Eskabar

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does he have any issue with the sheaths ka-bar sends with knives with is name on them? In my opinion you do have to factor in the cost of a new sheath with the purchase of the knife. Simple Kydex couldn't be much more expensive, but would be a huge up grade. I have emailed ka-bar, politely asking and have had no response. I would say there are others that feel the same way.
 
EsKabar + Izula

Motivated by DA's post on his Izula II, last evening,
I read several reviews and watched a couple of videos.

I've decided I want an Izula.
(Dang it, DA, why do you do these things! :p )

I slept on it before announcing it here,
but I awoke this morning feeling even stronger about it.

Not instead of an EsKabar, but in addition to it.
I have a set of experiments in mind for them.

I'm not sure yet if it's going to be an Izula I or II - it's a hand size issue for me (I have relatively small hands) - so I'm going to need to do more research on that. But that's OK: I've got time: I'm struggling right now to scratch together enough for the EsK, and will buy it first.

Fortunately, I'm expecting a cash flow increase "soon" (they never happen fast enough),
so I expect to have some blade funds available in fall, and I've got a birthday coming up. :D

And, I'm quite interested in what John S and company
are cooking up to be unveiled in a couple of months,
so this could easily become a triad. :rolleyes:

More on all this another day. Right now, I'm working on the professional steps to increase said cash flow.

And the boss yells, "Get off the Internet and get back to work!" :cuss:

(As I've mentioned before, I'm self-employed, and my boss is a slave driver.)
 
Nem, when you think about design evolution, remember that market pressures, not function, are the ultimate pressure.

sexual traits : survival :: market pressures : function

With the first portion referring to evolutionary biology and the second referring to knife evolution.

So remember... some features you encounter on a knife are the equivalent of a baboon's butt. :)

You can have a great knife that doesn't catch on, just like you could have a mutant that is incredibly fit for the environmental pressure in biological evolution - if that mutant doesn't look "sexy" to the available mates, the viability in the environment doesn't matter. Equally, in the short term, a sex characteristic that interests all the ladies will allow a subpar specimen (subpar from an adaptability standpoint) to proliferate profusely.

Over time an equilibrium is reached, or the entire line can die out.

I'm sure you are familiar with the sexy son hypothesis. Some brilliant knife designers know full well they have designed a great knife but to market it to the crowd that wants trendiness and hype, they have to add that "something more." Sometimes these get perpetuated and incorporated in the long term (as a goofy feature serious knife people can ignore... or not), but often they don't last that long even though they sell a lot at first as the next big thing.
 
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While looking for size comparisons between EsKabar v Izula I and II handles (I want to know if Iz I handle is identical in total length to Eskabar, because the Iz II handle is reportedly 1/2" longer than the Iz I), I found that video I mentioned a while back about the dude whittling a (near) 4x4" in half in five minutes with an Izula, and it maintains a very good edge. It's here.
 
Conwict, thanks for adding that to the discussion in such interesting terms for this evolutionist.
I respect your opinions for a bunch of reasons, and this one included.

I want to reread your post above and reflect on it some before responding.

For now, I'll just say that I agree 100% with this:

So remember... some features you encounter on a knife are the equivalent of a baboon's butt. :)
Click to expand...

:cool:
 
does he have any issue with the sheaths ka-bar sends with knives with is name on them?
Click to expand...

Already been pointed out that KaBar has changed the sheath to address the concern about dulling the knife. As to the design, it is compromise between utility and cost. Kydex is actually much more expensive. The current sheath provides a safe and secure way to carry the knife in a number of ways. It is not a compact neck knife sheath, but then that wasn't the goal. If kydex wasn't more expensive the aftermarket sheaths wouldn't be expensive. Add $10 to the price of the EsKaBar and people would be put off.
 
"Already been pointed out that KaBar has changed the sheath to address the concern about dulling the knife." - hso

There...third times the charm. ;)

Haven't carried the wrapped EsKabar yet but do like the way it feels in the hand. I have long fingers and a wide hand so it needed some help.
 
Does anyone have a link to the sheath update? I would like to see a pic or something, just out of curiosity. Can't seem to find it via Google. Thanks.
 
Once again, they changed the material. You won't see any difference.

BTW, there isn't a link that I'm aware of. I got the information talking with E and Tuj at the KaBar booth at Blade and then again with E later. If there's anything on the net at this point, I don't know where it resides, but the Becker forum at Bladeforums is a good bet.
 
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And of course, I'll need to compare
the EsKabar and Izula
to the ESEE 3.

All the blades are ~ 3" (2.88 - 3.375),
even if with different accoutrements,
but in the same realm of capabilities.

Dang; I can see this is going to be
an expensive experiment. :scrutiny:
 
Why not a literature search and compendium of research from reputable sources and save some money? Not as much fun, but a common publication count approach.
 
Add $10 to the price of the EsKaBar and people would be put off.
Click to expand...

Anyone with the old including myself had to add at least 10 for a new one, bit catty but just saying. Well I am glad they fixed the problem I wonder if they have changed their designs and materials on some of their others, like the BK2.
 
Okay, fair enough.

But everyone kept saying changed the sheath, not the sheath material! :)
 
Keep prodding them and they may change the design like they changed the material. Heck, they now offer scales because folks asked, they may offer a second minimalist sheath folks can purchase separately if they get asked enough.

I'd encourage telling them, since they are selling scales to augment the Eskabar that everyone would be happy to pay for an inexpensive neck sheath for that would fit the Eskabar and the Bk11.
 
Just got off the phone with Paul Tsujimoto. Paul explained that like many companies they get suggestions for changes to products each week. KaBar reviews them and appreciates the input. Unlike many companies they actually like to see the involvement of fans and innovators that mod their products or make sheaths and other new accessories to support the community of customers. That's something you don't see from a lot of companies. Instead of taking business away from those folks who keep the community interesting and lively Paul says they'd rather point customers to folks making new and interesting items. In the case of sheaths, he says there are a number of folks that love their products who make good sheaths that they think serve the community better than they would by producing an alternate sheath.

Strange that a company would pass up making a buck because it would take money away from small guys serving the community making those items (I'm sure if they could do it cheaper and demand was high enough KaBar would step in and provide those products, though).

Anyway, they'd rather the small makers providing leather and kydex fill that niche than KaBar. I have seen that sort of behavior out of companies big enough to just want to focus on their strengths and not get into what a smaller provider can do.
 
Strange that a company would pass up making a buck because it would take money away from small guys serving the community making those items (I'm sure if they could do it cheaper and demand was high enough KaBar would step in and provide those products, though).

Anyway, they'd rather the small makers providing leather and kydex fill that niche than KaBar. I have seen that sort of behavior out of companies big enough to just want to focus on their strengths and not get into what a smaller provider can do.

Exactly. Very well put. That is one of the reasons I own more than one and less than 10 Ka Bars. They are a great American company which is focused on their customers and ancillary companies. By no means a predatory retailer, which seems to be the norm, predatory retailers, that is......
Also, think back on the companies that have moved beyond their strengths and have failed miserably: Tyco, Enron, WorldCom, Lehman, Conseco, Bear Sterns . There are hundreds more.

Jim
 
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