Broke my Ka-Bar... need a replacement camp knife.

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NothingCoherent

Joined
Feb 2, 2010
Messages
324
Today I learned (the hard way) that it's true when you hear about the tang on a standard Ka-Bar being weak. So now I'm in the market for a replacement.

I need a blade capable of some light chopping; not much, just enough to make a baton stick usually. And it needs to be around 7", as the blades primary purpose will be batoning wood, and 7" is perfect size for the logs my little folding saw cuts up. Oh, it's gotta have a full tang. lol.

So what do you guys recommend as a general camping / backpacking blade?

I'm partial to drop point style blades and leather sheaths. And also, since I KNOW you guys are going to tell me to get an ESEE-6, I will mention that I previously owned one and traded it out because I just wasn't "feeling" it, as nice of a blade as it was. Just not my thing.
 
what's your budget?

why didn't you like the ESEE 6? seems like a very decent deal for the money.

also take a look at the Lobo by JK Knives in the Makers section. if not the ESEE 6. the Lobo would probably be my next choice. unless i stumbled on something in the FS section.
Lobo $200.00 11 1/4" oal, 6 1/4" blade, 3/16" thick
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or ML Knives makes some nice camp knives in a more retro style.

any anything by Fiddleback is VERY ice, but his bigger knives get spendy. not that they're not worth it, but i don't know what your budget is.

and Bark River makes a wide variety of designs and should have something that might meet your needs.
 
Sorry to hear about your kabar.

Have you considered going with a blade from one of our resident knifemakers? I have a Hudson Bay camp knife / chopper from JK Handmade Knives, and I can say with confidence that he puts out top-notch working blades for the w&ss market. I can't recommend his work enough.

If you're planning to stick with a production model, I have heard good things about the kabar line of Becker knives. I have a BK-9 from the old Camillus range that has seen years of hard use and still splits wood and shaves hair like it did the day I bought it. If the Kabar line is comparable, that would be a solid choice.

Just a few suggestions to get the ball rolling.

All the best,

- Mike
 
Mark Wohlwend told me he wanted to make a Camp knife and said see what I can come up with.
This is a rough drawing of what I had in mind, I know he has the steel now so why not give him a shout !

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By Pitdog2010 at 2010-09-07

13 1/4" overall; 8" blade; 5 1/4" handle, 3/16 L6 steel. .

More finger clearance for when ya slicing food stuff etc !
 
These are some great suggestions! I think I'm definitely going to look around at the customs here on the forum. I'd probably like to keep the cost under $150, though. Anything more than that and I find myself scared to REALLY thump on the knife.

Keep the suggestions coming! It's wonderful to see everyones favored knives.
 
NothingCoherent said:
These are some great suggestions! I think I'm definitely going to look around at the customs here on the forum. I'd probably like to keep the cost under $150, though. Anything more than that and I find myself scared to REALLY thump on the knife.

Keep the suggestions coming! It's wonderful to see everyones favored knives.
Click to expand...

get an ESEE....great warranty (that rhymes!)
 
Recon Scout. Batons like nothing else. And you never feel like you can't beat on it. Good for some chopping too.

batoning2.jpg
 
i'll throw a +1 for Mark W's work and pitdog's designs... but that rough sketch of he posted above could use a little cleanup on the handle transitions IMHO, but i say that about most of his drawings. that doesn't mean i don't like his stuff. :D

a Becker will give you a lot for the money, and they have the optional micarta scales now.

but some of the custom makers like JK and Mark W. will usually give you a knife for significantly less than Bark River would charge for a similar design. it's just going to be hard to find a larger knife like what you're looking for from them unless you find one for sale that already has a little experience.

also check out David Farmer.
 
The Buck 119 is a fine knife and well within your price range. I also really like the looks of this thing. I don't have the Blackjack, nor have I handled one, but it certainly is purty. Likely the closest I'll ever get to a Randall #14.
 
I have been happy with a Scrapyard Regulator, TOPS Screaming Eagle, Becker BK9, HI Chunk Munks, CS Master Hunter and Ranger RD7...all can do what your looking for and give you some choices in the process.
 
Ka-bar Becker Bk-7.Full width full length tang.
Or CS Recon Scout with full length tang and kraton handle.
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If you are on a really tight budget and/or like to mod heres one economical idea out of left field...a CS True-Flight thrower!
1055 carbon steel, 12" overall, 6" cutting edge, roughly 7" blade 3/16 thick 1.25 inches wide, full width full tang, 10.90 ounces includes a functional but not fancy sheath.
$20-$30 price range.
I've batonned with mine repeatedly. Unlike some other throwing knives these are ground so they are actual knives and can take a decent edge.
I think this model might be a sleeper for the modder on a very tight budget!
At a glance the larger perfect balance thrower might appear more utilitarian but as it is a throwing knife the handle on that model is ridiculously long if you just want to use it as a knife, also the handle slabs are very smooth, small, thin but tough screwed-on plastic .
However the true flight handle length is in the normal length range for a using knife. Also the true flights leather core-interior paracord-wrap-exterior handle is more comfortable.
I'm really to tempted to mod the heck out of one (grind away that top bump/strip the finish/put a wood handle on it) just to see its potential as a real knife.
Over the winter i might acquire another spare of these for modding and start a thread on modding it into a user knife.
 
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knife for a spliter? why dont you just use a small ax? use the knives for what knives are supposed to be used for. gerber makes great small and very light axes. cheap too
 
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