Ka-bar crossguard: does it affect normal utility work?

KingMC

KingMC

The Pun-isher
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Jul 25, 2014
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So I've been a fan of the classic Ka-bar design for about as long as I've been alive, but when it came down to buying knives I never pulled the trigger on it, instead going with knives like the Becker like and other full-tang slab-handled knives. I know what sets the Ka-bar design apart from so many other knives out there is the crossguard that it has which is for the intended fighting use. My question is whether or not that crossguard gets in the way when doing general utility work or bushcrafting where the knife would most likely be used. Since I've never used one out in the woods before, I was curious if the guard was a benefit when 'crafting or if it just got in the way. I know it was designed as a multi-purpose knife that could be the do-all knife for someone in the military, but since it is owned by many non-military folks and I see pictures of it being used in the woods and for general purposes I was curious if the do-all design was an issue or a boon.

It looks to me like it might act as a makeshift choil-like protrusion where you could hook your finger on it for stability when doing fine work, and it certainly could keep your fingers from sliding onto the edge when stabbing, but when doing wood prep does it get in the way for uses like chopping or batoning?

Thanks.
 
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The upper guard mostly. That's why many similar designs come with half-guard. Ka-Bar also manufacture Dog's Head Utility which has half-guard as well.
 
bottom guard can be handy - and is definitely a safety device.
even some Mora's come with a bottom guard and it doesn't get much more "classic bushcraft" than a wood handled mora.
that said, the top guard can be annoying.
 
I never had an issue with either guard on my Kabar USMC for outdoor work. Its been a long while since I have owned or used one, but to this date my favorite knife ( Busse Combat TGLB ) has both an upper and lower guard and I use the heck out of it both indoor and outdoor with zero issue. Buy and use with confidence.

**Edit**

One last thought in certian applications when used as a draw knife I like the top guard as it adds an additional anchor point to choke up on for increased control.
 
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GR
 
I'm going to say this as a kabar fan and Mark 2 owner, so I'm not trying for party pooper.

Almost everything about the knife interferes with normal utility work. From the 7" blade, to the bulky size, to thick edge, and the soft metal, along with crosguard. It's not geared towards woods utility unless your idea of utility is whacking away at thin branches and stabbing boar.

Even then, you could do better for a branch whacker.

You either want the knife or you don't. I have one for what it is, combat knife that will get some woods play eventually just cause I think I little humidity and work will be good for the old dried up leather handle.
 
stvpourciau said:
I'm going to say this as a kabar fan and Mark 2 owner, so I'm not trying for party pooper.

Almost everything about the knife interferes with normal utility work. From the 7" blade, to the bulky size, to thick edge, and the soft metal, along with crosguard. It's not geared towards woods utility unless your idea of utility is whacking away at thin branches and stabbing boar.

Even then, you could do better for a branch whacker.

You either want the knife or you don't. I have one for what it is, combat knife that will get some woods play eventually just cause I think I little humidity and work will be good for the old dried up leather handle.
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The Short KA-BAR w/ the top guard removed, and the primary bevel thinned a little, makes a great GP sheath knife. It is always on my belt in the field... and the MkI Navy is in the pack.




GR
 
Thanks for all the good experiences shared, it's cool that there are new Ka-Bar designs that have a lowered guard on them for utility reasons, I like the idea of a do-all knife but the Ka-bar seems focused more on fighting first whereas most of the knives I like have utility in mind first and fighting is just a backup plan.
 
I agree King, and think some mods like that make sense. But I'm also happy to see that KaBar hasn't taken it upon themselves to mess with the original design.................or a least still offer the original while introducing other variants.
 
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Honestly if the hand guard is stopping you from being able to "bushcraft" maybe ya need a little more practice!
 
Garandimal said:
The Short KA-BAR w/ the top guard removed, and the primary bevel thinned a little, makes a great GP sheath knife. It is always on my belt in the field... and the MkI Navy is in the pack.




GR
Click to expand...

I agree but need to say that neither the kabar short w/top guard removed nor the mk1, Is the knife in question here.

They are not the same designs and do not function in the same manner.
 
The guard on top hasn't "stopped" me from being able to do anything that I can think of off hand. That said, it does get in the way to an extent for some tasks, enough to be bothersome/annoying if i'm at it long enough. As such, I don't typically buy knives with top guards.

I'm a big fan of lower guards on all knives (or handle designs that function similarly). Top guards should only be there on fighting knives IMO.
 
1066vik said:
bottom guard can be handy - and is definitely a safety device.
even some Mora's come with a bottom guard and it doesn't get much more "classic bushcraft" than a wood handled mora.
that said, the top guard can be annoying.
Click to expand...

This. Some people choose to bend the top section of the guard forward so they don't bust their thumbs using the knife. Some people use a belt sander and sand the top portion off. What ever is comfy I guess. I have costumed a few of my knives, but never any of my Kabars.
 
I hacked the back of the guard off mine too. Much better that way for camping/woodscrafty stuff.
 
stvpourciau said:
I agree but need to say that neither the kabar short w/top guard removed nor the mk1, Is the knife in question here.

They are not the same designs and do not function in the same manner.
Click to expand...

As a utility knife? The top guard on ANY KA-BAR is a PITA... and Dangerous.

It serves no useful purpose, interferes w/ the handling, and makes the knife ambiguous.

I really like a knife that has a "safe" side, especially at night. Drop a spec KA-BAR in the dark? and finding the sharp side is a 50/50 proposition.


It's a Knife, not a purse.

:D




GR
 
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