Recommendation? Friend cannot decide which knife to choose

Which Ka-Bar to pick?

  • Ka-Bar Short 1254 (tanto)

    Votes: 3 7.9%

  • Ka-Bar Short 1256 (clip point)

    Votes: 35 92.1%
  • Total voters
    38
S

Smiling

Joined
Nov 21, 2019
Messages
1,495
He wants a Ka-Bar, he doesn't plan to actually use it, he just wants to have a Ka-Bar.

He aims for short models, leather sheath and he can't decide between tanto or classic design.

His reason for tanto is higher grind on short model, meaning it might cut better if he ever uses it, but classic is a classic, and leather sheath might fit it better.

What's your take? What would you pick and why?
 
I almost always take clip point or drop point over tanto. I've owned a tanto blade Emerson, I used it because I paid for it, it was an expensive beater. That said, every knife since has not been a tanto. I find the tip less useful on a tanto for finer things.

Also, classic is classic. Clip points are sexy.
 
He would take full sized one, but it turns out he has a valid reason for smaller model...

He'll keep it under his pillow and full size model is going to be too large for that, and before you ask - yes he does have a reason for that.

He decided to go for classic model, reason for leather sheath is that it's way more silent and there is no rattle like with polymer one.
 
Sorry...so he doesnt plan on actually using it but he also wants to keep it under his pillow? Going for a leather sheath due to it being "quiet" all seems to indicate that this is self defense?

If that is the case than perhaps the tanto has merit.
 
c7m2p3 said:
Sorry...so he doesnt plan on actually using it but he also wants to keep it under his pillow? Going for a leather sheath due to it being "quiet" all seems to indicate that this is self defense?

If that is the case than perhaps the tanto has merit.
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He most likely won't have to ever use it, but if he does - he'll be using it in self defense.
 
Smiling said:
He most likely won't have to ever use it, but if he does - he'll be using it in self defense.
Click to expand...
Well in that case there is a good reason to look at the tanto. I agree with others that the classic clip point looks better, but the entire point of tanto blade shapes is that they have added tip strength to handle puncturing thrusts.
 
c7m2p3 said:
Well in that case there is a good reason to look at the tanto. I agree with others that the classic clip point looks better, but the entire point of tanto blade shapes is that they have added tip strength to handle puncturing thrusts.
Click to expand...
If he wanted a show piece he would go for stacked leather handle too. This is also why I asked for reasons to pick one model over the other.
 
c7m2p3 said:
Well in that case there is a good reason to look at the tanto. I agree with others that the classic clip point looks better, but the entire point of tanto blade shapes is that they have added tip strength to handle puncturing thrusts.
Click to expand...
I agree, secondary point of tanto tip can also slash well...
 
Situation is like this:
There is very little chance he will ever have to use it.
And if he does, the clip point would likely perform about the same as tanto.
But still, no matter how minimal the difference is and how small are the chances of that performance gap making different outcome, it's still not impossible and one can't do anything but wonder about it.

Should he go with clip point for tradition and looks or just pick the one he thinks will better performer for the task that is very unlikely to occur?

He keeps going back and forth on these 2, and at this point I told him to throw a coin and make an order...
 
Smiling said:
Situation is like this:
There is very little chance he will ever have to use it.
And if he does, the clip point would likely perform about the same as tanto.
But still, no matter how minimal the difference is and how small are the chances of that performance gap making different outcome, it's still not impossible and one can't do anything but wonder about it.

Should he go with clip point for tradition and looks or just pick the one he thinks will better performer for the task that is very unlikely to occur?

He keeps going back and forth on these 2, and at this point I told him to throw a coin and make an order...
Click to expand...

Pick whatever one he likes at this point. Self defense with knives is already iffy for a layman and the most likely scenario is this ends up in his bed side dresser to pop off clothing tags. If he likes the look of one slightly more than the other go with that one.
 
If it’s self defense he seeks, bear spray…..then club them like a baby harp seal on the way out the door.
 
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TDI USSF Astro MP​

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Ideal for opening freeze-dried food, mail from home, repairs to the ship, and self-defense.
 
Sounds like he's going about all this entirely wrong. Leather can be great, in the right circumstances, but under your pillow with a sharp blade is questionable at best. Especially since it would have that retention snap to fight with. From inopportune position, for him or the knife.
If he's going for a self defense item he would likely only ever use at night from bed, assuming a shotgun is out of the picture, he needs a good strong metal body flashlight with a really bright led and enough weight to swing.
 
Like the man said, classic is classic. I'd get a full size, and a clip point, and a finish that was something like Parkerized. It doesn't even have to be made by Ka-Bar. Mine's a Gerber Case.

But, like the man said, what do I know. :)
 
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