ka-bar camp

earthman · Sep 17, 2002

Hi,
this is my first post....

I lately saw the ka-bar camp knife online and I was wondering if anyone had a review/test or some remarks about it.
I like its appearance and its not expensive but there are some down sides; I dont like this kraton handle and the epoxy coating, it just looks too hi tech same for kydex sheats but luckily there's a leather one to. Also I think the knife has a hollow grind... I've read (I dont have many exerience with big knives) that its not that strong (chopping and stuff like that).
I like the form of the blade just because of the looks and also because its some what protruding from the handle (like a kukri and a parang) which makes chopping probably safer, I think.
Generaly, I'm looking for a versatile, strong camp/survival knife (you know

) that is not too expensive; anyone has some suggestions or remarks about this kabar camp or some other good knife?

Thanks,

Earthman.

collecter · Sep 18, 2002

I have not seen the knife you described but I do like some of the knives Kabar makes.

My favorite camp knife is my USMC Kabar. I have the original as well as their Next Generation model. The original is still my favorite...It is lighter and has a finer edge. I carry it in my pack in a cotton wine bottle sock. It doesn't look so scary when I pull it out!

I should mention that I modified it a little...I cut off the top portion of the guard and filed it flush to the contour of the leather handle, sanded it smooth and blued the exposed steel. I use both of my thumbs to push the blade through what ever I'm cutting and the guard used to be in the way.

I've had it for over ten years and it still works perfectly. It sharpens easily and holds a decent edge. I use it for eveything from slicing to chopping.

I wouldn't want to loose it because it's been with me for so long but they still costs under $40 so it's not a biggy if it ever gets lost.

I hope this helped.

Good luck with your knife shopping.

BOK · Sep 18, 2002

I have the USMC Ka-Bar with stacked leather handles.

It's a good price for the knife but if you intend to use it hard then I would suggest against it. As I've experienced the stick tang doesn't make for a very sturdy handle. This is a big downfall for chopping.

Also, the pommel is not secured very strongly to the bottom of the handle and mine just ended up falling off on my last camping trip. It's just connected on the side with a rivet. Not a very sold construction.

Edge holding is very mediocre with the 1095 but I have to say it does sharpen up very easily and re-profiling is no sweat with this steel.

The leather handles on mine are very faded and are not looking too good at all. This was due to all the water and moisture it was exposed to. As a result I'm just going to take them off completely and maybe add some rosewood handles of my own as a side project.

I still think it's a good knife for what you pay though it just depends how hard you're pushing it.

Mine just went through more than it had to that time because I was so used to banging and 'abusing' my Nimravus that I didn't really think to tone it down when I started using the Ka-Bar.

If you want a reasonable FB that can withstand some abuse then I'd actually go for the Cold Steel SRK. They're a little more but it's a rugged knife with a much better edge retention.

Grapevine · Sep 22, 2002

Collector,

I was thinking of doing the same thing to the guard on my Kabar. How do you blue the steel after filing it down?

W.T. Beck · Oct 13, 2002

From what I have read the Kabars are good for the money, and probably better than similarly priced Ontario knives. Mike Thurber did a review of several combat/utility knives and the Kabar Marine Combat ranked in the middle. It was much better than a similar Camillus knife, which Thurber said was terrible.

I think BOK is right in saying the Cold Steel knife would be better. Of course, the SRK is smaller than the Kabar camp.

If you want a fairly large chopping knife, the BK9 should be the best in the low price range (about $60). The Becker knives are about the best under $100 fixed blade knives, although myself and others have a problem with the slippery Becker handles.

If you are open to spending more, the Cold Steel Recon Scout and Trailmaster Bowie are probably the best large knives you can get for $120 - $130, and the Swamp Rat Battle Rat and Camp Tramp are probably the best factory large knives for a bit more money than the Cold Steel Bowies.

About the only other good factory knives in the size category you have mentioned would be the Marbles Trailmaker Bowies, which come in 7 inch and 10 inch blade versions. Check DLT Trading for the best prices on Marbles knives. I chose the large Trailmaker over the probably better Battle Rat because I like the traditional handle and guard on the Trailmaker.

roderic41 · Oct 16, 2002

Hi. That review by Mike Thurber that you mentioned sounds interesting. Is it in the forums somewhere (I looked briefly but could'nt see it) or was it in a magazine? Thanks, Rod.

W.T. Beck · Oct 16, 2002

Hello roderic41,

I am not absolutely certain now, but I think I found a link to it in one of Cliff Stamp's reviews that can be found directly on the internet. Just do an internet (not Bladeforums) search on "Cliff Stamp Knife Reviews". Of course the next problem is finding which review has the link to the Thurber article. I don't remember now which one it was.

Sorry I can't be of more help. I read so many knife threads that I can't remember the details of all of them.

RokJok · Oct 16, 2002

Originally posted by W.T. Beck
If you are open to spending more, the Cold Steel Recon Scout and Trailmaster Bowie are probably the best large knives you can get for $120 - $130, and the Swamp Rat Battle Rat and Camp Tramp are probably the best factory large knives for a bit more money than the Cold Steel Bowies.

Much good advice already given by Mr Beck and others on the SRK and other camp knives. As well as the Becker BK9, I would also recommend the Combat/Utility-7 model (BK7) for under $50 as a high "bang for the buck" clip-point camp knife. 1SKS info on the BK7 here. You can find my comments on the SRK, BK7, and other blades here and here.

To be a bit picky about prices, the 7.5" blade Camp Tramp by the Swamp Rat crew is priced exactly in the price window quoted above. The Battle Rat is indeed a few bucks more. Their 4.5" Howling Rat is under $90. I've found the Howling Rat to be an excellent slicer/cutter, but don't count on it if you need to chop.

Swamp Rat Knife Works

All this leads to the question:
"What is the main activity this knife will need to accomplish? Will it be cutting & slicing food and whittling of wood? Or will it need to chop & split wood as well, plus dig/scrape/skin/gut/etc?" Defining the jobs the knife will have to do changes which blades would be recommended considerably.