I've always been under the impression that these were pretty good knives. But when I asked a co-worker who was a Marine, and served in Iraqi Freedom, he said he didn't like them. Said they would break, wouldn't cut through bone, and basically that they weren't as strong as they should be. He did mention that the Bowie knives found on Iraqis were nice and strong. So basically I'm looking for a knife of that size (7" blade or so). I want something strong that will cut through just about anything. What is the general thought on Ka-Bars?
Ka-Bar quality
- Thread starter Justang
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They are awesome knives but bad prybars and hatchets. Mine has a keen edge that will slice anything with ease. But due to the thinner tang, sometimes they do break at the guard...but this only happens when you stop using it as a knife and as a prybar or axe.
If you want a do-it all knife, you might be disappointed if you're expecting it to be excellent at slicing, puncturing, prying, and chopping. If you build a knife to be strong enough to pry or chop with, it generally won't slice or puncture as well as a thinner blade. YMMV.
If you want a do-it all knife, you might be disappointed if you're expecting it to be excellent at slicing, puncturing, prying, and chopping. If you build a knife to be strong enough to pry or chop with, it generally won't slice or puncture as well as a thinner blade. YMMV.
Daniel is pretty much correct, but I'll add that if you pick a full tang, or slightly reduced tang, knife the potential for breaking at the guard is significantly reduced.
If you want a pry bar get a pry bar. If you want a knife that can be used for light prying you'll sacrifice some of it's cutting ability because of compromises with the geometry. If prying is an important characteristic look for a knife with a prybar shaped tang extension that sticks out of the butt/grip. This keeps the prying off of the hardened blade where break/chip potential is higher, but means you've got a "screw driver" sticking out of the handle of your knife that sometimes is pointing at your gut. http://www.ekknife.com/ekm3.html
If you want a pry bar get a pry bar. If you want a knife that can be used for light prying you'll sacrifice some of it's cutting ability because of compromises with the geometry. If prying is an important characteristic look for a knife with a prybar shaped tang extension that sticks out of the butt/grip. This keeps the prying off of the hardened blade where break/chip potential is higher, but means you've got a "screw driver" sticking out of the handle of your knife that sometimes is pointing at your gut. http://www.ekknife.com/ekm3.html
I have an old WWII Kabar that has some of the best steel for sharpening I've ever seen. Ditto for an old Camillus of the same pattern. They are not rust resistant but they are a hell of a knife. The tang runs through the grip (leather washers) and is riveted to the butt cap.
meathammer
Member
OR using a Kabar as a throwing knife. Yeah, young and stupid.
Yep, snapped off right at the guard. Oh Well. Nice knives though when used as a knife should be.
--meathammer
Yep, mines seen years and YEARS of use and (light) abuse.
I usually carry three blades, tool knife, package opener, and combat blade.
There's some overlap among knives, but this is a good policy
<- your package opening blade, in this day and age of pyschotic overpackaging in heavy plastics, is going to see LOTS of use and probably need frequent sharpening, it should be small, inoffensive (of course, you're welcome to pull out the tool knife if you wanna freak out aunt mable..) and sturdy.
<- your tool knife should have a chisel-edge and be sturdy enough to pry, chop and hack with, or even be serrated on one side for sawing - it depends a lot on what you'd use a tool knife FOR, cause some folks substitute a skinning blade here if they hunt a lot.
<- your combat knife should be just that, a weapon, and fully intended as such, check your local legalese before you start lugging it around tho, as many places are awfully flaky about true combat blades.
-K
I usually carry three blades, tool knife, package opener, and combat blade.
There's some overlap among knives, but this is a good policy
<- your package opening blade, in this day and age of pyschotic overpackaging in heavy plastics, is going to see LOTS of use and probably need frequent sharpening, it should be small, inoffensive (of course, you're welcome to pull out the tool knife if you wanna freak out aunt mable..) and sturdy.
<- your tool knife should have a chisel-edge and be sturdy enough to pry, chop and hack with, or even be serrated on one side for sawing - it depends a lot on what you'd use a tool knife FOR, cause some folks substitute a skinning blade here if they hunt a lot.
<- your combat knife should be just that, a weapon, and fully intended as such, check your local legalese before you start lugging it around tho, as many places are awfully flaky about true combat blades.
-K
Hobie
Member
Khaotic has it exactly right. You can get by with 2 of those blades on an SAK plus the "combat" blade.
IME, the Kabars are as described, good to excellent knives, poor axes and crowbars.
IME, the Kabars are as described, good to excellent knives, poor axes and crowbars.
1 old 0311
member
The K-bar is a great knife for what it was designed to do. The Fairbain Stykes is also a great knife , for a dagger. The Bowie is a super knife, it will cut, chop, and remove arms.Bill Bagwell has been pushing this style for years. Only drawback is size and weight.
No one gun is perfect for all occasions and the same holds true for knifes. In Iraq I would go with the Bowie. On the streets the K-bar.
Kevin
No one gun is perfect for all occasions and the same holds true for knifes. In Iraq I would go with the Bowie. On the streets the K-bar.
Kevin
You know, having looked at recent Ka-bar products I am not sure we're talking about the same knife ?
Mine is really old, beat up and looks something like an SW tactical, black, double-edged dagger style with close-fighting type grip, rather than round.
Nothing Ka-bar currently sells looks even remotely like it... best guess would be it's maybe based on the old M7 bayonet...
Any clue when/where this codger is from, folks ?
-K
Mine is really old, beat up and looks something like an SW tactical, black, double-edged dagger style with close-fighting type grip, rather than round.
Nothing Ka-bar currently sells looks even remotely like it... best guess would be it's maybe based on the old M7 bayonet...
Any clue when/where this codger is from, folks ?
-K
The kabar Fighting/Utility Knife is based on the old reliable Marbles "Ideal" sheath knife. Has been used/carried in every conflict since World War II, including Iraq. It is a great knife for general use, still being manufactured by several reputable US knife companies, such as, KaBar, Ontario, Camillus, and Case.
As with most things, it is not/cannot be everything to everybody ~ but that doesn't diminish it's reputation.
My 2 cents worth.........
John
As with most things, it is not/cannot be everything to everybody ~ but that doesn't diminish it's reputation.
My 2 cents worth.........
John
"""The traditional Ka-Bar has a rather flimsy tang.
I think the BK7 would be a superior replacement."""
I have the BK7. In all honesty I am scared of this knife. It came from the factory scary sharp. I get nervous every time I unsheath this bad boy. It has a very heavy blade and it takes very little momentum to do serious damage to any and all things. I have taken down 2" saplings with one swing and punched it thru a 55 gal. steel drum with ease. This is 10 times the knife that the K-Bar is IMO.
I think the BK7 would be a superior replacement."""
I have the BK7. In all honesty I am scared of this knife. It came from the factory scary sharp. I get nervous every time I unsheath this bad boy. It has a very heavy blade and it takes very little momentum to do serious damage to any and all things. I have taken down 2" saplings with one swing and punched it thru a 55 gal. steel drum with ease. This is 10 times the knife that the K-Bar is IMO.
The Beckers have uniformally cruddy grip scales. Their heat treatment seems to be somewhat inconsistent too.
I have used many of Uncle Sam's Ka-Bars and owned and used many of my own, and I have never seen one do what this Becker BK-9 did:
To recap: The Ka-Bars are excellent knives, can be a pretty tough hammer, but are not suited to throwing or using as a crowbar.
I have used many of Uncle Sam's Ka-Bars and owned and used many of my own, and I have never seen one do what this Becker BK-9 did:
To recap: The Ka-Bars are excellent knives, can be a pretty tough hammer, but are not suited to throwing or using as a crowbar.
Guns_and_Labs
Member
Well, I have a Ka-Bar that my great uncle carried "in the war", and a relatively new D2 version, and I can attest they both cut through bone very well. They don't skin worth a darn, but they're my favorite for cutting through elk bones, if I don't have a bone saw handy.
True, I've never tried chopping wood with one, which all the bowie fans seem to do with glee. I guess it depends on what you want to cut.
i have my grandfathers ka bar he was issued in 1942 it is still real sharp and a nice knife accept when i got it it had been in a tackel box for at least 15 years and the finsish is gone and the blade is pitted but it cleaned up nice i still use it for killing skates and sharks on the boat.
allmons
Member
Knife comments
Here I am, reading along, ready to comment on my KaBar combat knife when I read torpid's line. Next thing I know, diet Pepsi is spewing from my nose and I am laughing uncontrollably. Good one, torpid!
I have had my KaBar for better than 30 years, bought at Fort Polk long ago. I have no qualms still carrying this knife in any dangerous situation, but I keep a folding shovel and a camp axe in my BugOut gear so that I don't use the knife for inappropriate things.
Ummm.... I keep toilet paper also.
Here I am, reading along, ready to comment on my KaBar combat knife when I read torpid's line. Next thing I know, diet Pepsi is spewing from my nose and I am laughing uncontrollably. Good one, torpid!
I have had my KaBar for better than 30 years, bought at Fort Polk long ago. I have no qualms still carrying this knife in any dangerous situation, but I keep a folding shovel and a camp axe in my BugOut gear so that I don't use the knife for inappropriate things.
Ummm.... I keep toilet paper also.
hard to tell for sure in the picture but i would have to agree with you.
people make knives with thick grinds, thick steel, beefy handles and think thats good enough for a hard use knife when they could have made a knife that was tougher and cut better out of thinner stock with proper geometry and heat treating.
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