So, I made a Ka-bar for myself and..

David Stifle

David Stifle

Joined
Nov 20, 2008
Messages
10,188
got to looking at the spec's listed on the official KA-BAR site in Orleans, NY. They list the blade thinkness at 0.165. Using my trusty calculator, that comes out to approx. 1/6th of an inch thick. The blade is approx an inch wide, and it has a large fuller, and it RC's at 56/58. It doesn't seem like a strong blade at all considering what a legend this knife is. Also, from what I could tell by their pictures, it has a narrow tang with 90 degree angles, perfect stress risers. Is this how the WWII Ka-Bars were built? As a knifemaker, I'm a bit confused. This knife is a legend for digging foxholes, opening packing crates, etc. It has a spine about like a kitchen knife. If I don't get any response here, I might get up the nerve to post my questions in the Ka-bar forum. But I thought I might get a good response from fellow makers here.

Due to the recent changes, I wasn't quite sure if I should have posted this in Hammer and Tongs or here.
 
I have a set of drawings somewhere I got off the military knife chunk of Knife dogs and I thought it was 1/8"
 
Well, that would make me feel better, Jim. Since it was for myself, I made mine with a 3/16th's spine.
 
Just did a google seearch for Kbar drawing and it has one a bit hard to read but, the spine and flats are 9/64 which is just over 1/8". I wish I had kept the originals of my youth. The drawings do show the dead square corners.
 
SteelSlaver said:
Just did a google seearch for Kbar drawing and it has one a bit hard to read but, the spine and flats are 9/64 which is just over 1/8". I wish I had kept the originals of my youth. The drawings do show the dead square corners.
Click to expand...


That's cool, Jim. Thanks. I know there was more than one manufacturer, so maybe there's original old knives with different spec's floating around. Knowing the Government though, I bet they assigned a National Stock Number (NSN) and drew up military specs.

I'm starting to think a large part of what I've heard about this knife is a little overblown. I see no way this design could be do everything in the field, such as pry open crates, etc. But I still like it.
 
The only real flaw I see is the square inside corners where the tang starts. Little torch work to draw it back would help. If I make one I will round them and once the guard is on who will know besides me.

Military legends all get a bit overblown. Except the Marine Corps and Chesty Puller. LOL. Semper Fi
 
There's a thread over in the Ka-bar subforum specifically for technical questions, answered by the senior product manager of Ka-bar. I asked my question, we'll see what he says.
 
SBuzek said:
0.165 is 5/32" not 1/16"

Stan
Click to expand...

Thanks Stan, 5/32 is 0.15625, not 0.165, but I guess you can'tget any closer. Still seems like a heck'ofa thin blade for an aclaimed fighting knife, especially one with symetrical wide fullers. Just seems like a weak design. But I must be missing something important somewhere, I can't wrap my mind around such a thin, narrow design as a ulitity /fighter.

Update: I corresponded with the Senior Product Engineer at Ka-Bar in Olean, NY. He said the are both advantages and disadvantages to the design. He said 0.165 is the original spec., and this was considered a fairly thick blade in 1942. He said the tangs do have radius'ed corners, and that-for $100., this knife is the most bang for your buck.

Go to Tech talk, in the Ka-Bar subforum, page 40, for full discussion.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top