- Joined
- Feb 27, 2011
- Messages
- 1,020
Hey peoples.
I'd read recently that Ka-bar is discontinuing the Next-Gen series (I read this in the Next-Gen Vs D2 thread, I believe)..sad to hear that. Great knife. I sorely miss mine. It did everything and anything I wanted or expected of it. It held up & I am by no means easy on my knives or tools. The
steel was Aus-6A (yeah, I know, it's nothing to write home about--but it's serviceable), but it has a considerably stronger tang & a more suitable
guard as well as a more attractive build. I put mine through what I refer to as my "Hell tests"..and..so far only it and my Ka-bar Mule have successfully survived out of..oh..twenty knives.
The knife performed the following effectively:
Battoned through many blocks of seasoned oak & pine (blocks freshly split from logs)..
Felled several trees..
Sliced through several chickens, large chunks of beef, etc..
Dug several holes..
Carved wood, stakes, poles (& hammered some of them)..
Hammered nails & spikes..
Pruned thick & thin limbs..
Cleanly sliced cloth..
Poked & drilled holes..
Cut several types of rope & cord..
Cut through aluminum..
I rarely needed to put the edge to any honing device, & instead kept the edge hair-popping sharp
simply by stropping on my leather boots. Overall, I'd rate the knife a 7 out of 10. (Hated the sheath,
btw.) (Also, the lanyard hole on the pommel, while useful, was more of a liability, atleast for hammering
as if it caught it had a tendency to snap the tang off). The knife's balance & control was excellent,
although, a finger-choil would have been nice, & normal serrations as well. There is only one fixed-blade,
that I have experience with (although, I'll not name it) that I hold in higher regard. I've had no experience
with the D2 version, but as far as I can tell for an all-around (bush-craft, survival, military, etc) it's hardness
would prove to be more a pain in the hiney (diamond honers are expensive & don't tend to last long!) while
the Nex-Gen (Aus-6A) can be more readily & easily sharpened. Plus, the 1221 held up very well to being
thrown (I've practiced for years & rarely miss so it didn't hit rocks lol), the steel held up well to the energy
& impacts & I highly doubt the D2 would do the same (too hard).
Ah, well, if Ka-bar discontinues the Next-Gen they do. I'd like to know though. I lost my 1221. Can't afford
to replace it right now. Oh well. Ka-bar is a fine company and they will do well with whatever products they
offer. Oh, also, a special thank you to Mr.Tsujimoto, whom helped me to choose the 1221 & the Ka-bar mule!
I've never regretted getting the Mule--finest, toughest folding knife I ever had or will ever have!
Bored2Deth
I'd read recently that Ka-bar is discontinuing the Next-Gen series (I read this in the Next-Gen Vs D2 thread, I believe)..sad to hear that. Great knife. I sorely miss mine. It did everything and anything I wanted or expected of it. It held up & I am by no means easy on my knives or tools. The
steel was Aus-6A (yeah, I know, it's nothing to write home about--but it's serviceable), but it has a considerably stronger tang & a more suitable
guard as well as a more attractive build. I put mine through what I refer to as my "Hell tests"..and..so far only it and my Ka-bar Mule have successfully survived out of..oh..twenty knives.
The knife performed the following effectively:
Battoned through many blocks of seasoned oak & pine (blocks freshly split from logs)..
Felled several trees..
Sliced through several chickens, large chunks of beef, etc..
Dug several holes..
Carved wood, stakes, poles (& hammered some of them)..
Hammered nails & spikes..
Pruned thick & thin limbs..
Cleanly sliced cloth..
Poked & drilled holes..
Cut several types of rope & cord..
Cut through aluminum..
I rarely needed to put the edge to any honing device, & instead kept the edge hair-popping sharp
simply by stropping on my leather boots. Overall, I'd rate the knife a 7 out of 10. (Hated the sheath,
btw.) (Also, the lanyard hole on the pommel, while useful, was more of a liability, atleast for hammering
as if it caught it had a tendency to snap the tang off). The knife's balance & control was excellent,
although, a finger-choil would have been nice, & normal serrations as well. There is only one fixed-blade,
that I have experience with (although, I'll not name it) that I hold in higher regard. I've had no experience
with the D2 version, but as far as I can tell for an all-around (bush-craft, survival, military, etc) it's hardness
would prove to be more a pain in the hiney (diamond honers are expensive & don't tend to last long!) while
the Nex-Gen (Aus-6A) can be more readily & easily sharpened. Plus, the 1221 held up very well to being
thrown (I've practiced for years & rarely miss so it didn't hit rocks lol), the steel held up well to the energy
& impacts & I highly doubt the D2 would do the same (too hard).
Ah, well, if Ka-bar discontinues the Next-Gen they do. I'd like to know though. I lost my 1221. Can't afford
to replace it right now. Oh well. Ka-bar is a fine company and they will do well with whatever products they
offer. Oh, also, a special thank you to Mr.Tsujimoto, whom helped me to choose the 1221 & the Ka-bar mule!
I've never regretted getting the Mule--finest, toughest folding knife I ever had or will ever have!
Bored2Deth
