Apples and Oranges comparison, really.
I do want to expound a little. Yes, 1095CV steel is present in both Kabar and BKT knives. Yes, heat treat is pretty much a standard for the 1095CV leaving Orlean. No, the knives are not alike in any manner. I'll focus on just the USA made knives, not that there is anything wrong with Kabars imports, but lets just compare the knvies made in the USA.
BKT's are overbuilt. In thickness, lenght, and width. They are designed to be used HARDER than most knives are. What does that mean? That when Ethan sat down, he had someone like me in mind, when users come to mind. Typically, I don't over abuse my knives, but most of the time, if I need something done, I don't mind sacrificing a blade to the gods. Perfect example,
That's a Kabar 1217, that I bought in 2003. It spent many a day on my hip in the Smokies, and many other places. I finally retired it to the wood stove in winter of 2008. Now, my wood knives, are there to split seasoned hardwood so they will fit in my stove. I use an axe out back to take huge to big, and my knives to take big to small. Its an age old art. Anyhoo, that Kabar in the pic, done wood stove duty for 3 seasons, splitting enough wood to literally fill a dump truck. 3 ricks a season, 3 seasons, 9 ricks of wood= dump truck load, seriously.
So, would you say that Kabar knife "failed"? No, wanna know why? Its a fighting knife. Thin stock, well ground, and desinged to be a combat/utility knife for soldiers, oh, I'll say, 80 years ago. Technology has advanced quite a bit, but for some reason, well made designs stick around. 1911, Kabar, M2 machine gun, you know, stuff like that.
Not to say, the 1217 (or brethren) don't do well as a woods knife (hence the Utility in the name) its quite the contrary. The thinner stock makes a damn fine cutter, the clip point works well for "splinter picking" or small stuff, the leather handle is tough as rhino ass cheeks, and you can bop in tent stakes with the pommel, I don't recommend it, but it can be done. (don't stab yourself in the eye)
So, lets look at the Kabar 1217 and the BK7, they were meant to be combatants, but on a different field. The 1217 has a 90 degree cut, where the tang changes width. BK7 doesn't. The 1217 is thinner stock, but has a fuller to augment the weight, so it lighter, and faster in the hand. That's what you want in a fighting knife. The BK7 has a small pommel extension, for headache making, the 1217 has a flat 1/4" steel plate, good for headaches, and pounding (keep the sheath on if you do this).
So, which is a better knife? Neither, they are just different, that's all. Which one would I take? Tough call, I have both, use both, and love each one.
I will say this, my uncle put a 1217 in my hand over 25yrs ago, following the words, "you're gonna need a good knife". So, if there was one knife that ever brought me into the knife community, it was the Kabar 1217 Korean Era Fighting/Utility Knife. Yar.
Moose
