KaBar

KaBar

2008-present

When Camillus closed the doors and declared bankruptcy, Ethan bought back his name rights at the closing auction and headed over to KaBar. KaBar stated making the Becker knives with a smooth black power coating. This was later replaced with a very rough-textured, almost sandpaper like, black finish that is on most of the Becker line currently. When the coating type changed, they also stopped stamping the logos on the blade and they started laser etching them on. 

The stock nylon sheaths Kabar sends out with the blades are pretty top notch. While some people always knock the stock factory nylon sheaths, these sheaths are probably the highest quality nylon sheaths on the market. They are extremely functional, although not the most pleasant to look at. All the Becker blades except the bk2 and bk3 come with nylon sheaths. The early bk2 and bk3 had the recycled kydex sheaths left over form Camillus. Then Kabar manufactured their own thermoplastic type sheath for them. 

On some early examples of stamped bk7s and bk9s the stock sheaths didn’t have the molle compatible backing they do now. Something else to note about the sheaths: in the front flap they have a separate sheath that holds a Becker bk13. When Kabar started making Becker knives, a China-made bk13 came included for free with some models. Later production of the bk13 was moved to the US and became a separate knife for sale. However, the sheaths still come with the bk13 slot. These can be found on bk4, 5, 7, 9 sheaths. 

With the return of the bk2 to the Kabar line, the Campanion saw its return to .25” thickness. There are a few versions of the Kabar bk2. The first version was smooth coated and stamped with no pommel and no tang cuts under the handles. This version almost exclusively came with the old Camillus kydex sheath. The next version added the pommel and included the tang cuts. The current version is, of course, laser etched and has the rough texture finish. This blade is probably the top seller in the Becker line. 

The bk3 from Kabar is made to almost the same specs as the Camillus version. The KaBar is .25" thick. The Camillus came in at only .23" Early models that were stamped had the “BK-3” stamp located closer to the handles on the back side of the blade. That version is rare and seems to always be seen with the recycled Camillus kydex sheaths. 

The Machax came back later down the road and made an appearance in the Kabar line. Here, the bk4 would make some major changes from the last two not-so-good versions. The grind height would look very much like an old chrome-plated Cincinnati version. The thickness would now be .188” the thinest version yet. A non-sharpened false edge would be added, also making it look and feel more like an old Warrior model. Most of the old timers would say the original version is still the best. I kind of agree with that statement, but I personally don't like to compare them to each other. They are extremely different in wight, balance, and thickness. I absolutely love both of them, but I treat them as different blades used for different tasks. At the time of this witting, this blade has been discontinued, but can still be found for a good price ($50-$100). I'm betting in the years to come these are going to be rare and pricey on eBay. 

The bk5 Magnum Camp knife by Jerry Fisk was also a part of the Kabar line-up. It was discontinued the same time as the Machax. This version, as said in the pervious posts, has the most handle heavy balance of all three versions. Although it has the same .188” thick stock as the Camillus, the blade is ground thinner and is notably more flexible than previous models. 

Not much to say about the Kabar bk7. It is basically exactly the same as the Camillus model. 

 Photo 2018 KaBar catalog.

The kabar bk9 is different than the Camillus model. The saber grind has been lowered, but the biggest difference is that the thickness has changed from .21” to .188”. Ethan is no fool, he knows what he is doing. A lot of people sell Camillus bk9s for high prices on eBay because it's thicker stock. I have owned and worked with both quite a bit. I really think the Kabar version is better. It's not a big difference and believe me: you will be happy wielding either one of them. The question is asked a lot, if I can find a Camillus for the same price should I buy that instead? Absolutely not. If you're a collector: sure, maybe. If you want to use it then buy the one that comes with the warranty. 

The bk10 is almost the same as the Camillus, the saber grind has just been lowered ever so slightly. 

The becker necker bk11 has made a notable change when made by Kabar. The Camillus version was a high saber grind, while the Kabar is full flat. Another differencs is the Camillus comes in at .148" thick. the Kabar is .17" Because of this differences, people like to sell the Camillus version for higher prices. Again, I personally think the Kabar is the better version. The Kabar is ground down to a thinner edge, which I think works much better. 

Here is the bk13 Remora, we see the Becker Necker prototype design from the Camillus days reused. It has now been shrunk down to a smaller blade. It has five different variations. The first was the “Made in China” model (1st) with a flat grind, the second was the first USA model (2nd) in 440A with a hollow grind and some odd almost stippling on the handle. The USA model was clear coated instead of the black powder coat. The next one was the same without the stippling on the handle (3rd) and it still retained the hollow grind. The 4th was a clear coat with a water marked logo in 1095 crovan, the same steel the rest of the Becker line uses. Finally, the last and current edition is a 1095 crovan with the smooth black powder coating and laser etched logos.

The bk14 is a very handy alternative to the bk11. It is a joint collaboration between ESEE and Becker. It is a Becker bk11’s blade on the ESEE Ezula’s handle. Loads of people say the bk14 fits their hand better. However, it is almost the exact same size as the bk11.

Photo thanks to Knife Center

The bk15 was part of the three new becker knives with a new handle deign. Nick-named the “Tweeners,” because they were in between the full size and Becker Necker. The bk15 is just a shrunk-down version of the bk5. It was something Kabar made, not Ethan. It was not a very popular seller and was discontinued. They fetch high prices on Ebay now. 

The bk16 is the only tweener-sytle knife Ethan actually designed (it's the only one remaining and not discontinued: surprise, surprise). It originally came in a saber grind. There are very limited numbers of saber ground bk16s out there. They go for high prices on eBay.  Kabar started laser etching the logos on all Beckers so there was no need to have a flat spot to stamp on the blade. So Ethan asked them to make it flat. 

The bk17 is basically a saber ground bk16 with a Kabar fighting knife clip point. Ethan didn’t design it, it didn't sell well, it's now discontinued. 

The Reihardt Kukri makes its return in the bk21. This version is much more like the real Reihardt Combat Kukri. It's .188” thick and has the same edge geometry as the bk9. The Blackjack version was thin and lightweight, but this Kabar version is a beast! 

The bk22 is just the regular bk2 sold with a nylon sheath. The same sheath can be found on the bk10. 

The bk23 skeleton is a really stupid knife Kabar came up with. It's meant to look like a mini bk9, I guess. It's made in China. The steel sucks, the sheath sucks, the handle sucks. Ethan doesn't even like this one. Just skip it.

The bk24, or the D’eskabar is just a bk14 but made with D2 tool steel. Sadly it's now discontinued. 

The bk32 and bk39 are clear coat versions of the bk2 and bk9. That sounds like a good idea, but Kabar screwed it up. First they gave them awful neon green handles, then they put a massive water mark logo across the whole blade. Needless to say, they didn’t sell, they are now both discontinued. 

Photo thanks to Kabar.

Photo thanks to Kabar.

Specials

The first two specials I want to talk about are the bk10LE and the Kabar bk77. Kabar made these two limited blades from leftover Camillus blanks. The bk10LE was clear coated and came in a Camillus green nylon sheath, it really did have all the bells and whistles.... The bk77 from Kabar came with Kabar’s Becker micarta handles and a tan nylon sheath. Only something like 150 were made. 

The bk11SCM was a bk11 made out of san mai steel and made in Japan. Also called laminated steel, it's carbon steel sandwiched in between two stainless steel pieces on the outside. Makes for a really cool, unique pattern on every blade. 1,900 made. 

There were a few hundred of each first production run tweeners. They had smooth coating and were laser etched with Ethan’s signature. 

When Kabar discontinued the bk24, they sold a bunch to Knife Center. They were “sterile,” meaning they had no logo marks. The label of the box also marked them as sterile. Some of the ones in the sterile batches were factory seconds because the logos were messed up with a double stamp. 

For a very short time Kabar made serrated versions of the bk11 and bk14. The bk11 was an Amazon exclusive and was only sold with the micarta handles already included and a brown thermoplastic sheath. For the most part the bk14 came with the brown sheath as well, but I've seen a few with the standard black. If you see a brown sheath on a standard bk11 or bk14 it's a factory second. That's how Kabar has been selling them at shows.

The promo bk4 was only sold to the Beckerheads on Bladefourms. They were basically a first production run. They were smooth coated and had stamped logos. The regular production bk4 was only ever rough coated and laser etched logos. They came in marked PROMO edition boxes. 

Now for the coolest Becker specials Kabar has ever made: the bk20 and bk29. The bk20 Bundok bowie is Ethan’s take on a marine raider bowie. Only around 450 made. The only way to buy them was direct from Kabar in sets. These came out during the time the bk4 and bk5 were being discontinued. So the deal was buy a bk20 for $200 get a bk4 and bk5 included for free. It was a pretty amazing deal. Now about the bk29. The bk29 only exists because of a mistake Kabar made. The prototype of the bk20 was the bk29. John Moses, a Kabar designer, made the bk20 prototype with Ethan’s handle design and sent it off to him for improvements. Ethan in return made it into the bk20. Kabar got mixed up with which one they were suppose to make and ended up making around 350 bk29s by accident. Now because it's not really Ethan’s design, they named it after John Moses and called it the bk29 Moses Bowie. It was also sold in sets directly from Kabar. This time it wasn't as good of a deal, but still pretty amazing. It was sold with a bk5 and a Kabar snake charmer designed by Mike Snody. Also came with a lighter colored sheath and two different sets of green handles. In the writer’s opinion, the bk20 is the better blade. They are very similar, but the bk20 has more forward weight and a more forward sweet spot for chopping. This is due to the way less exaggerated clip. The positive note to the bk29 is that it has just a little bit more blade hight, so the edge is perhaps a very tiny bit thinner. The bk20 (top) the bk29 (bottom).

The next two I was not even sure existed until very recently. The bk2SG and bk3SG. The SG meaning serrated government just like the Camillus versions. I had heard Kabar was still making them after they took over from Camillus, I just couldn't find a photo until now to prove it. These are not available on the civilian market. Again, the only difference between the regular bk3 and the bk3SG is it's marked SG on the box. However, in the photos I have it seems like it may come with another form of MOLLE clip-like attachment that the regular bk3 does not have. 

NEW BK98 TUKO!

Kabar just released the bk98 for its 120 year anniversary. The bk98 gets its number from 1898 the year Kabar was founded. This is a limited run, only 120 made! Kabar did an amazing job and gave us everything we've been asking for. Premium S35VN stainless steel, stainless hardware, new bone linen micarta, Custom holstex sheath. I could not be happier with this blade.

The BK2FDE (flat dark earth) is apparently a new model. A few dealers have them and they are also a few on ebay. A few of the dealers said this is a limited run. Mass Drop was the first to have them. They said it was limited to 150. I don't think Mass Drop came even close to selling that many so perhaps the extras are the ones that are popping up all over the place. Still not 100% sure if this a new model thats sticking around or just a special.

*UPDATE* I asked Kabar and they told me the BK2FDE is a special limited run.

Prototypes

Kabar was at one time going to make a new version of the bk1 and bk6. They were going to be made in China out of 1085. It never happened. I know for a fact Ethan doesn't want any of his stuff made overseas. Nonetheless we have a few photos of the prototypes. Note the new grind on the bk6. 

UPDATE*** 

I recently got to hold these prototypes and wow not what I expected. The bk1 was thin and light. felt very much like a bk9. I don't care for the bk1, which is funny because a Blackjack brute was one of my first Beckers and  back then I was always advocating to bring it back. If kabar made this version of the bk1 it would be the best yet. It would probably perform very well. However, I now agree with Ethan's line of thinking. The bk9 would still be a better blade, so why bring back a blade thats not even as good? Especially if its going to be in non-superior steel made overseas.

The bk6 was so heavy! It was like swinging a bk21. Kabar did not thin the blade stock and with the saber grind it was hefty. I would love a new bk6 if it was thinned out to be a real machete. This prototype felt very off and unbalanced. 

There were many Tweener prototypes made, some with a different handle design, some in varying thicknesses. 

 Here are some bk16s prototypes. The top two are .165" thick and the the second is a hollow grind. The hollow grind is 100% kabar's idea not Ethan's. The Bottom two are .188" and the very bottom is also hollow

There was also a chisel ground necker prototype. Most of the early sheaths on the bk11 have the outline of it. Looks like Kabar jumped the gun on sheath production because this proto necker never happened. These are the only photos I can find of it. Far right mixed in with some more tweener protos. In the bottom photo it's on the top right. 

UPDATE*** Thanks to Ethan Becker I have a better photo to share!

There were also a few bk21 prototypes. They all had the same grind I believe, but had a few different thicknesses. 

Photo thanks to Official_KA-BAR 

Here is a preproduction sheath sample. Apparently it almost came with a leather sheath.

As said above, the bk20 prototype was the bk29. Here is a photo of all three. bk20 (top), bk29 (middle), bk20 prototype (bottom). 

Ethan Becker designed a folder and Kabar prototyped it. Rumor is only maybe 5 total were made. The reason this is not in production is because Kabar would have to make it overseas to keep the cost down and Ethan prefers his blades be made here in the good old US of A. Even if it was made here, the market is way to flooded with folders. 

Photo thanks to Moosez45.

New Prototype I had no clue existed until Ethan showed it to me.

The bk11 was originally going to be a saber grind. Here are two samples, one with serrations.