Is Ka-Bar USMC really that good?

[Ultraman]

Watch "Hell in the Pacific" and you're gonna want a Ka-bar

 

[Locutus D'Borg]

OP: Was that tree mean to you?

 

[wensynch]

USMC is a fantastic combat knife. It's a rock that one can depend on.

It's a very good utility bush crafting knife, I mean it is a bowie knife which had been traditionally one of the predecessors to bushcraft.. tailored to combat mostly by adding the full guard, which then made the knife not so optimal for bush stuff. The pommel is also more combat oriented. All the other design features are the same. It's a black bowie knife. The grind is common. I can't recall if the USMC comes with a double edge; mine do. What about it makes it less bushy?

The USMC limits wrist movement that would help in bush craft, but the rigid grip is a necessity in guard, important for keeping one alive under pressure, same as when batoning, where the pressure is focused to a different direction, to a forward cut, where a spine would be useful.

The USMC is that good though and one of the knives I think everyone should have some chance of handling.

 

[orca8589]

Another knife you might consider us the Cattaraugus #225Q. It's called a "Quartermaster" knife, and it's a similar design to the Kabar USMC.

They haven't been in production since WWII, but can be found reasonably priced on a certain auction site.

~Chris

 

[Vicarious Reality]

It is certainly good, especially with the new old grind type that starts at the fuller, i have a USN on my table in front of my keyboard

Are there better knives? Of course there are, for example the fighter models from ka-bar has much wider tangs, but less useful blade shapes... also they only come serrated.... *shudders*

I would never baton knives to split wood, and i would extra never baton stick or skeleton tang knives to split wood

Sounds like you want a busse or imacasa

 

[leghog]

Another knife you might consider us the Cattaraugus #225Q. It's called a "Quartermaster" knife, and it's a similar design to the Kabar USMC.

They really aren't that similar. The Cattaraugus 225Q and Case 337-6Q make better "bushcrafters" than the USMC Kabar.

225Q

 

[Velitrius]

Ka-Bar USMC is awesome.... just not for your purposes.

You need a Cold Steel GI Tanto or a Gerber Strongarm.

And a better idea as to how to use knives.

 

[orca8589]

They really aren't that similar. The Cattaraugus 225Q and Case 337-6Q make better "bushcrafters" than the USMC Kabar.

225Q

You're right - by 'similar', I meant carbon steel blade, stacked leather handle, and steel buttcap. I was going to put up a comparison pic of my Cattaraugus 225Q & Kabar 1217C/U later tonight.

If the need is there to baton a knife, the 225Q is (IMHO) much better for that purpose than the Kabar.

~Chris

 

[Shriket33]

Besides marine and WW2 mystique, I stay away from KABAR.
Have a look at the Esee and the barkriver bushcrafting series for quality knives. One place to start is knivesshipfree.com. They sell many fine brands. Their bushcrafting models will withstand batoning.
For throwing buy the cheap throwing knives on the market. No knife on the market for bushcrafing is designed for throwing or similar serious knife abuse. Stabbing trees you will not do very long, earlier or later you will slice open the inside of your hand, necessitating many stitches.
You never will try again! Guaranteed pay of from the school of hard knocks.
May be rethink your planned knife use, specially after you pay 150-300 dollars for a top quality one.
You may want to look at the various Mora blades, cheap, very good cutters and recently a sturdy budhcrafter, the Mora Garberg for about $120.- It will handle batoning. Their companion model for 15-30 dollar is an excellent starter knife.
Moras are fine performers, cheap and excellent learning knives for use and sharpening.
Good luck, be careful, knives are NOT toys, but can be unintended lethal instruments in the hands of the careless.