Recommendation? Best Ka-Bar On the Market ATM?

Count Zero said:
Wanted to pick one up for a USMC vet relative as a gift, but first wanted to find the best/ most reliably made version on the market.

Is there anything out there atm appreciably better than this?
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KaBar is the real deal, top of the line for that style of knife. A WW II classic design.

When I wanted to give a friend who is a Marine vet a knife for a special occasion, the knife you are looking at is the one that I chose. My friend loved it.
 
Ideally, I'm looking to get one as close to historical USMC specs as possible. That's my overriding criteria.
 
Count Zero said:
Wanted to pick one up for a USMC vet relative as a gift, but first wanted to find the best/ most reliably made version on the market.

Is there anything out there atm appreciably better than this?
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Honestly, this is it. This is the one. Opening that box and holding this knife will be like coming home for your relative. Please thank him for his service, and good on you for wanting to give such a nice gift.
 
The True North said:
If you don't plan on batonning or prying, the standard Ka-Bar is an excellent cutting tool.
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I only partly agree. I've got Marine friends who put their Kabars through some horrendous abuse, and never had any issues with breakage. I've held the knives personally that they talked about using when breaking up pallets, opening various nailed shut crates and so on. So, mileage variance, I guess.
 
Quiet said:
I only partly agree. I've got Marine friends who put their Kabars through some horrendous abuse, and never had any issues with breakage. I've held the knives personally that they talked about using when breaking up pallets, opening various nailed shut crates and so on. So, mileage variance, I guess.
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I agree completely. They are much more robust and capable than the forums and internet lore would imply.

They absolutely can handle whatever most people will throw at them.
 
The True North said:
I agree completely. They are much more robust and capable than the forums and internet lore would imply.

They absolutely can handle whatever most people will throw at them.
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I hit send above before I finished my thought, but wanted to also say that your mention of batoning, I can't argue with that. My buddies never mentioned doing as such with theirs, so if the OP or anyone really, wants a knife to baton with, they may want to look elsewhere for a full-tang knife. I know I personally would not want to be batoning with a stick tang knife!
 
If it's mostly for show, I'd pick up a vintage KA BAR brand fighting utility or USN Mk 2. Failing that, Camillus made a billion of them.

I say mostly for show not because they are fragile, but because they are collectible.

Otherwise it'd be a new KA-BAR brand KA-BAR, or maybe the D2 "Extreme" version without serrations.

From a utilitarian standpoint the tan rubber handled version is on sale from KA-BAR.
 
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