The "Next Generation" Ka-Bars were based on design modifications to the basic Ka-Bar advocated by the late knife writer Chuck Karwan as far back as the late 1980's in the now-defunct magazine Fighting Knives. Karwan's modifications included cutting off the top part of the crossguard and re-shaping the leather handle and pommel to allow use of a lanyard. He also desired the handle to be made of a modern synthetic material such as micarta or kraton, and the blade to be made of stainless steel. Such modifications were sometimes called "Kar-Bars" in his honor and Ka-Bar incorporated Karwan's modifications into their Next Generation.
They are a quality product, especially if you can find one in the less-common D2 steel (the A.G. Russell website might still have some) which is superior to the 440A that Ka-Bar used for most of the Next Generation knives.
