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Whether you are a soldier, hunter or survivalist, you need a knife you can depend on. You need a knife that will not fail you, when your life is on the line. Ka-Bar started out as U.S. Cutlery in New England about 1800. U.S. Cutlery was formed by a group of knife makers from England’s Sheffield Cutlery Industry. In 1897 the Tidioule Cutlery Company was formed in Pennsylvania by a group of 38 men. This group made its first sales in 1998 and is the beginning of Ka-Bar. Later the Tidioule Cutlery Company became CUTCO Products. Ka-Bar has been making knives for over 100 years. They are the standard of knives that resist corrosion, edge-holding ability and they are razor sharp out of the box. When your survival depends on your knife, the Ka-Bar® knife will not fail you and is backed by over 100 years of knife-making experience. In 1942 the Ka-Bar® knife was chosen by the U.S. Marine Corps. Later the Ka-Bar® knife was adopted by the Army, Navy, Coast Guard and Underwater Demolition Teams. The After World War II the knife has seen action in Korean, Vietnam, and Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom conflicts. Ka-Bar® military and tactical knives are the choice of most military men and women today. Ka-Bar doesn’t stop there as they make durable utility knives for hunters and outdoorsmen. Law enforcement has come to depend on TDI law enforcement knife. This TDI knife not only fills a utility purpose but scare the heck out of assailants. The Ka-Bar® knife is made in the USA and that is what is printed on the blade of every Ka-Bar® knife. At the beginning of World War II the Army and Marines were issued the World War I U. S. Mark I trench knife. This bronze or alloy handled trench knife incorporated a “brass-knuckle” finger guard. Being time consuming and expensive to manufacture the knife was difficult to secure in conventional scabbards and the thin blade was prone to breakage. The Commandant of the Marine Corps adopted the 1912C2 knife on November 23, 1942. The knife was originally issued to reconnaissance and engineering units and any U.S. Marine that carried a sidearm or pistol. It didn’t take long for the Marines to use this strong reliable knife for duties other than hand-to-hand combat. The knife was found to be useful for opening cans, digging trenches, cutting wood, roots, wire and cable. There are many stories of 2nd and even third generation soldiers carrying their father’s or grandfather’s Ka-Bar into combat. This writer has carried his father’s Ka-Bar for 9 years in the Marine Corps. It was carried into combat in Vietnam. My father’s knife was never used for hand to hand combat, but it was used daily for cutting, prying and even digging foxholes. I have this knife hanging on my wall in my den and it still looks great and holds a razor-sharp edge. Although this knife was never used for killing, I have used it to cut myself and my crew out of a crashed helicopter twice. I was able to cut seat and shoulder belt harnesses and puncture and rip the aluminum air frame. The Ka-Bar name has formerly been Ka-bar, KABAR and Kabar. The name originated from a fur trapper’s testimonial in the early 1900’s. It seemed that this trapper’s gun jammed leaving him only with his Ka-Bar® knife as a wounded bear attacked him. With his Ka-Bar® knife in his hand the trapper killed the bear. The testimonial letter that was sent to the company was not legible in some parts and they could only read “K a bar”. So honored by the testimonial they adopted the phrase KA-BAR as their trademark. Care of a fine Ka-Bar® knife is minimal. After use insure the blade is clean and dry. An occasional sharpening with a wet or dry stone keeps the 40° angle blade (20° each side) razor sharp. Although the knife has a stacked leather handle and should not be subjected to salt water use, it can be washed with dish detergent and well dried to preserve the knife after exposure. Today the famous USMC Ka-Bar® knife is not only carried by the military, but emergency workers worldwide. The CUTCO Products Company has manufactured anniversary knives engraved for all the military conflicts and the 9/11 tragedy, since its introduction in World War II. Doug Harper is the owner of SharperSafety.com.
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