Does the KA-BAR USMC have a strong tang?

Cold Kill said:
Maybe the weeds in question were mutated monstrosities, and he barely walked away with his life. Or maybe he was killing the weeds by smashing cinderblocks on them with the knife. Those at least make some sense of his total bull story.
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I don't know. He told me he broke it while weeding his yard. Not sure how, of course weeding to him means everything he didn't plant. So I'm not sure, now he has a gerber machete and my older Ontario short machete to work his yard with. As for bull story, I just quoted my father, that is all. Do I think its a good knife sure, do I think all things are break able, yes. It was old, been used probably for much more than just weeding and that's when it gave up the ghost. Sorry if I got your stockings in a bunch.
 
I've used several of the generic combat/utility knives over the last 40 years, mostly manufactured by either Camillus or Ontario that were basically identical to the Ka-Bar, as a general utility knife for farm and general outdoor work, and when I say used, I mean for anything from cutting or chopping to digging, prying, and pounding, and never had a one fail me. I've always heard that the actual Ka-Bar is, if anything, stronger and of better quality than the other versions. They're strong, dependable, and, best of all, very reasonably priced.
 
zachtateknives said:
I don't know. He told me he broke it while weeding his yard. Not sure how, of course weeding to him means everything he didn't plant. So I'm not sure, now he has a gerber machete and my older Ontario short machete to work his yard with. As for bull story, I just quoted my father, that is all. Do I think its a good knife sure, do I think all things are break able, yes. It was old, been used probably for much more than just weeding and that's when it gave up the ghost. Sorry if I got your stockings in a bunch.
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No, you didn't offend me in the slightest. The hyperbole and exaggeration are my primary tools in my war against... well... I don't really know. I did not know the knife was old, nor that he "weeds" like my dad does ("I don't want that, it's a weed."). The knife could very well have corroded at the base of the blade, or he could have been batoning thick saplings in the wrong spot, there are a million possible solutions. Sorry if my post sounded like I was attacking you, I was just throwing my sense of humor out, and sarcasm still does not type well.

On a side note, I got to talk to an ex-SEAL, and asked him about this knife, and he said it was an amazing knife. An ex-SEAL praising the knife he used in Vietnam pretty much seals (convenient, albeit unintended pun) the deal.
 
Hey guys. I love the KABAR and always have. When I was a kid growing up in Australia when I thought survival knife I saw KABAR. I loved/ love the idea that the knife is both utility and survival tool in one. I love the carried on tradition of the stacked leather washer handle and the subtle updates. The KABAR is a very decent mass produced knife, reflected by a cheap price.

With sincere respect to our allies the Yanks, both past and present, however in my humble opinion the KABAR is greatly over-rated both as a survival knife and as a combat knife. I state this with reference to now and the past. There is allot of evidence based literature out there by knifes historians, illustrating that the Germans in fact had the best combat knife of WWII. It had a double edged blade that ended half way up, one side of the knife (full sharp edge running the full length of blade the other side) so this blunt edge portion could be used for hammering. It was full tang, with a wooden handle fastened by 3 beefy pins. It had both a reach (9.4" blade) and penetration advantage (pointy tip) over the KABAR. It was made by Solingen in Germany.

The fact is the Europeans have always been the superior leaders where knife technology is concerned. Especially the Scandinavians, who have been making knifes since the Viking days! If you really want a super-tough survival knife that you can bet you're life on for both combat and utility tasks, forget the KARBAR melodrama and get yourself a Swedish Fallkniven A1 or S1 Survival Knife!
 
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I managed to bend one at the tang when I was a teenager by throwing it at a tree:rolleyes: Of course, I put it between a couple of stumps and bent it back true with no issue. I bought that knife when I was 17. About 17 years later I still have it in my knife chest. Scratched up, finish worn, nicks sharpened out, etc. It was not babied and could still do a hard day's work.

I don't have any other Ka-Bars because this one has been more that capable for what I need it to do. I like the Ka-Bar enough that I'm seriously thinking about getting a Big Brother sooner than later. I don't NEED one, but I think it's a pretty cool knife:D
 
Steely_Gunz. You go man. Get one!

I can see why your KABAR bent at the tang. The tang while full and pinned to the pommel, it is not broad like a Fallkniven tang, see here on official USA KABAR website;

http://www.kabar.com/knives/military-tactical

I see the KABAR, metaphotically speaking, like American Muscle vs European Technowiz! Haaa haa...
 
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I had a friend who broke two Ka-bar fighting-utility knives by throwing them into trees. After his first knife broke, he was gifted another one, but I guess he didn't learn his lesson. Ka-bars aren't throwing knives, and altho many people use them to baton I wouldn't recommend that either. It seems the most common breaking point on Ka-bar's FU knives is where the blade connects to the tang, as others have also mentioned. Still a great knife.
 
I don't understand the love this knife has, as even in my most misguided youth I never considered this a serious knife, not with sub-3/16" stock, ineffective low sabre grind that makes the thin stock mandatory, and especially that horrible paper-thin guard... Add the cheapo thin leather sheath with no spacers while we are at it...

I do like much better the more recent Kraton, or plastic, handled versions that have the much thicker single quillion guard and plastic sheaths. The old cheap guard seems designed to make sure you don't know which way is sharp in the dark...

Gaston
 
DrIndianaJones said:
With sincere respect to our allies the Yanks, both past and present, however in my humble opinion the KABAR is greatly over-rated both as a survival knife and as a combat knife. I state this with reference to now and the past. There is allot of evidence based literature out there by knifes historians, illustrating that the Germans in fact had the best combat knife of WWII. It had a double edged blade that ended half way up, one side of the knife (full sharp edge running the full length of blade the other side) so this blunt edge portion could be used for hammering. It was full tang, with a wooden handle fastened by 3 beefy pins. It had both a reach (9.4" blade) and penetration advantage (pointy tip) over the KABAR. It was made by Solingen in Germany.
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With all due respect, there is no magical steel that one country/culture posesses that is better than another countries steel. Even so-called Viking swords varied in quality and were manufactured throughout Europe, wherever the sword makers resided. Just as back then so today, you want the finest quality steel, then you will have to pay top dollar for it.

I fail to see how a small narrow dagger design is the best combat knife. Even the German army preferred the use of the spade for H2H. Is the Fallkniven A1 or S1 a stronger design, perhaps but that's the point. It was designed to be stronger. Thicker blade stock, wider tang, integral rubber guard and the price tag to prove it. The 1219c2 was designed to be an inexpensive disposable cutting tool for short duration conflicts. It is simply a throw away tool. Some buy the Kabar because of the hype but a person with any common sense will know the strengths and weaknesses of this design and choose accordingly.
 
Gaston444 said:
I don't understand the love this knife has, as even in my most misguided youth I never considered this a serious knife, not with sub-3/16" stock, ineffective low sabre grind that makes the thin stock mandatory, and especially that horrible paper-thin guard... Add the cheapo thin leather sheath with no spacers while we are at it...

I do like much better the more recent Kraton, or plastic, handled versions that have the much thicker single quillion guard and plastic sheaths. The old cheap guard seems designed to make sure you don't know which way is sharp in the dark...

Gaston
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Me too. Never wanted one. Picked one up more than a couple times in stores to handle and put them down regardless of the praise bestowed on the knife by the sales person.

Real old thread here.... Surprised you raised it from the dead.
 
I carried one back in the early 80's when I was in the military.

Worked fine for me in the 4 years I carried it, from the jungle to the desert, screaming hot to 50 below.
 
30 years ago and before, thick knives were not in. The Ka-Bar was pretty average in thickness and had a great price point and could do everything needed. In the military it worked well and if it was lost or stolen it was not a big loss. There are much better knives today for sure, but a ka-bar has history to go with it which many people love to collect.
 
I've used a Camillus USMC, that had been in 'Nam then given to me, for outdoor tasks since the '60's. It's been a very reliable, tough knife. Still is.
 
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