Big tough fixed blade

L

Livebythesword

Joined
Aug 1, 2008
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I was looking at the Ka-bar Black Fighter, that is the 203mm long one with the extra wide blade. Does anybody have any experience with one of these? If the tang is the same as a standard USMC Ka-bar I'd be a bit worried, it would have to be a bit tougher for that size blade. I could also go with the Warthog or Heavy Bowie (though I don't like its looks). I would appreciate any input.
 
Vintage KA-BAR military produced knives are adequate..

But..

Hand made in the USA by, Jim Behring, & Jim Behring Jr.'s Treeman knives..

new-treeman-combat-large.jpg


Now that's what one want's in combat.:thumbup:
 
I have had many many Kabar knives. Never had any issue with lack of toughness. You need not spend any more than a Kabar costs to have a good reliable knife. People worry way to much about equipment and what it costs than they do about learning how to use what they have or surviving with the brain not what they can buy. If one can't survive with a 20.00 knife, you won't make with a $500.00 knife either.
 
As wonderful as the Ka-Bar is, the handle design is what it is. If a GI's Ka-Bar breaks, he can borrow another from his buddy. If it breaks due to a manufacturing defect on yours, can you borrow another as easily ? A 7", 3/16", 1095 blade can be had in a Rat-7 with a much more foolproof tang/handle assembly.
All that aside, I'm thinking about a $49 Ka-Bar myself, but I'm not heading into the jungle with it.
 
There is nothing wrong with the Ka-Bar's tang. It has proved itself an excellent knife for over 60 years but suddenly somebody here says the tang is weak and you guys all jump on the bandwagon and light your torches.
 
Actually I was saying the handle design is susceptable to manufacturing defects that could complicate things for you in ways other designs won't.
 
why not look at some of the best i think....crusader forge knifes and the extreme ratio (italian) some tuff stuff!!!
 
You can go out and buy yorself a Kabar, or two. You can also buy the Swedish equivalent, if you look at volumes. The common Mora knife, and buy TEN.
I know peoplew like to buy 500$ knives handmade from the remains of ship this or airplane that, however it is still just ONE knife and if you loose it you loose it, you dont have any knife. If you bought Moras for 500$ you would most likely have 99 left if you drop one :)

Bark River, Fallkniven and RAT are also god choices.
 
udtjim said:
I have had many many Kabar knives. Never had any issue with lack of toughness. You need not spend any more than a Kabar costs to have a good reliable knife. People worry way to much about equipment and what it costs than they do about learning how to use what they have or surviving with the brain not what they can buy. If one can't survive with a 20.00 knife, you won't make with a $500.00 knife either.
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I could not agree more with the meaning of this quote. Except I would substitute $45.00-$50.00 dollar knife where you have "$20.00 knife", cause if you know where I can get a decent knife made in the USA anymore for $20.00, I sure as hell would like to know where?. Otherwise, point well taken!
 
tabeeb762 said:
There is nothing wrong with the Ka-Bar's tang. It has proved itself an excellent knife for over 60 years but suddenly somebody here says the tang is weak and you guys all jump on the bandwagon and light your torches.
Click to expand...

I’m glad to hear you say that. I always loved Ka-bars but I was a bit worried when I heard rumours about the tangs breaking. I’d say you’d have to push them hard to break them. There is a bunch of destruction test videos on knifetests.com, where a guy picks a knife and runs it through a series of tests until it is destroyed. He tests the USMC Ka-bar, the Warthog Ka-bar, the D2 Ka-bar and the Heavy Bowie Ka-bar. Unfortunately I can’t watch these videos because my Internet connection is rubbish.
 
If a guy is on a budget then he's on a budget. I'm always on a tight knife buying budget so it pretty well knocks anything out that is over $150 or so. If I did scrape up and save to buy a $200+ knife I'd hate to use it because if I needed my investment back I could sell it for more unused than all beat up.

All that being said I think the Ka-bar would be a fine knife. I Wouldn't be afraid to use it and I would accept that it's not indestructible (what is?). I would want a knife that I wouldn't hesitate to use and wouldn't be too afraid of losing it or breaking it. But as always YMMV and to each his own.
 
Exactly. Thank you for pointing that out JTC. The more indestructable your knife is the more expensive it was, as a result you won't want to push it. That means a waste of indestructability and money. You follow?
 
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