USMC knife unaligned blade and handle, is there a purpose for this?

N

nameless9

Joined
Apr 13, 2012
Messages
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I think the knife would look perfect if the blade was pushed back a little bit so the handle and blade would align. I am just wondering why it's designed like this. Just little bit OCD here. I thought maybe it would improve with stabbing or cutting slightly. Thoughts?

1217_h_lg.png
 
My F/U, Short, and Mark1 are pretty much centered. Looking around on the web I do see some like the one you posted. Could be random variation or maybe the tang is aligned with the flats for maximum strength.
 
Web shmeb... There is a reason and it was on purpose.

It has something to do with stabbing in a straight line, I dont know the specifics, but it's been explained before and I'm sure someone gracious enough with the details will stop by and do it again.
 
A dropped edge is always better for cutting(like almost all kitchen knives) but it may have to do with the alignment of the wrist bones in a straight line for thrusting.
 
This subject has come up before. Sorry I haven’t found one of the threads to link to.
In a nut shell the tang of the knife per drawings dating back to WW2, is off the center line of the blade by about an 1/8 of an inch. During WW2 production the slots cut into the leather washers were usually offset to make the blade appear more centered to the handle. All the model 1217’s I’ve looked at that were made post WW2 show this offset between the blade centerline and the handle.
 
These were interesting reads. So, basically it's a flawed design, and only the Kabars made during WWII have the blades and handles line up perfectly due to the cut-out in the handles conforming with the off-set blades. Gotcha..

It's nice to have an official answer from Kabar, although it doesn't go with what they do. They wanted to keep the design as close to the original specification as possible, yet they've made changes to the handle material, weight, handle length for the 1211, but kept the mismatched looks to it.
1211_large.jpg


Honestly, I think that is a poor explanation on Kabar's part. I am quite disappointed, but thanks for the knowledge, men! :cool:
 
A while back in the Tech Talk With Toooj thread, a member had asked about a knife similar to the 1217; it turned out to be a Camillus, I believe. Toooj made a comment about the "in-line leather handle", so I asked about it, and his response was this:

Why was the tang offset? for two reasons: 1) to allow some room under the handle for your fingers. Remember the knife was also used by the Navy for ship work. Sailors were the original batoners. When they batoned line, there was room so their fingers would not be crushed or pinched. 2) The centerline of the tang is more in line with the tip of the knife (Stabbing purposes) Read Styer's and Biddle's books (Cold Steel and Do or Die). They were both Marines and the system they taught and used is reflected in the knife design.

Here's the tech talk thread, if you want to read it all (start with post #697):
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/872443-Tech-Talk-With-Toooj?p=12184374#post12184374

~Chris
 
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