Ka-Bar KnifeEveryone must know the KaBar story already, since it’s only one of the most famous knives ever made in America, but here it is again: in the late 1800’s a customer of the Tidioute Cutlery Company of Pennsylvania wrote a letter of appreciation in regards to the Bowie knife he had recently purchased. Although the man’s handwriting was barely legible and the letter had seen hard times, company employees were able to make out that the happy trapper had used the knife to k*** a b*ar that had tried to kill him. The trademark name Kabar saw first use in the 1920’s, but became truly famous when the parent company won the contract for the standard issue Marine Corps military knife of WWII. Today Kabar still produces tactical knives, but sporting and work knives make up a large part of the product line.

Company History

Thirty eight immigrant cutlers who had learned their trade in the industrial center of Sheffield, England, settled together in one area of what is now New York and Pennsylvania, late in the 1800’s. The limited partnership they formed took the official name Tidioute Cutlery Company. By 1900 the company failed, but Wallace Brown bought the company’s physical assets and went into business as the Union Razor Company. As the company’s products increased in variety, the name changed to Union Cutlery. Union Cutlery’s tactical knife design developed for the U.S. military included the trademark stamp, Ka-bar, on the blade. Servicemen during WWII quickly associated the brand with quality and reliability, and by 1952 Union Cutlery submitted to public opinion and changed its name to Ka-Bar. Ka-Bar’s history hasn’t been all success, including a bankruptcy which forced a sale to Robinson Knife Company and then to Cole National Corporation. When Cole also failed, Ka-bar sold to Alcas Corporation of Olean, N.Y., the company’s current home.

Knives

Ka-Bar’s produces its most famous knife, the Ka-Bar USMC Fighting/Utility knife, in exactly the same style as the WWII knife, plus several other variations using the same basic pattern but newer materials like molded Kraton handles. The knife’s “do-anything” pattern makes it popular as a sporting or survival knife as well as military sidearm, strong enough to cut through a steel drum or hammer nails, and still able to neatly field dress a deer. Ka-Bar also makes fixed blade and folding hunting and fishing knives with a much less military look, as well as modern tactical folders featuring rugged lockbacks and one-handed opening. Ka-Bar acquired the assets and designs of Becker Knife & Tool and produces many popular Becker designs like the Becker Necker and the Becker Tac-tool.

Where to Buy


Ka Bar

Ka-Bar Besh Boga Neck Knife, Titanium Nitride | Womens Self Defense Dagger by Brent Breshara

The Ka-Bar Besh BOGA Neck Knife is the production version of a women’s self defense knife designed by Canadian Special Ops...
JT Hats
58 sec read

Ka-Bar Fillet Fishing Knife, Heavy Duty Kraton Handle | Industrial Stainless Steel Hollow Ground Blade w/ Sheath

Made in Olean, New York, the KA-Fillet Fishing Knife requires minimal care. Built for the roughest working conditions, the knife is...
JT Hats
59 sec read

Ka-Bar Neck Knife & Lanyard, Black BK11 | Becker Necker Fixed Plain Edge LDK Tactical

The 6-3/4-inch Becker Necker, now produced by Ka-Bar, seems a bit much to hang around the neck. Though it’s better suited...
JT Hats
1 min read

Bull Bob Dozier Knife by Ka-Bar | Clip Point Hunting & Survival Black Blade

Designed by Bob Dozier and produced in collaboration with Ka-Bar, the Ka-Bar Bull Dozier knife shows the forty years of knife-making...
JT Hats
1 min read

Ka-Bar Bobcat Folding Knife by Bob Dozier | Lockback w/ Black Plain Edge, Zytel Handle

Designed by Bob Dozier, marketed by Ka-Bar, and manufactured in Taiwan, the Bobcat Dozier from Ka-Bar looks much like Dozier’s larger...
JT Hats
1 min read

Ka-Bar Potbelly Hunting, Camping & Survival Knife | Adventure Gurkha w/ Zytel Handle 2-5600-4

If you’re looking for a heavy duty camp knife, hunting knife, and survival tool, stop here. Look no farther than the...
JT Hats
1 min read

Ka-Bar Baconmaker Adventure Recurve Knife Blade | Boar Hunter Magazine Steve Johnson 2-5601-1

One of three Adventure series knives released by Ka-Bar in 2010, the Ka-Bar Adventure Baconmaker satisfies anybody who likes a knife...
JT Hats
1 min read

Becker Knife & Tool Combat Bowie, Black BK-9 | Ka-Bar Survival Full Tang High Carbon Steel Blade

Becker Knife & Tool once produced a wide variety of survival knives built to the specifications of founder Ethan Becker, who...
JT Hats
1 min read

Ka-Bar Last Ditch LDK TDI w/ Pistol Grip | Tactical Law Enforcement Neck Knife

The smallest knife so far in the Ka-Bar TDI series, the Tactical Defense Institute LDK neck knife could actually be stored...
JT Hats
1 min read

Ka-Bar FIN Folding Knife, Tactical Black 5551 | Comes In Drop Point, Tanto, Serrated, Combo or Plain Edge

Ka-Bar made the FIN Folding Frame Lock Knife in both drop point and tanto blade styles and offered a choice of...
JT Hats
1 min read

Ka-Bar Tac Tool Becker BK3 w/ Machete, Chisel | Fixed Emergency SWAT Team Knife, High Carbon Steel

The Becker BK3 Tac Tool, now made by Ka-Bar, resulted from a collaboration between Ethan Becker of Becker Knife and Tool...
JT Hats
1 min read

Ka-Bar Desert Fighting Combat Knife | Fixed Combo Edge High Carbon Steel 2-5014-9

First produced by Ka-Bar in 2005, the Desert Fighting Knife came about because many military personnel serving in the Gulf region...
JT Hats
1 min read

Ka-Bar Extreme Combat Fighting Knife w/ Kraton Handle | Modified Bowie Fixed Blade D2 2-1282-6

This Extreme Fighting Knife from Ka-Bar works some important improvements into the classic Ka-Bar Marine Corps fighting knife design. If you...
JT Hats
1 min read

Ka-Bar Becker Campanion BK2 w/ Grivory Handle | Fixed Survival Emergency Knife, Full Tang

The Ka-Bar Becker BK2 Campanion brings back an older survival knife that became a collector’s piece after the original manufacturer —...
JT Hats
1 min read

LaserLyte Ka-Bar Gun Knife Collectibles | Tactical Black Steel Pistol Bayonet

Collector’s items aren’t limited to the knives that survive the ages — unique knives that come and go quickly also find...
JT Hats
1 min read

Ka Bar Bowie Knife, Black High Carbon Steel | Heavy Kraton Machete 1277

If you need a knife heavy enough for chopping wood, the Ka-Bar 14-1/4-inch Bowie could be a match. The tactical black...
JT Hats
1 min read

Ka-Bar Machete Cutlass w/ Leather Sheath | Black High Carbon Steel Blade

Ka-Bar’s Black Cutlass Machete reaches back to the roots of both designs, coming up with a new approach that works well...
JT Hats
54 sec read

Ka-Bar TDI Rig Police LDK Knife | AUS8 Stainless Steel Combo Edge w/ Cordura Ankle Sheath

Designed as an LDK or Last Ditch Knife for police, the TDI knife Rig from Ka-Bar comes in two sizes with...
JT Hats
54 sec read

Ka-Bar US Army Vietnam Commemorative Military Knife | High Carbon Steel Bowie Blade

First produced by Ka-Bar in 2006, the U.S. Army version of the Vietnam Commemorative Knife is the real thing, with a...
JT Hats
54 sec read

Ka-Bar Black Serrated Tactical Combat Knife | Full-Size Military Fixed Blade

This classic Ka-Bar military design has been only slightly modified from the original version, the mainstay fixed blade instrument of American...
Ken
1 min read

Miss A Army Kit Pocket Knife | NBC Today Show | Emergency Multi-tool | Makeup Fashion

Obviously I’m in favor of carrying knives, but not only for self defense. We all constantly run into circumstances that require...
Ken
48 sec read

Ka-Bar TDI Ankle Knife | Law Enforcement Self Defense Boot Blade

Designed for law enforcement use and with obvious features of interest to military personnel as well, civilians may do well to...
Ken
50 sec read

Full Tang Japanese Ninja Display Sword | Replica Combat Katana Stainless Steel

Buying a sword with absolutely no pedigree, like this replica Ninja sword that borrows as much from schools of kitchen cutlery...
Ken
56 sec read

Ka-Bar TDI 1480 Law Enforcement Knife | Stainless Steel Tactical Combat Blade

Yikes. An easily concealed belt knife created by John Benner of the Tactical Defense Institute, this small pistol-grip weapon is intended...
Ken
52 sec read

Ka Bar Black Tanto Knife | 2-1245-1 Tactical Full Tang Blade

Tanto blades look just plain dangerous, all angles and points and edges. They remind me a little bit of shark’s teeth....
Ken
1 min read

Ka-Bar US Army Fighting Knife | Tactical High Carbon Steel Blade

This classic fighting knife from Ka-Bar, first manufactured at the onset of WWII, has survived more than fifty years of industry...
Ken
1 min read

Ka Bar Black Kukri Machete Review | Wilderness Knife | Carbon Steel Blade

If I hear the name Ka-Bar I think of the tried and true fighting knife that’s standard equipment for U.S. Marines....
Ken
1 min read

Ka-Bar Next Generation Knife | ComboEdge w/ Sheath

So, is this really the “next generation” of fighting knives? There’s no doubt that it looks pretty intimidating. The next generation...
Ken
52 sec read

Ka Bar Warthog Knife #KB1247 | Black Fixed Blade, Nylon Sheath

This sturdy knife by Ka-Bar is made for many purposes. One of the first noticeable features of the Ka-Bar Warthog is...
Ken
28 sec read

Ka Bar USMC Combat Knife | US Marines | 100th Anniversary

Ka-Bar knife company, originally known as Union Cutlery Company, has been making a variant of this knife for over one hundred...
Ken
28 sec read