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Author Topic: Ka-Bar Quality  (Read 1504 times)

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Offline sd550

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Ka-Bar Quality
« on: September 24, 2004, 08:36:11 PM »
After someone stole my 20 year old Ka-Bar (7"blade) I was considering buying another one to replace it. How does their quality compare now against their older knives. Any info would be appreciated.
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Offline Joel

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Ka-Bar Quality
« Reply #1 on: September 25, 2004, 04:42:30 AM »
I haven't heard anything bad about them, but keep in mind that the original Ka-bar company went out of business several years ago(or more).  They sold their "trademark" to someone else; who I THINK is a foreign manufacturer.  I do know that they are still using the same steel on  the old Ka-bar combat knife (1095); plus D-2 on one model.  I still have two old Ka-bars; one that my dad let me pick out as my first hunting knife when I was 12, and one that he bought at the same time.  Both have leather washer handles and heavily chromeplated carbon steel blades, which take and hold a great edge.  Still carry  them on occassion.
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Offline tripod

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Ka-Bar Quality
« Reply #2 on: September 30, 2004, 08:17:59 PM »
Hi, I have two Ka-Bar knives purchased 3-4 years ago. They are razor sharp and hold an edge well. I sharpen them myself easily. They are wonderful knives and see action all year hunting and fishing right along with my other favorites, two Gerbers. I plan to buy another Ka-bar and Gerber this season. The Bucks and Schrades get to stay home alot.
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Offline ironglow

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Ka-Bar Quality
« Reply #3 on: October 09, 2004, 05:00:04 AM »
Most, if not all, K-Bars are of foreign manufacture. The closest you can come to the original K-Bar (and probably better) is Ontario, today's supplier to the US Marines.
  Barring that, buy Camillus...made in Camillus NY.

   <www.ontarioknife.com>
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Offline koli

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Ka-Bar Quality
« Reply #4 on: September 18, 2005, 11:22:28 AM »
Quote from: ironglow
Most, if not all, K-Bars are of foreign manufacture. The closest you can come to the original K-Bar (and probably better) is Ontario, today's supplier to the US Marines.
  Barring that, buy Camillus...made in Camillus NY.

   <www.ontarioknife.com>


I thought that K-Bars were made in Olean, NY.
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Offline Joel

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Ka-Bar Quality
« Reply #5 on: September 19, 2005, 07:09:59 AM »
Ka-Bar has changed hands/locations/gone bankrupt so many times in the last 40 years, it's hard to keep track of them.  Ka-bar is currently owned by Alcas corp, headquartered in Olean, NY.  They also own CUTCO Cutlery, also headquartered in Olean.  According to the current Ka-bar company profile, Ka-bar consists of 5 "manufacturing representatives" who allow them to reach a broad national market.  No mention of who the 5 "representatives" are, but from reading various knife magazines over the years, I get the impression most, if not all, of them are overseas manufacturers.  Perhaps Ka-bar still produces some knives at their Olean Corporate headquarters, but my(not neccessarily complete) research can't find any specific mention of what model might be made there.  Any info would be appreciated on that.  Irregardless, Ka-bar does provide a mostly satisfactory product, that appears to be as good as the two old genuine Ka-bars I own that were manufactured back in the early 50's.
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Offline koli

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Ka-Bar Quality
« Reply #6 on: September 19, 2005, 08:05:38 AM »
Ok thanks.  I know that their Olean facility is not very large.  Used to live there and in Frienship, NY.  Have since moved back to southwestern PA.
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Offline ironglow

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Ka-Bar Quality
« Reply #7 on: September 29, 2005, 11:01:53 AM »
Cutco (Alcas) has just recently laid off a large quantity of their workers.
Kabar has a new building just off I-86 (old rt.17) near Olean. It is a steel "Morton type" building, perhaps 100' X 150'....but I believe that is just a "club headquarters".
    Perhaps I will check it out when I am by there sometime. it is about 20 miles from my house.
   My grandson is an armorer for the Marines and all the blades he has in his armory  (bayonets, "K-bars" and machetes) are all by Ontario...
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Offline Swamp Yankee

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Ka-Bar Quality
« Reply #8 on: November 02, 2005, 03:52:01 AM »
I have a 5" USMC knife #21250 that I bought about three years ago. I just checked the box and it says made in USA. Nice balance and holds a good edge, it's my favorite sheth knife..........Jim
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Offline NYH1

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Ka-Bar Quality
« Reply #9 on: November 19, 2005, 07:06:22 AM »
Go to Kabar's web site click on the knife you're looking at and scroll down, it will tell you where it was made!
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Offline Joel

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« Reply #10 on: November 19, 2005, 07:05:11 PM »
Thanks for that!!!  Nice to see the USMC fighting knives are still made in the USA.
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