This Tactical Knife Might Have the Coolest Handle Treatment of the Whole Year

This trio of unique knives is what happens when a legendary brand teams up with an iconic designer.

Black KA-BAR knife blade with a textured, translucent black handle resting on a rough stone surface. The blade has a tanto-style tip and serrations near the handle. The text "KA-BAR OLEAN, NY" is printed in white on the blade.

Published August 14, 2025

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Updated August 14, 2025

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Knife handle materials are underrated. While the pointy end of a knife gets the most attention — it is the part that does the cutting, after all — the other side is just as essential.

Well, the folks at Ka-Bar have teamed up with legendary, award-winning designer Les George on a trio of tactical fixed-blade knives that focus more on the grippy part of the knife. The aptly named Ka-Bar George Cool Name might have the most interesting handle of the year.

Leave it to Les George, a USMC veteran and award-winning designer, to create a knife this interesting.

Ka-Bar

Bulletproof banger

Since I’m claiming that the handle is the star of the show here, let’s start on that end of the knife. The Cool Name is available in three configurations, all boasting the same handle treatment.

As you can probably surmise at a glance, the handle is semitransparent. That’s because of the material it is constructed from: polycarbonate. This material is fairly common in the knifemaking world, but this application has more in common with a different use you may have heard of.

Fixed-blade knife with a black tanto-style blade and a textured, translucent gray handle featuring circular patterns. The blade is marked with "KA-BAR OLEAN, NY." The knife is placed on a rough, multicolored stone surface. — The reverse tanto blade option is the solid middle ground of the three configurations.

Polycarbonate is the same material used in bulletproof glass. Obviously, that means it can be made transparent. But it also means it’s incredibly durable and shock-resistant, which is highly useful in tactical- and outdoor-focused fixed-blade applications.

The semitransparent handle also shows off the full tang blade sandwiched between its scales and whatever is beyond it, which is a neat stylistic flair.

Style and substance? Yeah, this knife has both. But wait … there’s more!

A fixed-blade knife with a black tanto-style blade and a textured, translucent gray handle resting on a rusted metal grid surface. The blade has the text "KA-BAR OLEAN, NY" printed near the handle. — The Sheepsfoot Cool Name has the longest edge and most aggressive styling of the trio.

Robust blade

Okay, so the handle is incredibly cool — we can all agree on that, right? But a good tactical fixie knife, a handle alone does not make. No stress; Ka-Bar and Les George have the rest of it covered, too.

The blade is built from 1095 Cro-Van steel, a house-made high-carbon steel that balances edge retention, ease of sharpening and toughness. And since the steel has a black finish, it also has a bit more durability and corrosion resistance than a bare steel option would otherwise.

Fixed-blade knife with a black blade and a textured, translucent handle featuring a honeycomb pattern. The knife is shown both with the blade exposed and sheathed in a black plastic sheath marked "KA-BAR." The blade has a drop point shape and partial serrations near the handle. — All three configurations come with their own Kydex sheath.

As mentioned, the knife also has a full tang — meaning the blade steel extends from the knife’s tip to its tail, increasing its stability, strength and more. It also benefits from spine jimping and a finger guard, both of which help grip and safety during tougher cutting jobs.

Finally, it needs to be mentioned that the blade comes in three shapes: drop point, reverse tanto and sheepsfoot. Although largely similar, there are some functional differences — the latter two have longer straight edges and more prominent piercing points.

You’ll have to decide which shape is right for you. Or … you could get all three and call it a day.

Hand holding a folding knife with a textured, translucent gray handle and a stonewashed tanto-style blade. The blade is marked with "KA-BAR" and "USA" near the handle. The background is a grassy outdoor area. — Depending on the model, the knives measure between 9.0 inches and 9.375 inches long.

Available now

All three versions of the Ka-Bar George Cool Name fixed blade — the drop point, sheepsfoot and reverse tanto — are now available on the brand’s site for just a nickel over $181.