All About Pocket Knives

Pommel and pommel nut for a Kabar model 1237 fixed blade.Got it today and they were missing.Does anyone know if Kabar sells parts for knives? Going to post this in the wanted section as well but I figured it would get more exposure here.If you know where one is or have one please send me a PM

Ray, I don't think KA-BAR sells parts as they don't actually make any knives, they are basically a marketing firm. Their USMC and some other fixed blades are made by Cutco. I would be surprised if any Kabars with a model number on the blade had pommel nuts, I think the pommels were pinned on by that time. I could be mistaken since I never paid much attention to the knives made under Cole National or later. Can you show the knife in question? I think it would take a KA-BAR "triangular" pommel if it is of the numbered era. I may have a junker somewheres but if so it would be a mushroom pommel with a barrel nut.

Gunsil wrote: ↑Thu Jan 28, 2021 2:12 am Ray, I don't think KA-BAR sells parts as they don't actually make any knives, they are basically a marketing firm. Their USMC and some other fixed blades are made by Cutco. I would be surprised if any Kabars with a model number on the blade had pommel nuts, I think the pommels were pinned on by that time. I could be mistaken since I never paid much attention to the knives made under Cole National or later. Can you show the knife in question? I think it would take a KA-BAR "triangular" pommel if it is of the numbered era. I may have a junker somewheres but if so it would be a mushroom pommel with a barrel nut.

Thanks for the prompt reply Gene! Here is a pic of the knife and the end.It is a split tang similar to the Western knives.I only paid $5 for it and the blade is very full.

That looks like a solid tang knife with the split on the end for a poured lead plug in the pommel. It also looks like it is a bit short but you could probably pour lead in and it would still work. Sorry, I don't have any junkers or parts for those later knives. I guess you'll have to find another Kabar with a poured lead affixed pommel as a donor. Might not be too hard to find one with a broken or ground out blade with a decent pommel. Kabar does sell leather rings and replacement pommels for their re-issue USMC knives, but I have never heard of them selling any parts for other knives and I doubt they would have parts for older knives, you could ask, only takes a phone call. Case will repair their knives back to a certain point but does not sell parts. Hard to pass up a knife for five bucks!! Maybe pull the handle and drill and hog out a piece of antler and just put an end cap on it??

What I might do is take a nut and notch it to fit in between the tang ends and make a pommel out of Lexan and affix it with a screw.Not too concerned with what it looks like but rather just making it functional again. The tang does look short but it doesn't look like it has been monkeyed with. Thanks for the input Gene.

knife7knut wrote: ↑Thu Jan 28, 2021 6:49 am What I might do is take a nut and notch it to fit in between the tang ends and make a pommel out of Lexan and affix it with a screw.Not too concerned with what it looks like but rather just making it functional again. The tang does look short but it doesn't look like it has been monkeyed with. Thanks for the input Gene.

EDIT: Decided to give a go at repairing the knife.Took a small carriage bolt(10-24 or 12-24 I forget which)and ground the head down to fit between the split tang end and JB welded it in place.When that was set I took a barrel nut of the same thread and fitted it to the bolt.Made the pommel out of a piece of hard wood I had laying around the shop.Drilled it to fit the barrel nut and used a larger drill to countersink both ends.One end provides clearance over the portion of the tang that sticks out and the other puts the head of the barrel nut inside to be covered over later.I think I might get a small domed plug that snaps into a hole for the finish. Here is what it looked like just before I applied the stain to it.I also shortened it a bit.

Almost done;just need a small cap to finish the job.

That’s a fantastic job! I have a little b/t knife with a missing pommel and that would be a great fix fir it.

Nice save, Ray.