The KA-BAR Manufacturing Process
Crafting a high-quality KA-BAR product requires the expertise of skilled artisans who perform various precise and skillful processes. Each knife goes through specific manufacturing procedures to ensure resistance to corrosion, strength, excellent cutting ability, and a razor-sharp edge right out of the box. Here are some of the key manufacturing processes:
Blanking
With the help of a 100-ton press, KA-BAR can produce around 9,000 blades in a single day.
Heat Treating - Belt Oven
To initiate the three-step heat treat process for stainless steel blades, KA-BAR first passes the blades through a 70-foot conveyor oven, which takes approximately 1 hour to complete a cycle.
Cryogenic Quenching
As the second step in the three-phase heat-treat process, KA-BAR freezes its stainless-steel blades cryogenically at -120°F (-84°C) to optimize their performance.
Tang Stamping
This is a common practice to mark a product’s manufacturer, country of origin, and item number.
Tempering
By subjecting stainless steel blades to a 7-hour tempering process in a walk-in oven, KA-BAR enhances the toughness of the steel. The is the last step in KA-BAR’s well-known three-phase heat-treat process is tempering.