A classic American showdown

A

AshesFall

Joined
Jul 16, 2019
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Two classic knives... Two American icons... The KABAR USMC vs The BUCK 119 SPECIAL. Which knife do you guys think is the greater American icon and why? Let the showdown begin..
 
Post war story goes that plenty
of returning servicemen had in civillian
life, felt comfortable using the kbar
pattern for outdoor activities.
I would like to think that the spread
of their accumalated wartime knife
use and countless experiences shared
in the oral tradition, plus the availability
of reasonably priced surplus knives and
early adverts had boosted the popularity
and wide adoption of kbar pattern amongst
outdoorsmen since.
The buck 119 appears to be a take on the
Kbar, blade wise. The raised clip point
styling and fancy aluminium fittings made
it a fancy refined outdoors knife. As i
understand it, some privately purchased knives has seen service in small wars such as the vietnam conflict, whilst the kbar
continued to soldier on in its official usgi capacity. Overall, the 119 is a slightly better
knife in constuction and materials. But it has
no lore. There must be a reason why buck
knives came up with the brama, perhaps
as a tribute to the kbar - the undisputed king.
 
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Every time I see someone post a picture of a heavily used military knife. They say “if only it could talk.”

Most of those would tell a story of being bought post war still covered in cosmoline. Bought by a BoyScout and used on many a camp out and day hike.

Here is a pair of surplus pal knives I bought one still wrapped.

view
 
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I like Kabars. I suspect the Buck is better.

I have only one actual war knife, a Luftwaffe gravity knife from ww2.
It was made by SMF. A war trophy from a friend of my father, I would
not trade it for 10 Kabars. It has numerous nazi proofmarks and is early
production. It is battle worn but functions perfectly. It also holds the distinction
as being my most valuable knife. Here in NC gravity knives are legal and I
sometimes rock it!

PS. My Tru Tempur machete from ww2 does not count...it was surplus that
never saw battle. I think dad paid 5 dollars for it...perhaps less.
 
My vote would go to the Kabar. In all the years I spent touring, camping and rallying on motorcycles, the Kabar seemed to be the most useful, carried by the most riders. For a time, the Buck was favored by Harley riders, not an endorsement I would find persuasive.

Both are iconic; I have both, but have never carried either.
 
The Ka-Bar. No doubt.

I mean, the Buck 119 is a great Knife-i also own one.
But: I've seen more Ka-Bar's on TV, books or video games than Buck's.
My grandfather told me, that he and his comrades knew, that every GI had a "Bärentöter-Messer" (Bearkiller-knife). :rolleyes:
This "fact" concerns the boys in their trench more than all Garands und Tommy guns together... (at least, it was only one sherman tank came rolling to his village ;))
 
Clearly the Kabar, it's still better even if it's not better.... because reasons.

Anyone who disagrees is wrong.
 
The greater American icon has to be KaBar. When you say KaBar, most people know what you are talking about. Try doing that with the Buck 119 special. Most folks won't have a clue what knife you are referring to.
 
popedandy said:
The greater American icon has to be KaBar. When you say KaBar, most people know what you are talking about. Try doing that with the Buck 119 special. Most folks won't have a clue what knife you are referring to.
Click to expand...

They might not know the name. But they know the look. I bet the Buck has been in more horror movies than the Kabar and is an icon to folks who grew up in that era.
 
I think it depends on which area of the country you’re in. Around here I never see a Kabar but I see plenty of Buck 119 specials. So for me the 119 special is iconic. I don’t know if it’s a cultural thing or marketing as other areas I’ve been to are just the opposite. And it maybe the combination of marketing and availability through different outlets and suppliers. If it’s on the shelf locally and that’s all they have without special ordering that’s what most people will buy especially if they’re not familiar with something else and maybe haven’t heard about them.
 
Hard to choose.
I love my 119 but don't yet own the Ka-bar.

It depends if you want stainless or 1095, want the thicker blade of the 119, the more universal handle shape of the Ka-bar, the better sheath of the 119, want a factory left sheath which buck offers, and lastly if you want to possibly get a fancier knife In a higher end steel from the Buck custom shop.
 
Lesknife said:
...Around here I never see a Kabar but I see plenty of Buck 119 specials... I don’t know if it’s a cultural thing or ..maybe the combination of marketing and availability ... If it’s on the shelf locally and that’s all they have ... that’s what most people will buy especially if they’re not familiar with something else....
Click to expand...
I think you have a point.
Whilst buck knives has had no large scale
wartime use history, it does have a marketed
brand corporate image.
Buck knives popularity is attributed largely as being a trusted family owned business for the hunting knives, means that it
probably has a customer base of potential
father to son buck knife use spanning generations.
It has great potential in creating a legacy of intergenerational sworn Buck knife users.
Its a different route towards popularity,
but given time will surely be one that works
for as long as their business course remain relavant to the times.
 
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Hickory n steel said:
the better sheath of the 119, want a factory left sheath which buck offers,.
Click to expand...

I respectfully disagree about the sheaths. The Kabar leather sheath is by far my favorite sheath to carry. It hangs right where I want it. Doesn’t rattle and just plane works. I use a Kabar leather sheath for all my 7 inch knives even my Randall. Buck may have a lefty sheath but Kabar has the ambidextrous hard plastic one.

If you want the all time American Iconic knife it’s the BUCK 110.
 
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