Written by: Greg Ellifritz
*I’m re-posting this article from a couple years ago. I recently learned that Ka-Bar has discontinued this model. Whatever inventory is available right now is likely the last opportunity to purchase this excellent non-metallic defense option. The Shark Bites in the supply line now will soon be sold and there will be no more. Buy one now before they disappear.
-Greg
I reader recently sent me a question about the new Ka-Bar TDI Shark Bite knife and how it is meant to be carried. Here are his (paraphrased) questions:
Hi Greg,
If you have enough free time, I would greatly appreciate your input here.
Any experience with a Ka-bar shark bite? It’s the all-plastic version, similar to the TDI. The main question is, how is this meant to be carried? Or, how CAN it be worn? Or, how and where should a knife like this be worn?
The Shark Bite is an option for those of you who have to deal with magnetometers. It has no metallic content, so it can be carried into places where metal knives can’t go.
It’s relatively easy to make a plastic, carbon fiber, or polymer blade. It’s tougher to make a sheath that contains no metal. Look at every other polymer knife sheaths you own. See those metal rivets? It’s more difficult to make a sheath that doesn’t have them.
The engineers at Ka-Bar figured out an innovative method to carry the knife in a safe manner without using any metal. The retention on the sheath is created by studs in the sheath that fit through the hole in the center of the knife. To draw the blade, you simply push on the studs in the center of the sheath with your index finger and the blade pops free of the sheath.
Note the twin studs protruding through the center of the blade. Push those and the knife pops away from the sheath.
So, how do you carry it? You can run it a ton of different ways. The slots in the sheath can be slipped over a belt so that the blade can be carried like an outside the waistband holster. The blade comes with a metallic dog tag chain so you can wear it around your neck. If you are planning on going through metal detectors, replace the metal chain with something like paracord that is non metallic.
The holes in the sheath allow it to be suspended by a cord around the belt and carried inside the waistband (a slip sheath). You can also use the holes to lace the blade to your boots or to zip tie the sheath to any piece of Molle gear.
Where I see the best use of this sheath is carried in the front pants pocket. It’s easy for a person in “business” attire to throw this knife in a front pocket and have a weapon available when they otherwise can’t carry. The light weight won’t drag down your dress pants like many other blades do. When I carry mine, that’s how I do it. Inside the front, strong side pants pocket. It’s very concealable and pretty quick to access. If you want a little more stability and a more consistent draw stroke, attach the sheath to a Raven Concealment Pocket Shield.
I think this is the ideal weapon for those of you who travel on cruise ships. If you are going through metal detectors on reentry, but not getting physically searched, this one will get through every time and give you a weapon option for when you go ashore.
If you haven’t seen the Shark Bite, you ought to check it out. For less than $18 it provides a protection option that you can take almost anywhere.
It would make a great stocking stuffer for all the outlaws in your life.
The links above from Amazon.com are affiliate links. If you purchase these items, I get a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you.
