Does KA-BAR’s Tactical Spork Take ‘Tactical’ Too Far?

in Authors, Industry News, Knives, S.H. Blannelberry, This Week

The KA-BAR Tactical Spork. I don’t even know what to say. A tactical spork!!!

On one hand, what the heck are they thinking? Isn’t this taking “tactical” too far? Aside from your local mall ninja, knife nut and arm-tatted bearded dude with dark sunglasses, who the heck would buy this thing?

On the other hand, okay, shut up and take my money.

At a $7 price point, I’ll take a chance on a tactical spork made from “food and water approved Grilamid,” with a hidden serrated knife in the handle.

With an overall length of 6.875 inches, a weight of 0.1 lb., and a blade length of 2.5 inches I’m sure I can find a use for it — even if it’s just to sit in a drawer next to the other tactical absurdities, e.g. the PMug, and look pretty.

What are your thoughts?  Must buy or no-go?

About the author: S.H. Blannelberry is the News Editor of GunsAmerica.

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  • Jonny5 February 18, 2017, 4:37 am

    That tapered end with the ribbed handles looks like I could slip it right into my hoop up to the spork bit.

  • One of many January 13, 2017, 8:19 pm

    Folks, just be glad it’s only tactical; not “advanced technology” or “turbo’ed”…Worse yet examples of marketing fluff.

  • David June 25, 2016, 12:19 am

    I think it is just a fun little novelty item you can get for $7 (and made in USA) and just have on you for shits and giggles. I doubt with “tactical” here they mean defensive, you’d look stupid trying to fight with a Spork… but its just a little conversation piece that could also work in a pinch when out and about.

    But in the end, I’d rather just get their hobo knife set.

  • Tom May 27, 2016, 8:53 am

    If it had a ice cream scoop on the other end, I’d buy one.

  • Karl Vanhooten May 23, 2016, 10:42 pm

    What a joke – we’re way past April 1st. I’ve seen indestructible $0.50 Lexan sporks with a cutting edge at crowds as giveaways. Only a tactical dork would buy this.

  • Retrofit May 22, 2016, 10:22 pm

    Anyone who has eaten C-rations or MRE’s knows that this is just another piece of useless junk to carry along and weight you down. God gave you 8 fingers and two thumbs for a reason. Besides, they clean easy and storage is not a problem.

  • BJG May 22, 2016, 9:38 am

    If I paint something Black, does it become Tactical?

  • dude240 May 21, 2016, 10:27 pm

    What every KFC Colonel needs….

  • Lon May 21, 2016, 5:19 pm

    Now the mall ninjas will have a utensil for the food court.
    I’d buy one just because I think it’s funny….. But I think that’s the point.

  • Stephen Thomas May 21, 2016, 3:57 pm

    Does anyone know if these are legal in New York ?

    • Derek May 23, 2016, 9:51 am

      THAT was a good one!! Lol

  • Paul Strickland May 20, 2016, 10:24 pm

    How else does one eat his Beenie Weenies in the duck blind or tree stand? Pudding cups are a must have while bass fishing. And you never know when a bear might attack you at lunch time. I want one!

  • Steve May 20, 2016, 4:44 pm

    A “tactical spork” is just silly. Besides, I have several “hobo knives” that do this job, but better. They have a soup sized spoon, regular fork and a knife that is useful for things other than eating.

  • Clint May 20, 2016, 4:36 pm

    They might call it a tactical spork and y’all think it’s silly having a knife in the handle…
    The knife isn’t for slitting throats 🙄
    It’s for cutting your food, people and knife stowes in the handle, it’s not hiding.

  • wolf-pack bravo May 20, 2016, 4:09 pm

    How do I attach it to my AR15 or AK?

    • Penrod May 20, 2016, 5:11 pm

      With the bayonet socket adaptor, sold separately, of course. They also work with the Tactical Hairbrush.

  • Homer May 20, 2016, 2:43 pm

    The original Schrade and Camillus knife companies didn’t often use the word “tactical” before they went out of business, even though some of their competitors did and stayed in business. It takes good marketing to stay in business, even if it offends the sensible nature of some of the not buying public. I want KA-BAR to stay in business; they make good knives. I wish they’d have called it “Uber Tactical” instead and got some of the muffinoid market as well

    As far as the product is concerned, it looks very useful for a stingy price. A spork is good for moving food from a container to the mouth and is also good for puncturing holes in an assailants face or throat. Because it is made of good plastic and is of a good length it can serve as a Kubaton which is a great people mover and attitude adjuster (if you don’t think so, ask someone skilled with a Kubaton to demonstrate on you – you will be convinced), and a knife, especially one with a serrated edge that makes very messy wounds (lots of bleeding), can be very useful in a self-defense situation. While this spork wouldn’t be my first choice for a conflict, it would be a whole lot better than nothing if some strung out idiot decided to interrupt my lunch in a public park outside of my state and away from my usual weapons. Of all the un-tactical things out there that are called tactical, this actually pushes the edges of deserving the tag. I’ll add a couple to my travel pack.

    • Penrod May 20, 2016, 5:14 pm

      A crenellated butt/shrimp fork would have been an improvement, though.

      • Chris C May 21, 2016, 11:38 pm

        That’s hilarious. Thank you.

  • KMacK May 20, 2016, 2:02 pm

    Yes, it looks nice, but think a moment: To use the knife to cut up your food, you have to disassemble the spork you’re using to hold the stuff in place. This is kind of like the classic stick with a broom at one end and a dustpan at the other, frustration on a stick.
    It would appear that K-Bar’s marketing department asked “What else silly can we sell for a high price if we mark it as being ‘Tactical'” and their Engineering department came up with this.
    I’m sticking with the disposable version. If I have to use it, then I can leave it in the perp and not lose money.

  • Dave Rockwell May 20, 2016, 12:45 pm

    Only if it comes in FDE…..

    • Paul Strickland May 20, 2016, 10:30 pm

      I was thinking a nice camo…..but then if I drop it out the tree stand I’ll never find it….

  • Chuck May 20, 2016, 12:13 pm

    No, how about the word “tactical” is just starting to sound moronic now. I’m so sick of tactical everything on gun sites, magazines and catalogs.

  • DIYinSTL May 20, 2016, 11:53 am

    Maybe add some bronze coloring so we could buy a Platinum Tactical Leaky Spoon. If there was a real fork and a real spoon option, I’d drop $14 for the pair.

  • Kalashnikov Dude May 20, 2016, 11:24 am

    I saw this and had to relate a recent experience I had with Lee Ermey, who’s name came across my Facebook page. I friended his page, and KA-Bar’s as well. It turns out, The “Gunny’ is mouthpiecing for KA-BAR. I always liked the Marine version of their famous knife. So I checked out the website and found my desired item. $107 plus shipping. It’s the same knife for like 75-80 years. Made the same way. I commented back that was a little much for a knife of those specs. Lee Ermey commenced calling me all sorts of unflattering names including a “whiner”. He or whoever posts for him continued to insult my motorcycle and the Remington 1911 .45, I customized, telling me to “buy American!” I bought my 2004 Kawasaki Vulcan 2000 used in 2015, from an American, and then I made it better. I purchased my Remington from an American gun dealer, who got it from an American company, that manufactured it in America. And I made it better. That’s what I do. I’m an American. I unfriended the “Gunny”, and from this point on, I’m going Benchmade.

    • Clint May 20, 2016, 4:39 pm

      You want the VERY best, go ESEE for your knives.

  • Rick May 20, 2016, 11:03 am

    For anyone who is serving in the military, active duty or reservist this spork with the knife would be an asset for those times when mess halls are not available to eat at. This tool would have made my military eating experiences away much more easier.

    • Tat2dMFr May 22, 2016, 5:44 pm

      I’m from the old C rat days and after a few days in the field eating that crap could have used the knife to scrape off my taste buds.

  • Rick May 20, 2016, 11:02 am

    For anyone who is serving in the military, active duty or reservist this spork with the knife would be an asset for those times when mess halls are not available to eat at. This tool would have made my military eating experiences away much more easier.

  • shrugger May 20, 2016, 10:18 am

    LOVE IT!!
    …what’s it used for again?

  • JT May 20, 2016, 10:11 am

    Can I get an “OddJob” style “Tactical” razor/frisbee plate to go with my “Tactical” spork just in case I have to defend myself against fire ants at my next picnic?

  • Chief May 20, 2016, 9:57 am

    Needs a laser 🙂

    • Paul Strickland May 20, 2016, 10:32 pm

      HA!…..still laughing.

  • Earl Haehl May 20, 2016, 9:13 am

    I would get one because it appears to have a handle suitable to my large, 72 year old arthritic hands. By the way I view this tool, not as a “spork” but as a runcible spoon. I am the product of a faculty family and a liberal arts education and have run across the term before.

    • DIYinSTL May 20, 2016, 11:47 am

      Heaven forbid that any Progressive SHTF event begin before the tactical hors d’oeuvres are served.

      • LCDR USN Ret May 20, 2016, 12:54 pm

        Dang, I should refrain from drinking milk reading comments like this. Shot thru both nostrils. Haven’t laughed that hard in a long time!
        Thanks DIY

      • Penrod May 20, 2016, 5:22 pm

        “the tactical hors d’oeuvres” I say, are you referring to black assault shrimp dipped in squid ink? Possibly served from a high capacity shrimp dish?

        Or perhaps black assault olives, fired from a fully automatic olive launcher?

        • JCLINE May 21, 2016, 7:20 am

          and here i’ve gone and learned something. The spork has another name, bravo! This would have been a much more effectve tool then the flemsy KFC model used in the episode of “Aliase” to dig out the guys eye ball for use in breaching a retnal scan security system.

  • SR May 20, 2016, 9:08 am

    Needs a rail mount….

  • chuck May 20, 2016, 8:30 am

    I’d like to order a eight piece place setting.

    • Obama of Borg May 20, 2016, 10:27 am

      It would make family arguments more interesting.

    • wade osborne May 20, 2016, 10:27 am

      I ordered 6. one for my hunting/fishing backpack and 5 for hunting/fishing buddies that should have one. none for a drawer to be unused. I eat a lot of canned snacks and freeze dried food in the field so this spork should work better than a stick. You should check out CNC Tactical survival stick. I don’t go out in the field without mine. You should be able to google them.

  • angel May 20, 2016, 8:11 am

    The tactical ninja spork would have sold more……….

    • wade osborne May 20, 2016, 11:36 am

      Why does anyone care what it’s called or how it’s marketed. It’s functional for the hunter, fisherman, camper, etc. Most of you are unemployed or taking up space.

  • PeterC May 20, 2016, 7:55 am

    Man, that is tactical! Almost as tactical as a mollé Speedo.

  • Mike DeRusha May 20, 2016, 7:47 am

    Tactical is just Practical with a military look.
    Sort of like how “Assault” rifles look scarier than other rifles so they’re obviously more dangerous. You know, because plastic handguards and OD green accessories make everything dangerouser.

  • John at May 20, 2016, 7:45 am

    Tactical; of or relating to a maneuver or plan of action designed as an expedient toward gaining a desired end or temporary advantage.
    So maybe a “tactical spork” is a bit of a stretch but at the same time many people work in weapons free enviorent and have to travel to and from work trusting nothing weird happens along the way or while they are at work.
    The tactical spork is an inoculous tool that could, in fact, be quite useful in the right situation. It has been shown that there is an inherent fear of knifes because most people have cut themselves and know what a knife can do. So yes bring it on I’ll buy one for my wife and daughter who both work in weapon free zones. Any edge, however slight, is still an edge.

  • Damion May 20, 2016, 7:26 am

    Tactical isn’t a good descriptor for this item, but Practical is….for $7 a pop it’d be worth throwing into a couple into a camping/hiking kit and if it’s made as well as other K-bar items typically are, it should be pretty durable as well.

  • Terry Cook May 20, 2016, 7:22 am

    I actually like it. I’m not sure why, but I like it. Camping maybe?

  • Steve May 20, 2016, 7:15 am

    I’d keep it if it came with my happy meal. Scratch that, if it came with Tactical Food Unit.

    • Zupglick January 31, 2017, 1:10 pm

      “Tactical Food Unit”. Is that MRE?

  • Buff Studly May 20, 2016, 7:13 am

    I totally agree with Tim’s comment.
    Adding. This is a great product for ANY Camper, Prepper, or as he stated The Truck Driver. And now for me.
    Tim Wrote
    ” As a truck driver there are many times I have to eat my meals sitting in the driver seat, parked in a rest area. The idea that a fork, knife and spoon should be handy is not only NOT practical but has a distinct disadvantage plus being messy. A spork comes in handy until you have to cut a price of meat or make something more bite sized. K-Bar adding the knife in the handle makes for a complete usable handy tool which can be easily accessed with little or no mess. I am all for it and the price is more than right. While “tactical” is not a word I would use to describe this utensil I understand full well, given the mood and attitude of today’s buyer, why they used it.”

  • Doc May 20, 2016, 7:10 am

    Just ridiculous and I’ll most likely buy one.

  • SeaHunt May 20, 2016, 6:58 am

    I’m in, would be nice for my backpack pocket, not looking forward to an argument from the idiots at TSA?

  • Blasted Cap May 20, 2016, 6:47 am

    They haven’t taken it any further than any of the other marketing nit wits that put tactical in front of everything else under the sun. It’s the cool buzz word. Saw in a friend’s Cheaper than Dirt catalog a tactical sewing kit. Just as bad as people putting literally in every other sentence.

  • Roger May 20, 2016, 6:03 am

    Using the word “tactical” for something like this is ridiculous. That word tactical is way over-used, and misused, like several other words these days.

  • mos8541 May 20, 2016, 4:09 am

    Not really, no it doesn,t. Tactical was taken too far many years ago with so called tatical clothing. There is no polo shirt in the world that desrerves the term, yet there are many that use it. At least I can kill someone with a spork.

  • Robert Brooks May 20, 2016, 4:00 am

    I liked the black plate too. What does it turn into?

    • Mark N. May 20, 2016, 7:03 am

      Awesome comment! I laughed so hard that water came out my nose. Now I need a tactical tissue! Btw, I’m guessing the plate turns into a ninja throwing star!

      • CDR_C May 20, 2016, 8:17 am

        The plate? Remember the Bond movie Goldfinger? The bad guy’s henchman’s har, whti the sharp edge that cut the head off a statue? Sounds like the plate could be a Tactical Frisbee(TM) ??

  • John May 20, 2016, 3:27 am

    I don’t think “Tactical” is the right word to describe it but I go camping alot and I’m a bit of a knife nut and I think this spork would be great for a back pack/ camping mess kit.

  • Tim May 18, 2016, 5:45 pm

    As a truck driver there are many times I have to eat my meals sitting in the driver seat, parked in a rest area. The idea that a fork, knife and spoon should be handy is not only NOT practical but has a distinct disadvantage plus being messy. A spork comes in handy until you have to cut a price of meat or make something more bite sized. K-Bar adding the knife in the handle makes for a complete usable handy tool which can be easily accessed with little or no mess. I am all for it and the price is more than right. While “tactical” is not a word I would use to describe this utensil I understand full well, given the mood and attitude of today’s buyer, why they used it.

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