Ka-Bar USMC

They cost $40 here.

And for $40 they are a good knife. For $70, there are better ones out there.
The Ka-Bar is an excellent combat knife, meaning it is very good at stabbing someone who is on you when you wish them to NOT be on you. It is not, however, a very good camp knife. I'd get the BK&T BK-7 or any of their line. You get a much better slicing blade, and still tough enough for camp work. Stay away from serrated edges unless you are a total hack when it comes to sharpening. In Alaska I'd go with the BK-9, simply because everything in Alaska should be really big.
I love the Ka-Bar, but there is a reason the Marines went to the new bayonet. They don't do things like that lightly.
If you really want a Ka-Bar, send me a PM, and I'll get you one here at the Marine Corps exchange. With shipping it will still be cheaper than you are seeing in your location.
Steve

It would be my first "Full-Sized Fighting Knife", and I'm going for it.

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Go for it.
Even if it doesn't suit your needs 100% it"s still a dang fine knife which will last you for many years to come.

A wise man once said "There is very little to do with a serrated edge that I can't do with a sharp straight edge."

Get the straight edge.Keep things simple.

DO IT.


I have a camillus pilot survival knife that my dad gave me when I started hunting.


Get the straight edge. Less of a hassle to sharpen, cuts just as well. I can see the use of serrations of a smaller knife, but you've got enough blade to make great big slices with something that big.

Oh, buy yours off the interwebs - they're cheaper here. Unless you have a real reason to buy it wherever you are (mom&pop FFL run by a disabled vet is a good reason, pawn shop run by the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Mary, &c &c.)

Type of edge

I got the straight edge. They are very very sharp from the factory. Serrated looks cool but I don't think I needed one.

Here's my $.02: Get the Ka-Bar with a straight edge, then get one of those mini Ka-Bars with a serrated edge.

Don't spend $70 on one, though.
You can get one for a lot cheaper if you look around some.

I would recommend a plain edge for the purposes you describe.

BUDK sells them online for 39.99 + shipping. You may want to look into that.

Straight edge like everyone else posted, the main reason is that you will not be able to easily sharpen a serrated edge in the "wild/woods" as you post without carrying an additional tool. In a pinch, a rock, properly cleaved, will adequately sharpen any straight edge. Serrated edges will not be as useful for chopping or battoning.

dont know if they ship to Alaska
but I like http://www.knifecenter.com

okay, Thanks a bunch for your input! I will check around... Any recommended sites?

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These guys recently sent me a catalog advertising the Kabar for $39.99 +PP. Most of the stuff they advertise is crap, but the Kabars seem like the real deal. I intend on ordering one in the near future from them.

budk.com/default.asp

Nice offer by Steve. Good price by mp510. Wholesale Hunter has them on sale now. I've never prchased from them, but I've heard good things. Cost is $46 but I don't know what shipping is.

http://www.wholesalehunter.com/asp/deals.asp

Other suspects: KnifeCenter (already mentioned)

Others who may carry the KaBar: OneStopKnifeShop, NewGraham, Grand Prairie Knives

they are great knives i have two the full size and the small both with the leather handles. i carried them both in iraq for a year and they did great, i have used them many times before that and since them they are awesome, and definetly worth the money. both of mine have the serreated blades.

Get the knife. Go plain edge. Easier to sharpen. If you want a serrated edge knife, buy one with the whole edge serrated. A better choice is the SOG Seal Pup Elite knife for about the same price (with the plain edge).

I usually shop at New Graham first for most factory knife purchases. If they don't carry the particular knife, I look elsewhere.

There are lots of choices when it comes to choosing a knife. A year or so ago, I purchased a Kershaw military boot knife. I liked it at first and still do, but it is not very practical for the uses where I might employ a knife. It sits in a box full of other knives unused for the most part.

I recently purchased the Kabar Machete Cutlass (their label). I like it. It also sits in the same box for the time being.

I loves my Ka-Bar Bought it new off the 'bay for about $35.00 (of course, it's been a few years, prices might have gone up,)

If you don't mind buying one used, you could probably drum up an exceptionally decent deal. There's quite a few of them floating around out there.

One small note; If you get the leather sheath, (new, that is,) it will positively reek of oil for weeks after you take it out of the box. Probably not good if you expect to take it hunting any time soon. (I'm not sure if they use oil, but that's what mine smelled like. Super Oil or trombone slide oil are compareable. Very sharp and annoying.)

I still have my orginial KBar with it's straight edge. They hold an edge
well and the statement of the Marines picking a bayonet over it is a
first to my ears. Issued to those with crew served weapons like BAR
Machine gunners, and such as a bayonet on those weapons???? Recon,
Sniper teams and others also issued Ks. It is a fighting knife, and
may prove large for small game use and suppose a good folder is better
suited for these kind of tasks. Would never part with mine at any price
Semper Fi

$70 bucks for a Kabar? Man I remember buying mine from the PX for less than $30. I still have it and it still is in decent shape considering it was my primary camping and outdoor knife for many years.

I paid $20 for my Camillus Marine Combat knife back when I was in the service. For the price, it can't be beat as an all around knife.

Try www.knivesplus.com. They've got a lot of KaBars on their website. Don't know anything about their shipping and handling costs to Alaska. PM me if you're interested in previously owned, not abused, Camillus versions.

CONGRATS

we love PICS

a couple of ideas . . . .

1) congrats-you got a great basic knife there 2) if you intend to use it primarily as a camp knife consider the following mods : cut off the top of the guard flush with the handle (allows you to change your hand position on the knife for different tasks) you can also reshape the perfectly round handle to a more oval shape with a belt sander which gives you a better grip for some tasks and allows you to index the knife in you hand either in darkness or when wearing gloves. If you intend to use the stock sheath I'd wax the crap out of it and if you intend to do any climbing or rock scrambling ( chance of a fall ) I'd reinforce it to prevent the knife being pushed through the thin leather and into your hide.

coelacanth

If you intend to use the stock sheath I'd wax the crap out of it and if you intend to do any climbing or rock scrambling ( chance of a fall ) I'd reinforce it to prevent the knife being pushed through the thin leather and into your hide.

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Can you give us a little more info on these two please? Especialy the reinforcement. Thanx in advance.

re: mods . . . .

one of the places that Kabar saves a little money on this excellent production knife is on it's sheath. They are a bit flimsy and none too water resistant if you live in a wet climate. Commercial waterproofing works reasonably well but I like melted beeswax mixed with a little neatsfoot oil to really penetrate the fibers of the stock sheath. Closest thing I've found is Pecard's Leather Dressing which works very well. It also does a nice job on the leather handle. The sheath reinforcement can be done by using any heavy leather and forming a secondary sheath outside the original. I glued mine in place ( prior to the wax job ) then stiched the edges and trimmed off the excess. The leather I used came from an old worn out pair of Red Wing boots that were beyond help. Probably the best sheath for this type of knife was the WW2 phenolic resin sheath that was issued to Navy personnel - find one of those and your problem is solved but as they are collectable there aren't many around. Hope this is helpful.