If your on limited funds it doesn't need to be a Ka-Bar. There are a lot of very good knives out there, major brands: Buck, Gerber, SOG, Case, Schrade... and a lot of custom / semi-custom makers too (which you will PAY FOR!), you just have to sort through them and investigate their quality. Some of the afore mentioned are now made in China vs. USA and thus a bit suspect until proven. I usually prefer to scout out used USA made knives, you pay a bit more but I think they're worth it.
If your on limited funds it doesn't need to be a Ka-Bar. There are a lot of very good knives out there, major brands: Buck, Gerber, SOG, Case, Schrade... and a lot of custom / semi-custom makers too (which you will PAY FOR!), you just have to sort through them and investigate their quality. Some of the afore mentioned are now made in Chins vs. USA and thus a bit suspect until proven. I usually prefer to scout out used USA made knives, you pay a bit more but I think they're worth it.
The real question is "for what, cleaning your finger nails?"
The point is to pick the right knife for the job you need done, just like every other tool. This usually results in more than one item per category. The people who don't believe this are the ones who design multi-tools with 3 knife blades.
I have several...what are you saying! I need more. Please don't encourage me. :lol:
7" fighting knife
3/4 fighting knife
BK2
BK5
BK neck knife
BK15
BK16
I have a BK-7 and a Kershaw Folder in BOB. Plus a few assorted folders and combat knives throught the house. Some I have had since I was a kid. The BK-7 is a good dual purpose knife. Thick full tang for bushcraft work and can be used as a combat knife as well, although a bit on the heavy side. I also have a good SOG Machete I use a lot around the house. Ka Bar is a quality knife. Don't like the sheaths tho. I may have a Kydex sheath made for it by one of the dealers here in Houston.
I would rather have a utility knife, such as the Schrade "survival" line of knives, than any "fighting" knife. I just don't see myself getting in a whole lot of knife fights. That's not to say I don't have a fighting knife, because I do. It's just that if I only had to pick just one knife to have with me, it wouldn't be a fighting knife.
I only have 2 knives so far since I don't have any delusions about my ability to fight with one. One is in my ghb and one is my edc. Notice I say so far. I'd love to become more proficient but in the meantime these will hopefully do what I need them to.
I only have 2 knives so far since I don't have any delusions about my ability to fight with one. One is in my ghb and one is my edc. Notice I say so far. I'd love to become more proficient but in the meantime these will hopefully do what I need them to.
I agree Smitty, but in my case it was the Buck 110 Folding Knife instead of the 119. The Ka Bar mainly sits in my bag in my truck, used in a couple of camping trips or to cut something larger than a folding knife could handle. I view the Ka Bar as a Utility Tool not as a Fighting Blade. View attachment 8206
I already have this one -- OKC3S bayonet that also substitutes as my hunting knife when on my belt. It has an 8" blade. It is just a bit too long when wearing on a belt, that is why I want the genuine Ka-bar.
I too have no plans to be killing anybody any time soon :lol:, but I love these knives for when out hiking in the woods, etc. You just never know when they'll come in handy. I can't speak for the Ka-bar, but the Ontario blade came razor sharp. You honestly can shave with it.
I already have this one -- OKC3S bayonet that also substitutes as my hunting knife when on my belt. It has an 8" blade. It is just a bit too long when wearing on a belt, that is why I want the genuine Ka-bar. View attachment 8205
I too have no plans to be killing anybody any time soon :lol:, but I love these knives for when out hiking in the woods, etc. You just never know when they'll come in handy. I can't speak for the Ka-bar, but the Ontario blade came razor sharp. You honestly can shave with it.
To older guys, Ka Bar refers to one thing only - the USMC Fighting Knife.
Anything else made by that company should be called by its model number or product name.
At this moment I am taking a break from hauling cut brush out to the mulch pile I've got going out in the woodlot. On my belt is a WWII vintage Ka Bar riding in a USN MkII scabbard. On the other side is an S&W Model 10. Never know what a guy will run into out in the woodlot.
Yes, I AM sergeant Old School.
I have the BK9 and i love it... It feels great in my hand almost like an extention of my arm lol. And its an awsome chopper. Cuts through wood like butter! I have it in my BOB.
Not a Kabar in the bunch, but each of them has a tempered steel blade that holds an edge well, and yet if it needs to be sharpened, it won't take 3 days hard work to do it.
The one at the top I had made by the Kukry House in Nepal India to my specs. The 2 at the bottom of the photo are my EDC's. One in my boot and one on my belt.
There are knives that shade the KaBar, because it is an old design, albeit a good design.
Time marches on and yet the KaBar in it's basic (7" USMC Fighting knife) form is a perennial favorite. I believe in part that popularity is rooted in lore and tradition. Aside from its usefulness, The Kabar is an iconic a piece of Americana.
Hate to say it but the USMC ones we were given weren't up to par with a lot of the steels that are available today. We were issued them and were using the wire cutting function ( hole in the blade that goes over a peg in the sheath) and the wire was breaking the blades. They bent easily and yea they were easy to sharpen but they lost and edge fast as well.
Any knife is better than no knife, but there are better options out there today which leaves us buying our own blades and letting them keep the issued ones that can't keep up
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