Don't know the meaning of some of the knife terms on our site? Don't feel bad. We've been making knives for over a hundred years - we oughtta use at least a couple words you've never heard of.
Here are some definitions that might help you out.
Easy to sharpen, plain carbon steel used in knife making. Proven to be one of the most popular steels used in KA-BAR® knives.
A high-carbon stainless steel used in many American production knives.
Operated in the same building as Union Cutlery. R. Emerson Brown was president.
A cardboard backed clear-front packaging option that allows products to be hung on peg boards for retail merchandising.
Brothers Wallace and R. Emerson Brown are considered the founders of KA-BAR®. Brown Bros. was their first cutlery business.
A clear plastic packaging option that allows products to be hung on peg boards for retail merchandising.
The process of freezing blades to improve blade performance.
A high-carbon, high-chrome tool steel often used for blanking dies. This steel has excellent edge holding ability but is very difficult to process.
Son of Wallace Brown. President of KA-BAR® most notably during WWII.
A coating process that protects blades from corrosion and also makes them non-reflective.
A grind that tapers from the top of the blade down to the cutting edge. Also known as a "V" grind.
A tang that shows all around the handle of the knife between two pieces of handle material.
A longitudinal groove on the blade of a knife.
An extremely durable material made of woven fiberglass soaked in epoxy resin, then highly compressed and baked.
Also known as a gut hook, this blade shape is best for opening the flesh of game.
Material used to make sheaths and handles. Nylon is reinforced with glass particles and other materials to provide strength and durability while still allowing some flexibility.
Food and water approved polymer (plastic).
Also known as a hilt, is the piece of steel that separates the handle and the blade. Serves to keep the hand from slipping on the blade when cutting. Can be single or double.
The ground surface of the blade is concave. Used to create a fine cutting edge.
Referred to simply as Kraton® or Kraton G®, is a man made material resembling rubber that can be molded into knife handles. Provides a non-slip grip. Trademark of Kraton Polymers Group of Companies.
A folding knife that has a lock release on the back of the handle.
The price at which the manufacturer recommends retailers sell their product. Some sellers may sell above, at, or below this price. This is not determined by the manufacturer.
A man made material, made by layering resin and cloth. Used to make very fine knife handles. Westinghouse trademark.
An acronym for Modular Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment.
An acronym which stands for National Stock Number, a 13-digit number used to identify an item of material in the supply distribution system of the United States Government.
A process used to make shaped metal pieces. Fine metal particles are molded under pressure and then fused under high heat. Also known as sintered metal.
An industry scale used for measuring the hardness of blade steel. The higher the reading, the harder the steel. Written as HRC or RC followed by a range of numbers.
A high end stainless steel known for its edge retention and toughness.
Also known as a linerlock. A locking mechanism that features a tab cut out of the liner which is used as a stop to lock the blade in an open position. To close, the liner tab is pushed back to its original position.
A faux double edge on the blade of a knife. Excellent for reducing the weight of the blade and balancing.
Was created out of other failed cutlery companies. Wallace Brown would become head of the company shortly after its creation.
Thermoplastic Resin is used for making handles. On KA-BAR products like the Kukri #1249 it has a firm but still "giving" feel.
Trade name for hard plastic-like material used to make handles and other products requiring a more rigid stability.
The name that replaced the former Tidioute Cutlery Company.
The cutlery sales company of Wallace Brown.
A glass-filled nylon material used in making handles for knives. DuPont trademark.
