KA-BAR Folding Hunter

KA-BAR is undoubtedly best known for its fixed-blade combat knives, as originally adopted by the US Marine Corps in 1942. However, the company also makes some very impressive folders, too.

Oh yes

The KA-BAR Folding Hunter is a good-sized tool that is big enough to be effective, but small enough to be convenient to carry. The 3.88” 420 stainless steel blade is a clip-point design, and at 2.5mm thick on the spine, it is very strong and rigid. A nice section of jimping on the spine ensures your finger doesn’t slip when putting pressure through the blade.

For ease of opening, the blade shows an ambidextrous thumb stud and a long nail nick. The former allows very convenient one-handed opening, all the way to the locking position. The matte-grey finish on the blade makes it totally non-reflective.

The scales on the handle are very durable G10 and they sit between the steel bolster and the butt, protecting them from impact, plus they are textured for improved grip. The handle is slightly curved to further enhance grip and the knife sits in the hand really well. The handle is 5” long and the knife opens out to an overall length of 8.88”.

Nice and solid

The Folding Hunter is a locking knife that utilises a lockback mechanism, and when fully opened, the blade is fixed and held very securely. The lock is released by pressing the exposed section of the rocker bar in the cut-out on the back of the knife and is large enough so you can easily operate it even when wearing gloves. There is absolutely no movement when the blade is in the fully open position and you can put as much pressure through the blade as you like, and even use the blade to twist and pry material, without the mechanism failing. When a folding knife locks open this securely, you can almost forget that it is not actually a fixed-blade knife. Obviously, as this is a locking knife, and the blade exceeds the legal limit, this is not an everyday carry knife here in the UK and you need to consider where and when you carry it.

The KA-BAR weighs in at just 150-grams, so it is not a burden to carry, plus the pocket clip is the perfect size for secure holding and doesn’t interfere with knife use.

Conclusion

The Folding Hunter rekindles some of the features of KA-BAR’s old model 1189 folder (a straightforward locking knife with a clip-point blade and wood handle) but is updated with more modern handle scales and a pocket clip for a more convenient carry. It is surprisingly strong and useful, and the quality is very good. The price is surprisingly low, considering what you get in terms of quality and functionality, making the Folding Hunter a bargain well worth snapping up.