Ka-Bar combat knife and Gerber LMF II

I wouldn't say I was more knowledgeable but will give my experience on the Ka-Bar swedge. If you buy a new one it will not be sharpened. If you purchase one made, say, 4 years ago, it will probably have the top edge sharpened.

You can always ask the folks you buy it from. Most are very accomodating.

Dan
 
AR fan said:
You're right about your SISU, DRE. Thanks for the info though.
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AR fan, take a ride up to Escanaba and talk to a guy named Mike Stewart. He owes me a favor. Tell him you will take the bowie hunter as payment in full and we will call it even :)
 
I really like the Ka-Bar, and have since 1972. I never had any problem with one. It's one of the most cost-efficient knives around.:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 
I don't know about that DRE. I know Mike, he doesn't give favors that easy.
But what the hell, It'll be a fun trip.
Even if it falls through and I have to take you on a one way trip to the center of the Mackinaw Bridge, it'll still be entertaining. SISU, hehe.
 
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you asked only opinions about the two particular models - ie the "Ka-Bar combat knife and Gerber LMF II".
Well, classic k-bar is what i'ld go with.
It's lighter, does the job as any 7-inch knife would, and classically, nothing illustrates the long favoured k-bar as potrayed in the 1957 movie "Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison" in which stars Robert Mitchum in lead role as a lone Marine armed with nothing but a k-bar somewheres in the South Pacific...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050490/trivia
but, it pays to go with a non-leather sheathing system for present day carry.
it's also equally important to carry out maintaince generally associated with the likes of carbon steel.
there's something to be said about the warmth of a classic stack leather handle knife - it just seems that more comforting with old world charm.
 
Herr_Noobien said:
It's really all comming down to the edge retaination at this point. I know the nighthawk is tougher and will take more abuse. I also like the look of the nighthawk and it seems much more ergonomic than the ka bar just from looking at it. Will the nighthawk hold an edge longer than the ka bar (the 1095 one)?

Edit: hooray for lack of research! I didn't know that the swedge on the ka bar was sharp. This means I can't buy it from the USA (since Australian customs restricts imports on double edged knives). I suppose the nighthawk wins be default :S
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KA BAR stopped sharpening the swedge about 6 or 7 years ago. Trust me.. I bought one when I was young and it was sharpened, and thenn a few years after that I sold them at a knife store and for 4 years, every one that came in was NOT sharpened, and we got a letter from KA BAR saying they have stopped sharpening the swedge for legal reasons.

Back to another reply from the OP... do NOT sell out one knife over the other due to knifetests.com. What that guy does in his videos you will NOT be doing in the bush. I have used my USMC KA BAR in the bush and I've cut, sliced, beat on, and stabbed with it and it begged for more. The Nighthawk is indeed tough, but under normal use, both will serve you just as well.

Yes.. 1095 will hold an edge better than 420HC. The edge is more likely to roll than chip, and it's easy to resharpen but isnt the best at corrosion resistance (if you dont keep it oiled). 420HC is also less likely to chip, and is also easy to resharpen, and has better corrosion resistance. However, I keep my ka bar oiled after every trip and it hasnt rusted much at all.
 
I think I'll go with the Ka-Bar. I went to an army surplus store today and they had the nighthawk and the Ka-Bar. The nighthawk is much more comfortable than the Ka-Bar but there was something about the Ka-Bar that I can't quite put my finger on which made much more appealing. Not to mention the history behind the Ka-Bar (like skunk ape said, it's like the M1911). Now there is one question left. There seems to be a few different versions of the Ka-Bar. Ontario, Camillus and Case all seem to make them. Should I buy a certain version?
 
hmmm, there's still a "Camillus" k-bar being presently manufactured???!
Ontario's version is in US mil spec finish so it's also bound to come with a sharpen false edge.
the Case version never was "there" during WW2 unlike what the current owners of Ka-Bar
have us believe, but Ka-Bar probably ranks as the preffered brand for now.
besides, it has the best cosmetic finish of all.
a perfect beauty minus the mil. spec phosphate finish.
a Case replica would probably be nice too.
but if looks don't matter as much, then one can learn to understand and appreciate why Ontario gets to supply the US government...
 
Several years ago, I bought a commemmorative 'Pearl Harbor' USMC KaBar knife - a steal for $30. I finally bought a plain USMC version - $50 several years ago. Both have the secondary edge sharpened. Then I bought a commemorative 'VE/VJ Day' USN Kabar to go with my Dad's much mistreated WWII USN KaBar he had in the S. Pacific. Neither of those have ever had their secondary bevels sharpened. Maybe it's USMC/USA KaBars are double bevel; USN are not? Maybe... anyone know for sure?

I originally bought the commemoratives to strip the gold logo from, as they were bargain priced. I couldn't do it! The regular USMC was bought as a 'user' - but that sharpened secondary bevel, which you can see in that picture I posted earlier, may make it illegal to carry in some woods. Looks like, old or new, it'll be a USN version that accompanies me to the woods next time. Having been in the USN, I suppose that's appropriate.

Stainz
 
DRE, knows what he's talking about this is a Marbles Jet Pilot Survival knife. Made back in the 60's, I think.

It's sharp top and bottom.

MSAAirForceKnife.jpg
 
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