KaBar 1207

[osprey21]

I picked this up at a garage sale yesterday. I've searched around and could not find anything on this model with this type of handle. I'm presuming it's a later model as I find production ceased in 1980 (?).

What can you guys tell me about it?

TIA

 

[sac troop]

Interesting. I’m also used to seeing the Model 1207 with a stacked leather handle. I’d be temped to describe your knife as a “Bright finished” 1209.

The 1207 and the 1209 were both popular PX bought knives during the Vietnam era. I believe the production time for both knives run pretty close to each other. Maybe someone can come up with some more information on this one.

 

[zzyzzogeton]

Every 1209 I have has a wood handle and every 1207 has stacked leather. That being said, I also noticed that this 1207 has fullers. I've seen 1207s with both fullered and unfullered blades, but all my 1209s are fullered.

The fullered versions of each have very similar blades. Since these two models were contemporaries, it might be that a few 1207 blades somehow got mixed up with a stack of 1209s and got wood handles. If so, a factory mistake that would be rather rare if that is the explanation.

 

[sac troop]

Maybe the 1209's are an early example of "tacti-cool"?

 

[sac troop]

Here's one I ran across today. Now I wonder what criteria is used before stamping 1209 or 1207 on the blade?

 

[Toooj]

Osprey,

You have a KA-BAR 1208. Same as the 1207 but with the brown Fibron handle instead of leather washer handle. Same as the 1209, except that the 1209 had a black Fibron handle and a phosphated blade.
Hope this helps.

Best Regards,

Paul Tsujimoto
Sr Eng
Prod Dev and Qual
KA-BAR Knives

 

[jimh0220]

Tooj to the rescue. You are the man!

 

[Tdhurl1103]

Lucky finds. I don't go to garage or yard sales much but when I do I always hope to run into KA-BAR there.

 

[okie 46]

Did they have 1207's in stag?