You've got questions. We've got answers. Below are the answers to some Frequently Asked Questions that you may find helpful.
Still looking for an answer? Submit your own question.
We're sorry for the inconvenience. We've found that laws in many countries won't allow or make it very difficult to ship knives directly to retail consumers within their borders. Still, we want to help you get the KA-BAR product you want. For a referral to a retailer in your country, please email info@ka-bar.com.
Unless you received multiple order confirmation emails (including order numbers), these are most likely not actual charges, but pending authorizations. You may see multiple pending authorizations on your account if you attempted to process an online order multiple times by hitting the "submit" button. Even if your order was not processed, you may still see a pending authorization on your account. A pending authorization is a hold on a payment account and is not a true charge. The pending authorization on your credit card account allows KA-BAR.com to ensure the account is valid and has the necessary funds to process your order. Your payment method is not charged until we ship your order. The release of an authorization may also appear as a refund on a credit card statement, or the pending authorization may be deleted from the account entirely. The void may take 7 business days, or longer, to appear. This is at the will of your card issuing bank, not KA-BAR.
There are three parts you are going to need: the screw, the rubber washer, and the barrel fastener. The screw and the barrel fastener connect; however, the rubber washer needs to be sandwiched in between. To attach the three, place the clip on top of the sheath, then place the rubber washer in between the clip and the sheath. Insert the screw into the hole in the sheath, then through the rubber washer and finally through the metal clip and into the barrel fastener. This Clip can also be used on the #1480/#1482/#1485/#1477CB.
The Tanto shape is versatile and durable and can be used for most general purposes.
All of the KA-BAR knives that have the classic oval-shaped handle (i.e. leather and Kraton®) have a full length, narrow tang. The leather washers or Kraton® handle is slid over the tang and a metal pommel is pressed onto the end of the tang. The pommel is then cross pinned with a stainless steel pin.
KA-BAR will do its best to send out free replacement fasteners for any current product. Please contact us for more information. If you reside outside the United States, there may be a $5 shipping and handling fee. We will send you an email if we need to collect payment information or if we are unable to fulfill your request for parts.
Since the blades are the same and serrations are added as a final process, both the straight edge and serrated edge Kraton® handled KA-BAR Knives are marked "1211" at the tang. This also applies to Item #1213 and Item #1214.
KA-BAR knives do not contain lead. The snaps in some of the sheaths sold with our knives may contain trace amounts of lead. In order to comply with some state laws, KA-BAR is required to mark its products shipped with these sheaths with a lead warning sticker.
The USMC knife was originally designed with the tang slightly offset. There were several reasons for this:
1) The offset tang put the handle more in line with the tip of the blade.
2) The raised offset tang allowed more room for the fingers on the underside of the handle.
If one looks carefully at WWII vintage knives, you will see the offset but it was not as pronounced. The handle cross-section was rounder back then. KA-BAR has made the handle more oval which makes the offset more visible these days.
While the KA-BAR leather sheaths are set up primarily for right-handed users, almost all the hard plastic sheaths we offer are ambidextrous.
We're sorry, the United States Air Force has a policy against using its name, logo or acronym on any weapons. Unfortunately, that includes KA-BAR Knives.
NY, MA and CA do not allow sales of double-edged knives. While there is some debate over what constitutes a double-edged knife, the consensus is that it includes any knife with both the top and bottom edges sharpened in any way. MA and NJ do not allow Slingshots.
There are various organizations whose sole purpose is to protect knife owners. You may do well to consult kniferights.org or the American Knife and Tool Institute.
There are some items we're looking to add to our official collection and we appreciate you thinking of us. Please send detailed information about your knife to info@ka-bar.com. We'll let you know if your knife is something we're looking for.
Thanks for thinking of us. There are some items we're looking to add to our official collection. Please send detailed information about your knife to info@ka-bar.com. We'll let you know if your knife fits the bill. Remember, with every knife there is at least one story worth telling.
If the blade of your knife is marked with a four-digit code, you may be able to find it on the list here. If you can't find a product code, we may be able to help you identify your knife using photos. Please shoot both sides of the blade, note any unique markings, measurements, etc, and send it to info@ka-bar.com. Please allow a couple weeks for a response... sometimes these things are really tough to pinpoint.
We don't assess current values. We recommend you review eBay listing to check their market value. You may also be able to find information on KA-BAR knives in reference books like those written by Bernard Levine.
KA-BAR is the current, official spelling of our name. But we're an old company and over the years Ka-bar, Ka-Bar, Kabar, and KABAR have all been used. Wondering where a name like KA-BAR comes from? Read a little bit about it here.
Our shipping exclusions result from complex laws subject to frequent changes that are often not made public in these restricted areas. As much as we would love to ship to these locations, we do not dictate local, state, or national policy and must remain compliant. We suggest contacting your local political representation in your respective location on these matters. Please visit kniferights.org for more resources on knife laws.
International customers can find KA-BAR dealers in their nation at the following page.
We support several worthwhile causes. If you have a cause or event you would like us to consider, please submit detailed information to info@ka-bar.com.
There are some items we're looking to add to our official collection and we appreciate you thinking of us. Please send detailed information about your knife to info@ka-bar.com. We'll let you know if your knife is something we're looking for.
Thanks for thinking of us. There are some items we're looking to add to our official collection. Please send detailed information about your knife to info@ka-bar.com. We'll let you know if your knife fits the bill... or if it would be better passed down to the next generation of your own family. Remember, with every knife there is at least one story worth telling.
Please submit all requests to media@ka-bar.com. Also, please understand that we get asked for freebies a lot (understandably so, our knives are awesome) and have a very limited budget for such requests. If we don't honor your request for some reason, please try back another time.
Please reply with the business name, URL directly to the KA-BAR products and your telephone number. Once received, we will get you added to our “Where To Buy” section. Please keep in mind, we ask that at least 25% of KA-BAR products be represented to be included in our “Where to Buy” section.
At this time Vector sales reps are generally not permitted to sell KA-BAR branded products. Multiple CUTCO®/KA-BAR® products can be sold through Vector sales reps. For more information on these items please contact your field sales manager.
Before you send ANYTHING, please contact us at info@ka-bar.com to request official legal documentation. And remember, we plan our products several years in advance. If you don't hear from us or if we politely decline the submission, please understand we are just booked solid for the time being.
Thank you for your interest. At this time, KA-BAR is referring newly interested dealers to our network of reputable distributors. : If you are interested in selling KA-BAR products through your retail store, please email info@ka-bar.com for a list of current distributors' contacts.
The process of compiling, compressing, shaping, and coloring the leather washers used to create the traditional KA-BAR knife handles is best left to the experts. Still, if you have the proper machinery and would like to give it a shot, we do offer a handle kit (Item #1217HC) which can be seen/purchased at kabar.com/p/1217HC. If you prefer to place your order over the phone, call us at 1-800-282-0130. Our hours are M-F 8 am to 4:30 pm ET.
If the product has not been used and is in the original packaging you may return it for credit within 30 days from the date of receipt. Please send it to KA-BAR, ATTN: Returns, 200 Homer Street, Olean, NY 14760. Include your name, contact information, and telephone number in the package. We recommend you insure the returned package for the full retail value, in case something happens to it in transit. Once received, we will issue the applicable refund to the original payment method.
KA-BAR will do its best to send out free replacement fasteners for any current product. Please provide your full name and mailing address by sending an email to info@ka-bar.com. If you reside outside the United States, there may be a $5 shipping and handling fee. We will send you an email if we need to collect payment information or if we are unable to fulfill your request for parts.
All final edges are put on by hand at the factory. We aim for approximately 40 degrees inclusive (20 degrees per side) for most of our fixed-blade knives. On our site, the sharpening angle for a particular knife can be found in the Technical Specs section under "Edge Angle." The angles can also be adjusted by the end-user based on preference and sharpening system/sharpening method.
1) General Care:
a) Store in a dry location.
b) Oil periodically.
c) A coating of wax is not a bad thing.
d) Wipe down periodically with a clean cloth to keep mildew and mold off of the surfaces.
2) If leather gets wet:
a) Dry the leather naturally in air. No ovens, hair driers or other artificial heat source.
b) Once dry, oil the leather surfaces. There are many good leather oil/conditioner products on the market.
c) Once the oil has absorbed into the leather, it will darken. Wait until the leather starts to lighten and then wax the leather surfaces. Again, there are many leather waxes on the market. Even car wax will work.
3) If leather gets dirty:
a) Wash off dirt with a leather or saddle soap. Dry.
b) After leather is dry, oil and wax.
4) Storage and handling of leather products:
a) Store in an area that has stable heat and humidity. Not too dry or too wet. Both conditions are not good for leather. Too dry is better than too wet as oil can restore dry leather while wet leather rots and degrades.
b) Handle leather products often. Oils from your hand will help condition the leather. The leather will take a nice patina from usage.
Unfortunately, we do not offer sharpening or repair services in our warehouse. We recommend using an Arkansas stone or commonly available sharpening system. The knives can easily be touched up using a coarse or hard stone. When bringing back a very dull edge, a coarse or hard stone should be used first, followed by a finer, softer stone. Knives made with D2 steel or Magnacut require diamond or ceramic sharpeners. Knives should at no time be sharpened on a belt sander or bench grinder. These machines ruin a factory-sharpened edge.
The link below is an instructional video made by a KA-BAR Designer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hr5lbwFJo_U
If you prefer not to do this yourself, you may search for someone local. Unfortunately, we do not have a referral in your area.
If knives are exposed to salt water, wash with mild dish detergent, rinse with tap water, then wipe with a dry, soft cloth. A light coating of oil is also a good idea.
Treat clean blades with a light coating of mineral oil before storing. Store knives in a dry area out of their sheaths, preferably in the cardboard sleeve provided at the time of purchase.
If you do not have the original cardboard sleeve, or if one was omitted, cut a piece of cardboard double the width of your blade, fold it in half, and staple it together.
We don't offer repair or refurbishing service. Please contact info@ka-bar.com for referral services. You also may have some luck searching online for a local shop or repairman.
No. Our warranty advises against throwing knives and batoning with them unless it is specifically designed for the task. These endeavors rarely end well!
Wipe KA-BAR knife blades after use with a dry, soft cloth. Rinse with tap water and dry thoroughly. A light coating of oil is also a smart idea.
Agh! We hate that and we're sorry for the trouble. Please contact Customer Service at 1-800-282-0130 FREE for assistance. We're open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 to 4:30 p.m. EST. If you have troubles after hours, please email us at info@ka-bar.com and we'll get back to you as quickly as possible.
We love hearing stories from our customers and we review each testimonial thoroughly. If you don't see yours online, it may just be a delay in approving it before it goes live. Please allow a couple weeks for us to process your submission. And be aware - crass language and inappropriateness will not be posted on the site. We keep it classy here.
Unless you received multiple order confirmation emails (including order numbers), these are most likely not actual charges, but rather just authorizations. You may see multiple authorizations on your account if you attempted to process an online order multiple times by hitting the "submit" button. Even if your order did not process, you may still see an authorization on your account. An authorization is a pending charge or hold on a payment account and is not a true charge. The authorization on your credit card account allows KA-BAR.com to make sure the account is valid and has the necessary funds available to process your order. Your payment method is not charged until we ship your order. The release of an authorization may also appear as a refund on a credit card statement, or the authorization may be deleted from the account entirely. The void may take 7 business days, or longer, to appear. This is at the will of your card issuing bank, not KA-BAR Knives, Inc.
KA-BAR introduces new products all year long! To get new product news first, be sure to sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Facebook and Instagram !
We print our full-line trade catalog once a year, usually in January.
Occasionally we'll offer items online that are limited in production, are being offered only to retail consumers, or that we happened to find during our last inventory count (warehouse finds!) Be sure to check our clearance section often for special deals and keep your eyes open when shopping at KA-BAR.com for items you can only by direct from us!
While the KA-BAR leather sheaths are set up primarily for right-handed users, almost all the hard plastic sheaths we offer are ambidextrous.
KA-BAR knives do not contain lead. The snaps in some of the sheaths sold with our knives may contain trace amounts of lead. In order to comply with some state laws, KA-BAR is required to mark its products shipped with these sheaths with a lead warning sticker.
For ease of placement on and removal of the unit from the belt, the #1480 Original TDI knife (and all other similar styles) is now sold only with the metal belt clip attachment option. The plastic backer piece with slots that required you "thread" the sheath onto the pant belt is no longer manufactured.
We're sorry, the United States Air Force has a policy against using its name, logo, or acronym on any weapons. Unfortunately, that includes KA-BAR knives.
None of the products currently offered by KA-BAR are recommended for extensive use under water. Please read more in our Knife Care, Repair and Warranty section on what to do if your knife happens to get wet.
If the product has not been used and is in the original packaging you may return it for credit within 30 days from the point of purchase. Please include within the original packaging a note with your name, contact information, including a telephone number and email address, and the reason you are returning the item. KA-BAR Customer Service will contact you for further information regarding your refund once the item has been received at our facility.
