The Ka-Bar Story

Here is what I was talking about earlier.
This next picture is from official site.
1217-1-HERO-FULL.jpg


ka-bar-usmc-02-1217-large.jpg

The blade and handle are offset. ^

This one is fine...
KA-9128.jpg


Looks like this has been going on for some time... but who knows real or not
DSCN3679.jpg


This is what it should look like on paper.
post-2-0-90209700-1381816495.jpg

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So back to the original picture from their site.
Why would they make a Kabar with an offset handle? There a purpose? Are they trying to have the point more inline with the center?
I would like to see this looking close to original how it supposed to be.
 
22-rimfire said:
Very informative video and well done. I particularly enjoy learning about the history of American knife companies. Maybe Buck and Case need to make a similar video.

I don't own a classic "Ka-Bar" knife. Probably need to own one.
Click to expand...

Here is a Buck mini-history-doc -
fairly well done
 
Sergeua said:
Here is what I was talking about earlier.
This next picture is from official site.
1217-1-HERO-FULL.jpg


ka-bar-usmc-02-1217-large.jpg

The blade and handle are offset. ^

This one is fine...
KA-9128.jpg


Looks like this has been going on for some time... but who knows real or not
DSCN3679.jpg


This is what it should look like on paper.
post-2-0-90209700-1381816495.jpg

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So back to the original picture from their site.
Why would they make a Kabar with an offset handle? There a purpose? Are they trying to have the point more inline with the center?
I would like to see this looking close to original how it supposed to be.
Click to expand...
If I had to guess, it's just poor QC. Being stacked leather (A soft material) it's probably fairly easy for the holes to get punched, then stacked, a bit off center. These are mass produced and likely rushed out the door during times of conflict. Small details like that were probably no big deal. This is all speculation of course.
 
21bangbang said:
If I had to guess, it's just poor QC. Being stacked leather (A soft material) it's probably fairly easy for the holes to get punched, then stacked, a bit off center. These are mass produced and likely rushed out the door during times of conflict. Small details like that were probably no big deal. This is all speculation of course.
Click to expand...
Its actually the hidden tang that dictates the rest of the handle's placement.
You see that guard gets placed on the tang and that is already offset. The pommel at the end and the leather pieces are all inline and look centered with the guard.
If in the past while grinding the tang you can have variations, although they had to have used some decent jigs so everything is the same; I just don't see why in 2019 the blanks would not be consistent.
This has to be done on purpose. Or somone made a mistake and they just went with it. Or nobody cares.
main-qimg-2f8d3f1ae4cadf8ab082f9fe754512d8.webp
 
Thanks SteelJunkee SteelJunkee ,

I found this quote that explains it

“We want to try to keep the current 1217 as close to original specification as possible. The original F/U knife had the tang offset toward the back (top) and not down the blade centerline.
With the new manufacturing technology, the offset on the handle is more obvious. The biggest issue is we wanted to make the handle larger as it fits modern hands better. That really highlights the offset. Notice that our handle is more oval than the other F/U knives from other manufacturers.
You are astute on the small version of the F/U (1250, et al). I moved the tang to the middle of the blade when we developed that knife. We felt we had more liberties with the smaller knife than with the original.
So, sorry, we have no plans to change. But we always appreciate the feedback; positive or negative.
Hope this helps.

Best Regards,

Paul Tsujimoto
Sr Eng
Prod Dev and Qual
KA-BAR Knives
 
I'm glad I watched this. It was very informative and now I need to go buy a Ka-Bar!
 
Sergeua said:
Thanks SteelJunkee SteelJunkee ,

I found this quote that explains it

“We want to try to keep the current 1217 as close to original specification as possible. The original F/U knife had the tang offset toward the back (top) and not down the blade centerline.
With the new manufacturing technology, the offset on the handle is more obvious. The biggest issue is we wanted to make the handle larger as it fits modern hands better. That really highlights the offset. Notice that our handle is more oval than the other F/U knives from other manufacturers.
You are astute on the small version of the F/U (1250, et al). I moved the tang to the middle of the blade when we developed that knife. We felt we had more liberties with the smaller knife than with the original.
So, sorry, we have no plans to change. But we always appreciate the feedback; positive or negative.
Hope this helps.

Best Regards,

Paul Tsujimoto
Sr Eng
Prod Dev and Qual
KA-BAR Knives
Click to expand...

Even the Big Bro has the same off-set handle position.

31zs7zviWwL.jpg
 
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