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KaBar 1207
- Thread starter osprey21
- Start date
Interesting. Im also used to seeing the Model 1207 with a stacked leather handle. Id 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.
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.
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2013
- Messages
- 6,161
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.
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.
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
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
- Joined
- Dec 6, 2012
- Messages
- 5,521
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. 
- Joined
- Jan 4, 2025
- Messages
- 6
I can tell you this. In 1976 I got one as my first hunting knife from a hardware store. It was a fantastic knife EXCEPT, the sheath was kinda thick but soft. It fit snug and the knife would cut the back edge if you weren't careful. Mine was stolen in 1985-ish and I couldn't find another USA one for sale. There are Chinese ones all over. Mine had a leather stack handle. I reached out to a Ka Bar collectors group and they kinda laughed when I told them what I was looking for. I finally found one from an elderly collector that who was selling his collection. I paid a good price for it BUT, it has never hit a stone and is like new condition. I am guessing yours is probably a bit rare since in the last 20+ years I have only seen a couple others with wood handles.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
