Ka-Bar’s Sleeper-Hit EDC Knife Gets a Way More Affordable Workhorse Redux

Life is expensive these days. There’s no ifs, ands or buts about it. But if you’re patient and discerning enough to do your due diligence, it is still possible to find uncompromising gear for less.

Of course, it also helps when a worthy brand does the work for you. Take Ka-Bar, for example. This mainstay of the knifemaking community has just taken one of its sleeper-hit knives and transformed it into an extremely budget-friendly darling without sacrificing its status as a workhorse blade.

It’s called the Ka-Bar F01CV, and it could be your new favorite go-to EDC knife.

Ka-Bar

Budget beefcake

As mentioned, this is not a new silhouette. Rather, it is a revival of an existing knife. More specifically, it’s based on the State & Union F01 — a knife released under Ka-Bar’s USA-made sub-brand.

Now, it needs to be said that this new version is manufactured in the USA with German steel. However, it does share a lot in common with its high-end predecessor. Namely, they share the exact same silhouette and size specs.

Ka-Bar

Like the F01, the F01CV measures 7.25 inches in total. And it has a 3.25-inch drop-point blade. That blade also has a single-sided thumb stud manual deployment (with a recessed nail nick on the opposing side).

Furthermore, the handles are the same ergonomic shape, and the scales’ grip pattern is the same. Similarly, it has the same lockback mechanism, as well as a reversible wire pocket clip.

Ka-Bar

More for less, more or less

The differences between this knife and its progenitor lie largely in its materials and price. The F01 was a relatively high-end knife priced at $175, but this new edition shaves $100 off, bringing the price down to only $75.

Of course, that means some swaps for more budget-friendly materials. But remember: budget-friendly doesn’t necessarily mean inferior. The blade, for instance, is swapped from S90V to 1095 Cro-Van steel. While it’s not as premium, this steel is a time-tested workhorse that can withstand a lot of punishment and performs beautifully in an EDC context (and can handle some tougher outdoor use, as well).

The handle material has also seen a swap, from G-10 to Ultramid, a high-performance nylon-based polyamide. Again, in practice, users likely won’t notice the difference, but Ultramid costs less overall, while still offering great toughness, rigidity, and resistance to elements, chemicals and more.

There’s one other noteworthy change: the F01CV gets a blacked-out finish on both its blade and handle. Technically, that adds a bit more durability and wear resistance, but it also looks much stealthier and sleeker than its predecessor, which is a win for lovers of more aggressive knives and other gear.

Ka-Bar

Availability and pricing

The Ka-Bar F01CV Folder is now available on the brand’s site for just $75.

Ka-Bar

Ka-Bar F01CV Folder

• $75 at Ka-Bar

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