Ka-Bar

KA-BAR – Iconic Combat Knives from the USA

KA-BAR Knives, Inc. traces its origins to the Tidioute Cutlery Company, founded in 1898, and officially adopted the KA-BAR name in 1952. The company is now headquartered in Olean, New York.

The “KA-BAR” name—rooted in a legendary hunting incident—became a trademark in 1924. Its most iconic product, the USMC Fighting/Utility Knife, was adopted by the U.S. Marine Corps during WWII, earning its status as a combat and utility standard.

Today’s product line includes over 100 knives—fixed blades, folding knives, bowies, the Becker Series, and the EK-Commando editions. Production remains primarily in the USA, supplemented by manufacturing in Taiwan, China, and Mexico. In the late 1990s, KA-BAR became a subsidiary of the Cutco Corporation.