Recommendation? DBAD OEF Defender from KHHI, Thoughts?

[jatt47]

dbad OEF Defender | a knife of many eras | fighting knife

Designed by DBAD, the OEF Defender Knife is forged at KHHI. Long new and old school lines pair up together to form the most formidable fighting knife on the market today. A yesteryears warrior blade for Victory, Glory, Honor.

www.thekhukurihouse.com

Currently I EDC a Kabar & a Cold Steel Talwar.

The Talwar is difficult in vehicles & I can't trust the Kabar as a combat/field knife.
The OEF Defender could work as a hatchet, machete, e tool & a good knife.
I carry the Kabar 24/7 on a baldric, and will continue to do so.
The OEF would be for the field or vehicles - The Talwar everywhere else + religious purposes.
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Beside QC issues with KHHI I'm concerned the OEF is overbuilt at 7mm & 700g.
I think a 5mm 550-600g knife at that size (11") would be much better.

Any thoughts?
With the world cup code it's $95 shipped.

 

[shane45-1911]

I don't recommend KHHI.

If you are looking for a quality Napalese knife, check out Kailash Knives.

This thread has some info regarding KHHI that may be of interest:

I think I just found the closest thing to my Dream Knife... KHHI DBAD Mission 1.

If my Username hasn't already tipped you off and you haven't seen any of my past posts on this forum, I am a huge fan of Rambo Knives as well as sawback blades in general. I just love the aggressive look of the old Jimmy Lile Mission Knife featured in the very first Rambo film; First Blood, but...

www.bladeforums.com

 

[jatt47]

I don't recommend KHHI.

If you are looking for a quality Napalese knife, check out Kailash Knives.

This thread has some info regarding KHHI that may be of interest:

I think I just found the closest thing to my Dream Knife... KHHI DBAD Mission 1.

If my Username hasn't already tipped you off and you haven't seen any of my past posts on this forum, I am a huge fan of Rambo Knives as well as sawback blades in general. I just love the aggressive look of the old Jimmy Lile Mission Knife featured in the very first Rambo film; First Blood, but...

www.bladeforums.com

Read the thread, and my experience with the DBAD War Machine was that it scratches easy on a strop.
What do you think of the design of the OEF Defender itself?

 

[shane45-1911]

What do you think of the design of the OEF Defender itself?

The design is OK, but the execution of it wouldn't be for me. 7mm blade stock is a bit thick for my liking, and the relatively low sabre grind would not allow for great slicing potential. It might chop OK, however. I guess it depends what you want to do with it.

 

[jatt47]

The design is OK, but the execution of it wouldn't be for me. 7mm blade stock is a bit thick for my liking, and the relatively low sabre grind would not allow for great slicing potential. It might chop OK, however. I guess it depends what you want to do with it.

I asked Donnie about making it thinner & he said it'd throw off the balance.

I like the handle + drop point on the blade. It chops better than the Condor Atrox.

I could look at a Esee Junglas?
It's about 215 USD here so just over 2x.

 

[shane45-1911]

Any ideas?

What's your budget?

 

[jatt47]

What's your budget?

I'd prefer max like 200 CAD but 300 would be possible.
I paid 350 for the Talwar & would like to stay below that.
The OEF Defender from the Depot is 140 including tax & shipping. (worldcup2022 for 20% off)

 

[shane45-1911]

Absolutely nothing wrong with the Junglas, however it is just shy of a 10" blade if that is a deal breaker for you.

(I'm in Canada, too.)

 

[jatt47]

Absolutely nothing wrong with the Junglas, however it is just shy of a 10" blade if that is a deal breaker for you.

There seems to be very little above 9 or 10" that's not just a cheap & thin machete.

The Canadian depot might have better QC than regular KHHI.
The War machine was good - it's a guy out in Calgary.

 

[shane45-1911]

The site said 10.38 with a cutting edge of 9 3/4".

I just don't know any popular big knives outside the Esee or Condor.

The Amazon reviews on SP-10 keep saying it has an uneven grind.
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When we get up to 11-13" blades I don't even know of any beside the KHHI ones.

Yeah, I was referring to the cutting edge not the blade length - my apologies.

The 11" - 13" market is kind of the red-headed stepchild. There are options, but not in the price range you suggested. TOPS has some models, but again outside of your budget.

BTW, my SP10 had perfectly even grinds.

 

[jatt47]

Yeah, I was referring to the cutting edge not the blade length - my apologies.

The 11" - 13" market is kind of the red-headed stepchild. There are options, but not in the price range you suggested. TOPS has some models, but again outside of your budget.

BTW, my SP10 had perfectly even grinds.

The TOPS Power Eagle 12 & Armageddon look real nice, but yea expensive.

How do you like the sheath on the SP10? I like the SP6 as well, and if the Kabar breaks I'd get it.
Reviewers dog the Ontario sheaths a lot.

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Hmm, there are a bunch of Cold Steel Dirks & Bowie's in the price range and at that length.
Will look into it, and edit the post.

Thanks,

 

[shane45-1911]

How do you like the sheath on the SP10?

It's ok - functional, if nothing else.

My SP10 doesn't see a lot of use however. I'm not a fan of half-width tangs for a large "hard use" knife. I have many other knives that fulfill my hard use requirements that see far more use.

 

[rustinxcohle]

How do you like the sheath on the SP10? I like the SP6 as well, and if the Kabar breaks I'd get it.
Reviewers dog the Ontario sheaths a lot.

Let me jump in on this...

I like the SP10. I used mine as a beater and coudn't find a way to kill this thing. As stated in the ontario forum, mine came with uneven bevels and primary grind. You have to look close to get it, but I would still considere it a flaw on a more expensive knife. But for the price I'm good with it. The sheath I really like, too. It is functional and sturdy. If anyone asks for a budget bowie, I recommend the SP10. What elevates it, other than it's size, frome the rest of the SP line is the solid metal guard which is big enough to work as intended but doesn't get in the way when doig fine work.

Maybe the Cold Steel 1917 Frontier Bowie would be a good choice? Large, nearly indestructable and carrys really nice because of the versatile sheath. Pricing is good too imho.

 

[CA504]

For <300 CAD, the only option that I am aware of that wasn’t already mentioned is the Svörd Von Tempsky bowie.

I really like mine, though it’s not for everyone. The finish is rough and the grip is a little square. I don’t mind the finish, and I took a rasp and contoured the grip so it’s quite functional now.

Spec wise, mine mics out at 7.5mm thick and weighs 2lbs 2oz’s with an 11.6” blade. Supposedly, the steel is either 8670 or 15N20, but either way, it is easy to sharpen by hand and yet holds a good edge. Even with the convex grind, it’s one of the sharpest knives that I own.

It’s what I call functionally indestructible. You won’t ever break one of these unless you really try. Or maybe not even then.

It comes with a nice leather sheath too.

https://imgur.com/a/geOWXvc

 

[fishface5]

Becker?

 

[jatt47]

Steel matters a lot when it comes to blade bend/breakability.
Kabar Cutlass in 1085 doesn't break & is cheaper/lighter than DBAD OEF.
Kabar USMC has a good heat treat for 1095 & bends, but doesn't break.

Joe X torture tests restored my faith in Kabar & I'll keep the Talwar/Kabar combo.
A 7" blade can handle everything but chopping, and I can get a cutlass/machete for that.

Thanks guys,

 

[jatt47]

Shower/Gym Blade (Bombus)
Kabar
Talwar
Clean Strop

Had em out to clean & hone

(deleted images on discord & embeds broke)

 

[jatt47]

Got the DBAD OEF Defender - returning it.

Sharpened brick very slow in hand

850g w/ sheath

comically large handle but weight within spec

 

[jatt47]

Shipped the DBAD OEF Defender back - they claimed they would reimburse me for the $25 Canada Post cost to Calgary.

 

[jatt47]

Update on KHHI return - they're claiming the blade is rusted, has signs of use and someone used a file on it.
Obviously, a tactic to deny the return and thank god for credit card/paypal protections.

I literally took the blade out, weighed it & put it back without even taking off the plastic wrap!

Edit - they ended up refunding + return shipping so all well that end well.