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Posted: 1/3/2012 9:44:04 PM EDT
| Ok so I have got all kinds of knives folders and fixed blades but I am lacking a plain ole basic full size KaBar USMC. Should I go ahead and get one or two ??? |
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I'd get a Becker before I ever got another Kabar.
I've owned one since college (+32 years). It's by far the most useless knife I own - and I own a lot of them. It's now pretty much relegated to splitting frozen hamburger patties, a job it excels at due to it's flat pommel and relatively thin blade. Worse than useless upper guard (unless you really, really need a fighting knife), relatively thin blade steel (1/8" or maybe 5/16"), so-so blade steel and heat treat - I'm not a fan. Did I mention the worse than useless upper guard? It's the first thing I cut off when I bought it years ago. And before all you Kabar nuts go zongo on me: yes, I know ever veteran over the last 60 years just loves his Kabar - whoopie. How many would be fans if a decent Gerber, Becker, ESEE, RAT etc. had been available since the '40's. My bet: None. It's a pretty great knife - if you have nothing else available (and Randalls don't count, sorry). My .02. |
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Ya gotta own a full size Ka-Bar. That's one of the rules.
If you really want a Ka-Bar style blade, look at the D2 tool steel. Becker knives are brutally efficient, ruthless cutters if you want to cut, chop or hack your way through anything; especially the BK2. Yes, there are better quality knives made with finer grades of steel with a nicer finish but for the money... a Becker knife will do all that you ask or need. Or, save yourself time & $$ and go Esee early. I can honestly say I will never go far without an Esee blade within reach. But, I'm still waiting for my Jericho SEER-X. When I started USING a blade beyond kitchen chores I discovered a sincere love and appreciation for the brute steel blade tools. Still love my Buck 110 but I'd be pressed to find it without searching. Not so with the Becker's, Esee or D2 Ka-Bar. |
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I believe the official ARFCOM answer is two, as in get both. What do you need a Ka-Bar for? In Texas, we're limited to 5.5" non-bowie knives, so I got all my troops & family the 5.25" mini-Ka-Bar w/ tanto point as a carry blade. Still trying to talk the fiancee into packing a 12V mini-chainsaw, but she says she's saving room in her purse for a Colt Gold Cup, not a chain saw : (
In Iraq I carried an Ontario SP6 - a full size Ka-Bar is just as useful as a fighting knife. Before I got the Ontario I carried an M7 bayonet. What are your state laws on carry? |
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The last government contracted Kabar-type fighting knives were made by Ontario in 1988. I have a couple. They are definitely milspec, parkerized with leather sheaths that have the anti-fungal impregnation.
I carried a 1960's-made Kabar for over 20 years. I used it for about any task you can imagine from digging fighting positions to opening ammo crates, and as a screwdriver, prybar, and even as a firing step when jammed between bricks in a wall. It never failed to do whatever I asked it to. Perhaps you are right. There may be better all-purpose knives available now. But for the money, ruggedness, and versatility, I'll still take the original Kabar fighting knife from an original military contract. The leather sheath can be upgraded to a Kydex/nylon one, though! |
| You didnt need Gerber,Esee and Becker in the 40s you had John EK making some of the strongest fighting knives around and continues to this day skipping the black jack made EK stamped ones before they went back to Virginia.As a pure fighter a KBAR does just fine 1095 carbon steel isnt gonna be damaged by the human body..maybe its not all around strong as some others in the same price range but it will do what it was designed to do. |
| Uncle Sam's Retail Outlet has Ontario KA-Bars for 35.99 used and 45.99 new. |
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