily when traveling to and from my main work site. There is no knife length laws down here in South Carolina, and I am carrying "as for lawful purpose". I don't own any KA-BAR knives prior, except for my late Grandfather's KA-BAR that he carried in WWII.

I purchased a new ka-bar short black tanto model, and the knife seems great.. I have no issues with it. But the sheath has a "hole-like" gouge in the leather and also a line mark like this ~ that is on the front of the knife sheath under the square logo. Your Facebook rep totally dismissed this as a "non-issue" and thinks it will work itself out over time. If I buy a new product, shouldn't it be defective free? Any other knife companies out there, would of taken care of this issue. I would even be happy, to get the hard nylon sheath as a replacement, but there is absolutely no concern at all, in regards to the defect from your company.
 
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Gotta post some pics man...
Did you buy it online or in a store?
The manufacturer can't always be responsible for the retailer. Did you try them as well?
I'm sure if you post some pics folks will chime in...
 
happytom, welcome to Bladeforums!

Well, I went and found the FB pic. Looks to me like a spot where the leather was pressed a little. Or maybe just a small imperfection in the leather itself. Leather is a natural product and isn't always perfectly smooth like kydex. I have $100 custom leather sheaths that have similar small indentions, and they came that way!

You could try ironing it out with a steam iron and a wash cloth. If it were me though, I'd just use it and identify MY rig by the small indent.
 
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I mentioned steaming out the dent. I've done something similar to this on a leather sheath before:
http://www.ehow.com/how_7495024_remove-indentation-leather-seats.html

Just looked at the pics on my computer instead of my phone.
I honestly wouldn't call the indention a defect since it's not a hole in the leather and since it does not impede the function of the sheath.
If you're carrying the sheath and using the knife a lot, the sheath is going to take some scuffs anyway.
And as noted before, leather isn't always perfectly smooth, even good quality leather.
Here's the best of the three pics for anyone interested...

sheath_zps9nzdk0jq.jpg
 
Guyon said:
I mentioned steaming out the dent. I've done something similar to this on a leather sheath before:
http://www.ehow.com/how_7495024_remove-indentation-leather-seats.html

Just looked at the pics on my computer instead of my phone.
I honestly wouldn't call the indention a defect since it's not a hole in the leather and since it does not impede the function of the sheath.
If you're carrying the sheath and using the knife a lot, the sheath is going to take some scuffs anyway.
And as noted before, leather isn't always perfectly smooth, even good quality leather.
Here's the best of the three pics for anyone interested...

sheath_zps9nzdk0jq.jpg
Click to expand...

Thanks for going out, and posting the pics.. that saves me a step. Respectfully the pictures are not the best.. and it's not a indentation.. it's a defect. Sure, I can do a lot of fixes and mods in regards to the sheath.. but where the "rubber hits the road" is that I really shouldn't have to with a brand new knife. Other manufactures would of sent me a new sheath by now, and it's just disappointing to not see, any positive response from KA-BAR. Yes, the leather sheaths are made in Mexico.. that's even on their web site.. and yes... probably not a lot of quality assurance goes into the sheath. But to me, it's the over all principal of the matter, of buying a new knife and having a defect that the manufacturing company wants to dismiss so quickly.. Also, I just want to say again.. posting this was not my main intent of joining the form here.. I have "a lot" of knives.. and I am happy to be here. But I wanted to see if I would get any sort of positive response from the manufacture. I guess not. Maybe.. this will motivate me to make my own leather or kydex sheath.
 
Looks like an 'impresssion' and should respond to 'steaming'.

As already mentioned, for a user, more marks are sure to come. ;)
 
Thanks for your comments. Respectfully, I've said all I needed to.. unless a KA-BAR rep posts here... alcomms fading out. :-)
 
Sorry. I know you are disappointed and I hope these responses don't discourage you from hanging out here..... But I do not consider that a defect. I would not expect KA-BAR to do anything about that.

It's a leather sheath which will function perfectly. My 1219 sheath looks way worse after a single light camping trip. It just adds character, imo.
 
Just for the record, going back to the Facebook thread, Ka-Bar did not "totally dismiss" the complaint. Instead, a Ka-Bar rep responded three times in the thread.

Could you post photos, Tom?
Click to expand...

It looks like something hit the leather, probably during shipment. The leather is pretty pliable; I could determine the depth based on the photos but if it is not too deep over the lifespan of the knife and sheath I have a feeling that gouge will work itself out.
Click to expand...

I forgot to address your first question about the oil spot. Yes, that is pretty common. The oil helps keep the leather supple and will be absorbed by the sheath over time. You will begin to notice when the sheath begins to dry out a bit and when it does you can hit it with a very light coat of oil.
Click to expand...

The response likely wasn't what happytom was looking for, but Ka-Bar clearly considered his post and responded to it.

happytom, I hope you can make peace with the small dent and enjoy that great knife!
 
happytom, if a different sheath is of interest...

One good option for that knife that won't break the bank is the Spec-Ops Combat Master (Short version for blades under 6").
There are also a bunch of sheath makers who hang out at Bladeforums, the Ka-Bar and Becker subforums included.
The sheath that comes with the 1217 and similar knives is a perfectly fine, serviceable sheath.
However, if I were going to use the knife a lot, I'd probably make or buy a new sheath.
 
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That short Tanto is a great little Knife. I hate that you feel dismissed by Ka-Bar but I'm confident if you had an issue with the Blade itself or anything making it unusable, you would be made right.

I also understand having that little black Blade in that little shiny black sheath is so pretty but you can't help but be drawn to the annoying spot.
The best remedy for this is to get out there and use the crap out of it. Before long you'll have a cool little Blade in the cool little sheath with plenty of scrapes, scratches, and scars which in itself is a thing of beauty!

On another note...

How about that Grandpa's Ka-Bar? You should start a thread to show it off.

Finally...howdy neighbor from up here in NC. Hope all is well with y'all down there who took a hit. My mom lives in Myrtle Beach and luckily came out unscathed. Welcome to the boards, hang out, post some pics of that Tanto in action!
 
After consulting with Ka-Bar, I've found out there is more back story to this thread than meets the eye.
I think the concern has been duly noted and has received a response, so I'm going to close this thread.
 
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