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KA-BAR Tanto Short Fighting Knife – Badass Knife of the Week

January 21, 2019 / Tim / 0 Comments

The KA-BAR is one of the most iconic knives ever (as evidenced by its inclusion in our post on the 20 Most Iconic Knives). It has a very familiar look and feel, but KA-BAR decided to give it some upgrading in materials, a smaller size, and a fancy new blade.

The result was the KA-BAR Tanto Short Fighting Knife.

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This knife has all the bones of the classic KA-BAR but in a more compact size. Instead of the massive 7-inch clip point blade, the Short Fighting Knife has a 5.25-inch tanto blade. The smaller size and tanto blade profile offer more versatility in finer tasks without being too small for work around the campsite.

KA-BAR Swabbie – Badass Knife of the Week

October 29, 2018 / Tim / 0 Comments

A few years back, the zombie craze took the knife world by storm. No company upped the zombie killer game better than KA-BAR.

Although the fad has mostly died out, one knife from the KA-BAR Zombie Killer collection remains a fan favorite — the KA-BAR Swabbie.

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The Swabbie is a long fixed blade that’s based off the curved short sword known as the scimitar. The blade stretches 12.5 inches and is made of 1095 Cro-Van steel, a popular steel among KA-BAR fixed blades. The scimitar blade shape is surprisingly versatile with a deep slicing belly and a piercing point.

KA-BAR BK16 Short Becker – Badass Knife of the Week

September 24, 2018 / Tim / 0 Comments

You’d be hard-pressed to find someone better at making functional outdoor fixed blades than the great Ethan Becker.

Just take a look at the KA-BAR BK16 Short Becker, for example.

The Short Becker is a moderately sized fixed blade you can feel comfortable taking on all your outdoor adventures.

KA-BAR Introduces First Flipper in the Mark 98

July 6, 2018 / Tim / 3 Comments

Nearly two decades after Kit Carson popularized the flipper tab in folders, KA-BAR is finally getting in the flipper game with the Mark 98.

The KA-BAR Mark 98 is a beefy knife with a design that echoes some of the brand’s fixed blade offerings. The spear-point blade is 3.5 inches — complete with a fuller to help cut down on the weight of the knife. It doesn’t do much, however, as the weight is about 5.6 ounces. Also, the steel is 5Cr15, so don’t expect it to hold an edge for too long.

The handle is made from durable G-10 with colors that remind users of other KA-BAR knives, including the iconic fixed blade.

KA-BAR MULE – Badass Knife of the Week

June 11, 2018 / Tim / 0 Comments

Some companies make knives that should be kept in a safe, only brought out under dimmed lighting and handled with gloves. Other companies, like KA-BAR, make knives that are meant to be worked and beaten mercilessly.

The perfect example of this kind of knife is the KA-BAR MULE.

Standing for Military, Utility and Law Enforcement, the MULE is the very definition of a workhorse knife. It features a sturdy 3.875-inch black-coated blade made from functional AUS 8A stainless steel, a reliable lockback mechanism, and a nearly indestructible black Zytel handle.

But we’re getting a little ahead of ourselves. KA-BAR describes this heavy-duty tool as the folding knife’s answer to the traditional KA-BAR fixed blade. While no folder can ever compare to a fixed blade as storied as the KA-BAR, the MULE has proven time and again that it can take pretty much anything you throw at it.

KA-BAR Introduces ‘State & Union Knives’ Custom Shop

May 3, 2018 / Tim / 0 Comments

Sunday marked the 120th anniversary of KA-BAR.

To celebrate the momentous milestone, KA-BAR had a few goodies up its sleeve. We already covered the well-made documentary series about the long and complicated history of the company.

Then, they released some commemorative KA-BAR models with a 120th Anniversary logo laser-engraved on the blade. There’s the U.S. Army, USMC, USN, and Dog’s Head models.

That wasn’t all KA-BAR announced, however.

KA-BAR is paying homage to its past by introducing State & Union Knives. The internal shop will allow the company to once again create hand-finished custom designed knives in Olean, New York.

Watch ‘The KA-BAR Story’ Series

April 26, 2018 / Tim / 1 Comment

KA-BAR the company is celebrating its 120th anniversary on April 29th. In honor of its amazing longevity, KA-BAR dove deep into the history of the brand — from inception in the late 1800s all the way to today.

This deep dive culminated in a four-part documentary series released over the past few weeks on the KA-BAR YouTube channel.

These four videos are exceptionally well-made and track the company through the decades as it responds to major events in U.S. history. KA-BAR got some actors to play historical figures in the company that really help you visualize the company.

I wrote my own brief history of the KA-BAR brand and a closer look into what makes the company so great a few years back. But even I learned a few new things about the brand from the video. For example, I’m glad the company didn’t keep the name Tidioute Cutlery.

I would have liked this documentary better had it been released as one video (since you get a minute intro at the beginning and about four minutes of credits at the end of each video).

KA-BAR BK11 Becker Necker – Badass Knife of the Week

February 19, 2018 / Tim / 0 Comments

Ethan Becker is a savant whose knowledge and eye for design knows no bounds.

Becker, who underwent an extensive cooking apprenticeship early in life and later became the author of Joy of Cooking, founded Becker Knife & Tool in the early 1980s to create some of the best outdoor knives around. To say he succeeded undersells Becker’s achievement.

When he teamed up with KA-BAR to bring his knives to a wider public, people everywhere were able to experience the joy of Becker knives firsthand.

That’s the case with the KA-BAR BK11 Becker Necker.

KA-BAR Jarosz Folder – Badass Knife of the Week

October 30, 2017 / Tim / 0 Comments

Jesse Jarosz designed his very first knife in December 2009, a process he described as not knowing what he was doing. By 2012, he won “Best New Maker” at the USN Gathering. More than five years later, Jarosz has become one of the top knifemakers around.

And our latest Badass Knife of the Week is the perfect representation of his work.

KA-BAR teamed up with Jarosz to bring the quality and design of his custom Model M75 Tetrad to the masses in the production model simply called the KA-BAR Jarosz Folder.

Here is a quick video overview from Everyday Commentary:

This moderate-sized folder features a 3.5-inch blade made from AUS-8 stainless steel, which can rival some of the best steels when treated right. This version comes with the versatile but always dependable drop point blade profile, but it’s also available in a tanto version.

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It opens via dual thumb studs and stays locked with a liner lock. Jimping along the spine allows for more nuanced control when you need better control.

KA-BAR Folding Dozier – Badass Knife of the Week

July 10, 2017 / Tim / 0 Comments

Most people think you can’t get a reliable and high performing EDC without selling a kidney on the black market. The Badass Knife of the Week proves otherwise.

The KA-BAR Folding Dozier is a hard-working budget folder from one of the great knifemaking minds of the last few decades.

Bob Dozier has made thousands of knives over his career and nearly left knifemaking after feeling burned out. But he eventually returned to the craft with a new philosophy: making basic hunting knives using high-quality materials at reasonable prices for those who will actually use them.

That philosphy manifests itself in the Folding Dozier from KA-BAR. This folding hunter features a 3-inch blade made from AUS 8 stainless steel and utilizes Dozier’s award-winning lockback design.

Here’s a good video overview from SpartanJohns:

The knife in the main image features an oval notch for easy one-handed opening and a clip point blade. But it also comes in a drop point blade design with thumb studs.