Just ordered a Cutco/Ka-Bar Explorer

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Huh... So the CUTCO and the Ka-Bar use identical steel, nearly identical design, and identical grips. So you are basically paying for the warranty. Well, for a company that's been in business for 60+ years, I'd like to think they honor their warranty well. Guess now it comes down to if I like the knife enough to justify keeping it. Checked their website, my order is still 'Pending'. I hate waiting :banghead:
 
So the CUTCO and the Ka-Bar use identical steel, nearly identical design, and identical grips.
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No

The CUTCO uses 440A while KaBar primarily uses 1095 tool steel in their fixed blade knives. CUTCO is probably focusing on stain/rust resistance.

There's a lot to be said for a bomb-proof warranty.
 
hso

I believe he is talking about the KA-BAR Next Generation ,which is 440A. About $65 street price.
They also make an identical knife in D2 .$85 street price (leather sheath)

Both made in USA, and are what the Cutco/KABAR he bought is based on.
 
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dayhiker,

The lit from Cutco says they used 440A in the Cutco Explorer knife. I hope he got the D2 KaBar version instead, but the Next Gen and the D2 Extreme F/U K has the fuller and slightly different clip point as well as different serrations from his pictured/described knife. Again, I do hope he got the D2, but if not he has the opportunity to refuse the knife and return it for a refund (which would be reasonable unless he's interested primarily in helping his relative out and not as much of the knife).

The CUTCO/KA-BAR Explorer features:

* A blade made from 440A high carbon, stainless steel for optimum balance between hardness, toughness and
corrosion resistance, and its ability to hold a sharp edge
* A full tang for added strength
* A durable sure-grip Kraton® handle
* An epoxy powder coating on the blade, guard and pommel for increased corrosion resistance
* A combination straight – and Double-D®-edge blade to maximize cutting ability
* A hole in the Pommel for a lanyard
* A leather sheath for safe storage
* 7 1/16" blade from pommel to tip
* 1 3/4" Double-D edge at the base of blade
* 12 1/16"overall length
* CUTCO’s Forever Guarantee
* Offered exclusively by CUTCO Cutlery

The CUTCO/KA-BAR Explorer is offered exclusively by CUTCO Cutlery. Made in America, the knife carries CUTCO’s well-known forever guarantee.
Click to expand...
 
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or something from someplace like RAT (ESEE) , that has the same warranty ( bombproof) at 1/2 the price......

or
Bark River.....
 
Sam,

In my opinion, NO cheap knives are a good deal (and "cheap" has less to do with price and more to do with quality).

I think our colleague may have paid too much when there are other equal or better knives at a lower price AND that we've probably spoiled the fun of getting a new knife for him.
 
hso: No spoiled fun from here, I enjoy the conversation that invariably arises. I aware that the price is a serious gawking point for many here, especially considering it's not from one of the "professional" brands that everyone (LEO's and mall ninjas alike) swear by, such as Spyderco, ESEE, Benchmade, etc. I was raised of the mindset that cost is not the issue, it's a discussion point. Value is the issue. A thing is only worth whatever a person is willing to pay for it, which is an assessment of it's value to them. People continually dump massive dollars into hobbies and passions, which will rarely at best be recouped in the event of a sale. I'm viewing the extra cost as an investment in that this knife will be fully backed by an established company and should be the last one I'll have to purchase. And also the fact that should I be less than satisfied, I can return it for a small 'stupid tax' and move on.

As far as updates: Finally received a notice from CUTCO that the knife has shipped, and should be in my hands by the 15th.
 
As far as updates: Finally received a notice from CUTCO that the knife has shipped, and should be in my hands by the 15th.
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Then we expect a full report on the 16th. :evil::D;)


especially considering it's not from one of the "professional" brands that everyone (LEO's and mall ninjas alike) swear by, such as Spyderco, ESEE, Benchmade, etc.
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Whew...good thing I am not a mall ninja or a LEO. I don't care for any of those brands.:D:eek:
 
B1gGr33n said:
No spoiled fun from here
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You could have at least pretended to be disenchanted...we tried so hard. Now you went and ruined it.
 
If I got disenchanted every time someone questioned my actions, I would have never left the safety of my fathers testicle. But here I am, the strongest and fastest amongst millions of competition, proudly proclaiming that I do know how to whimsically spend an honest days dollar... and 198 of his friends.
 
I aware that the price is a serious gawking point for many here, especially considering it's not from one of the "professional" brands that everyone (LEO's and mall ninjas alike) swear by, such as Spyderco, ESEE, Benchmade, etc.
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Not quite... what others have tried to tell you is that for what you paid you could have got a knife with better steel from other manufactures for the same or less $$$. 440A is not a quality steel for the purpose of that knife. For a small folder , perhaps.

I carry & use my Elishewitz folder , Rinaldi Matrix fixed blade , Blackwood Henchman fixed blade , Strider PT , Strider AR , Folts fixed blades , Simonich Crowfoot and Urban Raven.

Any time I have read a post on CUTCO it read like an informercial.
 
If I got disenchanted every time someone questioned my actions, I would have never left the safety of my fathers testicle.
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Dude, now that's funny.
 
Why is everyone so quick to knock 440A? I understand it's gotten a bad rep from the loads of cheap Chinese crap that comes around, but it's a very fine steel when properly worked. I work in the marine industry, specifically as a CAD for a contracting firm that designs plastic vessels. See our work here if you like: http://stanleywidmerassociatesinc.com/navy7meterseatrials/lakeosakismn.html

I do a lot of metallurgical study for my work, and have come to learn a great deal about stainless materials in general. While it's true that 440A doesn't have the 'edge holding ability' of the higher carbon 440C, it trumps it in it's ability to resist corrosion. Now honestly, I'm far less concerned about being in the woods and having to spend 10 minutes with a wet stone than I am about pulling my knife from it's sheath to find it covered in surface rust, or worse. And I've seen it happen. I have a decent collection of carbon steel blades in my kitchen arsenal, mostly Old Hickory and such, and I absolutely love them! But then I also have the comfort of knowing that once I'm done with them, they get tucked safely back into their drawer. This knife, or whichever one I try next if I don't like it, will not have that same treatment. It will spend much of it's time on my belt, exposed to the high humid heat and frigid damp cold that is MN.
 
Why is everyone so quick to knock 440A?
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Because in my opinion it does not fare well in a hard use knife.

Now I will admit I am hard on my outdoors knife.:eek: It is also my not-at-work-carry knife. I do not baby it, and when I am not carrying my hatchet I rely on it to do things a knife is not meant to do.

My knife is also stainless as I too prefer the corrosion resistance. So I am not a carbon steel only for rough use guy. But ,again in my opinion, you could have purchased a knife of higher quality stainless steel better suited for rough outdoors use.

Such as a Fallkniven A1 at @ $200.,I use the smaller F1. I can attest that the laminated VG-10 takes and holds a hair splitting edge,can take a serious beating, and will resist corrosion in the high humid heat and frigid damp cold that is New England.;)
 
It finally came! Unfortunately, there's no way I was spending more time outside than it took to walk to my car this weekend, so I've only been able to fondle and admire it. I can say it is definitely sharp! Tried shaving a little hair off my arm and ended up taking a little flesh lol Pictures to come with a full review soon!
 
Cutco Ka-Bar

Let Me tell y'all what I know from exp. I sold CutCo Cutlery. The high carbon stainless steel is graded 440A. Witch, if anyone knows steel grades, is the highest grade to give steel. The "Double D" cutting edge is a unique edge. It lets the knife do the cutting work for you. On the Ka-Bar it has the flat blade at the top and the "Double D" edge on the bottom. This gives you the best of both worlds. I have had mine for 9 years. Still sharp. Not cheap knives. Vector, the sales company, has a saying "A poor man can not afford a cheap knife. He can not afford to keep replacing the cheap knife". I hope that you enjoy your knife. The set I have is my "Demo" set that I bought in 2003. I love it and always will. THANKS CutCU.:)
 
The high carbon stainless steel is graded 440A. Witch, if anyone knows steel grades, is the highest grade to give steel.
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I don't know where you learned about grades of steel, but in this case "C" is much better than "A" as in 440C.
 
The high carbon stainless steel is graded 440A. Witch, if anyone knows steel grades, is the highest grade to give steel
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Before anyone swallows this, it is patently incorrect.
To paraphrase Joe Talmadge - The carbon content (and hardenability) of 440 series steel goes up in order from A (0.6-0.75%) to B (0.75-0.95%) to C (0.95-1.2%).
 
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Are Cutco Knives sold at sales parties. My Sister in Law bought a couple kitchen knives with interesting handles. I didn't ask her where she bought them. I figured mall store or some such. Maybe one of her neighbors was peddling them.
 
Let Me tell y'all what I know from exp. I sold CutCo Cutlery. The high carbon stainless steel is graded 440A. Witch, if anyone knows steel grades, is the highest grade to give steel.
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Amazing, the person who sells this stuff has absolutely no clue about steel, yet acts like they are the best ever.

Moral of the story: Don't always believe the salesperson, research before purchase.
 
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