KA-BAR Combat Fighting Knife

B

Beaver

Joined
Nov 24, 1999
Messages
616
How does the modern KaBar fighting knife (model 1217) stand up as an everyday tough field use knife? How does it compare to the 1942 version produced by numerous manufactures? Is the older version considerably better? Let me add that I'm not necessarly looking for a chopping blade, as I have the original Busse Battle Mistress. At the other end of the spectrum I have a Dozier D2 Utility. Not to mention several field hatchets.

So Im looking for something in between, when I dont feel like taking out my Falkniven A1. The KaBar 7" 1095 blade strikes me as a nice size, and I just love the way 1095 carbon steel takes an edge. Your thoughts.

Jay
 
They are pretty cheap, and IMO a very decent knife. I cannot compare the new with the old, I only have experience with a Vietnam- Era blade, and it is pretty good.
 
I plan on getting that very knife. From the reputation Ka Bar has had since WWII I don't see how you can go wrong. They've been around and makin knives for quite some time now and I think they have the process down.
 
I'm not a hardcore operator type but it's done just fine around the house and yard. I don't think you'd feel under knifed with one.

Frank
 
I've got a current production KA-BAR as well as several other similar sized knives and the KA-BAR stands up to comparison very well, especially if you include price. It's a heck of a lot of knife for the money.

It was out of production for a while and reintroduced in the 70s with "modern manufacturing improvements". I believe this included switching to the use of sintered (aka "powdered" or pot) metal for the pommel. That is, that material is used today, but I believe I read somewhere that the originals had a steel pommel.

So I wouldn't plan on using it as a field hammer, but other than that it's a fine knife. Goes well with my M1A, too. :-)

-- Sam
 
Does the steel pommel of the older Ka Bars (Mk2) make them a better all around knife than the modern version? The older Mk2's were made by several manufactures, Ka Bar, Camillus, Robeson to mention a few. Is one any better than the other.

Jay
 
ive seen kabars beat on and some did brake but to be clear it was marines doing marine things that did it:D
for me i would have something in 6 inch blade 3/16 thick and full tang
is it the looks of the kabar that you like or the performance of it
all and all $60 at most stores gets you a hell of a good knife for most things

if you buck up and get one of the newer SS ones
i dont know how good they were they were just being put out when i was getting out
butch
 
Blue Sky said:
Just to clarify, "sintered metal" is not another definition of "pot metal". Sintered metals can be of very high quality while pot metal is not. I believe S30V for example is a powder-metalurgy product and can be considered as sintered metal.

http://www.sterlingsintered.com/sintered-metal-ge.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pot_metal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sintering

The quality and strength of Kabar butt caps still depends on the quality of the sintering but pot metal they are not.
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Technically true, but since the increase in use of sintered metals the term has been co-opted and used by people making cheap cast parts. It's often used as a cost savings measure.

I kinda doubt KA-BAR's pommel is made out of S30V. :)

-- Sam
 
Beaver said:
Does the steel pommel of the older Ka Bars (Mk2) make them a better all around knife than the modern version? The older Mk2's were made by several manufactures, Ka Bar, Camillus, Robeson to mention a few. Is one any better than the other.

Jay
Click to expand...

I don't know if it makes them a "better" knife, but the steel pommel of the WWII era MK 2's really could take a beating. I own at least one of each WW II era MK 2 and I really think the Ka Bar brand is better than the others. Robeson in my opinion was the nicest looking of the MK 2's, especially their blued models, but Ka Bar seems to me to be the sturdiest.
 
cstorr2004 said:
I don't know if it makes them a "better" knife, but the steel pommel of the WWII era MK 2's really could take a beating. I own at least one of each WW II era MK 2 and I really think the Ka Bar brand is better than the others. Robeson in my opinion was the nicest looking of the MK 2's, especially their blued models, but Ka Bar seems to me to be the sturdiest.
Click to expand...

cstorr2004,
Do you know if the blade marked Mk2's predate the cross guard marked knives? If so what is the date range for each. I've actually been leaning toward the Robeson.
Jay
 
ParaGlock said:
Technically true, but since the increase in use of sintered metals the term has been co-opted and used by people making cheap cast parts. It's often used as a cost savings measure.

I kinda doubt KA-BAR's pommel is made out of S30V. :)

-- Sam
Click to expand...

According to Kabar's website, they are sintered 1095 steel. And IMO just because others mis-use the term, doesn't mean we should perpetuate it.:cool:
 
Beaver said:
cstorr2004,
Do you know if the blade marked Mk2's predate the cross guard marked knives? If so what is the date range for each. I've actually been leaning toward the Robeson.
Jay
Click to expand...

Yes, blade-marked MK 2's were first. The reason for this (at least what I have read, which sometimes is just a persons opinion I have learned) is that the military was convinced that markings stamped into the blades weakened the steel, so after a certain point they specified that all markings be stamped into the crossguard. I have also heard that this is the reason the M-3 Trench knives went from maker and date on the blade, to just maker, and then stamps altogether were moved to the guard. As far as the Ka Bar's go, my understanding is that the earliest marked Ka Bar's just had the Ka Bar stamp, then the next version included the "Olean, NY" and USMC markings on the blade (ricasso), after which all markings went to the guard. On the Robesons, earlier versions were marked on the ricasso followed by later versions that were marked R.C.C. on the guard. As far as date range, I'm sorry I don't have that information off the top of my head. I do have info on it, and can dig it up, but may take some time...
 
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