Bk5 vs USMC Kabar for outdoors edc hard use knife.

A

axlplayer14

Joined
Dec 20, 2015
Messages
170
Title says it all. Looking for another knife to put in farm edc rotation. My BK2 is amazing. Just like variety in my edc. I've heard some say that the bk5 has a very delicate tip. What do you guys think?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Ha, I was just contemplating this too... I like the BK 5, but there is something so appealing about the 1217--in all honesty, I'd go with the 1317 (Dog head version w/o the full top guard). After reading The Lost Viking's thread here (first 30 days w/ Kabar Dog Head) I think it would be fine. While I prefer my fixed blades with full length and width tangs, the 1317 seemed to do just fine at all the woodsman tasks Lost Viking put it through. Along with that, it is light weight. I recently went on a 10 mile hike w/ several thousand feet elevation gain, and I felt my Busse Hellrazor after a while.

I don't see the Kabar replacing some of my other fixed blades, but variety is cool, and it is such a classic. I'm close to pulling the trigger on a Dog's Head, but would love to see what other members have to say about this.

Here is the thread I mentioned:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1300572-Dog-s-Head-Utility-The-First-Thirty-Days
 
I would love the dogs head but for my uses the Kraton would be much better


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:
Only problem with the 15 is price. And I do like the size of a full sized fixed blade.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I'm just concerned with tip strength. That's a pretty big deal for my edc


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
the BK5 has an 8" blade -- that's a chunk longer than the BK2 and the 1217.
have you considered the BK17 or the BK10?
OTOH, dex does a killer mod on the 5, 7, & 9 cutting them down to a sheepsfoot, which obliterates any concerns about tip strength.
 
Last edited:
axlplayer14 said:
I'm just concerned with tip strength. That's a pretty big deal for my edc
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

The tip is pretty strong, but not bomber.
If you're concerned about the strength of a tip on a knife that strong, you should probably be adding a small prybar to your EDC kit instead of an extra 3" of blade. Just about any knife that holds an edge will be fundamentally somewhat brittle - it's the trade-off in heat-treating. Making it so strong you can pry open doors with it tends to turn the thing into a club (see BK-2), compromising some basic knife properties.

Vik makes a good point: the 10 is 3/16" thick, mid-height grind, and the swedge meeting at the tip is a rather strong diamond shape. One of my fav's.
 
I don't have any complaints about the 2 as my edc. Just looking for something else to use sometimes. Narrowed it down between the 5 and the USMC Kabar because of blade length and overall shape and weight. Not really interested in the 10 anymore. That was my original cross shop with the 2. I like having a good amount of belly for slicing so sheepsfoot doesn't really appeal to me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Well I like both your proposed alternatives to the 2. The dogs-head would be my pick of the entire USMC-style lineup. Sno-seal the handles and go to town. And the 5.... well, I own two. Why not get one now, plan to get the other later, and simply accept the limitations of each knife you carry when you've got it on you? Some days you won't want to pry doors open with your blade (bk-5). Other days slicing through an apple will just be silly (bk-2). There is no perfect tool, which is a good excuse to own several. :D
 
daizee said:
Well I like both your proposed alternatives to the 2. The dogs-head would be my pick of the entire USMC-style lineup. Sno-seal the handles and go to town. And the 5.... well, I own two. Why not get one now, plan to get the other later, and simply accept the limitations of each knife you carry when you've got it on you? Some days you won't want to pry doors open with your blade (bk-5). Other days slicing through an apple will just be silly (bk-2). There is no perfect tool, which is a good excuse to own several. :D
Click to expand...

Would the snow seal help with degradation from fertilizers and other chemicals? I deal with a lot of those and cannot clean off my blades that often



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
axlplayer14 said:
Would the snow seal help with degradation from fertilizers and other chemicals? I deal with a lot of those and cannot clean off my blades that often
Click to expand...

Hmm, well, better than nothing.
It's beeswax, and if you put it on warm it will soak into the handle pretty well. Clean it at the end of the day and you'll probably be good. *shrug* I think you're the expert on this one. :) Put it on your boots while you're at it.
 
daizee said:
Hmm, well, better than nothing.
It's beeswax, and if you put it on warm it will soak into the handle pretty well. Clean it at the end of the day and you'll probably be good. *shrug* I think you're the expert on this one. :) Put it on your boots while you're at it.
Click to expand...

That's why I was thinking of the Kraton handled versions. Similar thinking of the hard plastic sheaths instead because of the leather gets wet it will stay that way all day. Water + chemicals= no more steel, only rust.
 
Get the bk5. It is a great deal now and will not be available later. The tip will probably be fine but if you do break a little off you can just modify it and make a stronger less pointy tip.
 
Hey axl, check out the exchange, Fixed Blades Indiv. Sales on pg2 about a 3rd of the way down. A dude has a Kraton 1217 that he's cerakoted. He's jimped it and cut off the top guard. Looks choice. I'd add the link but that's not allowed and I might actually get in trouble for posting this. If this is a no-no then I likely get a smack on the bum-bum from the Blahhhhdeetayyy..

In any event, I like your choices and personally I'd go for the KABAR. The 5 is a hell of a blade but the USMC knives just don't get enough of a go in the field. I think it would be a great knife for EDC stuff..
 
If you can find one the Kabar 1264 leather handled Tanto is effing amazing. Super strong tip and really nimble, and it also has an excellent grind on it.
 
BeeKayNutCase said:
Hey axl, check out the exchange, Fixed Blades Indiv. Sales on pg2 about a 3rd of the way down. A dude has a Kraton 1217 that he's cerakoted. He's jimped it and cut off the top guard. Looks choice. I'd add the link but that's not allowed and I might actually get in trouble for posting this. If this is a no-no then I likely get a smack on the bum-bum from the Blahhhhdeetayyy..

In any event, I like your choices and personally I'd go for the KABAR. The 5 is a hell of a blade but the USMC knives just don't get enough of a go in the field. I think it would be a great knife for EDC stuff..
Click to expand...

Thanks beekay. I'll be sure to check it out


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top