KA-BAR, D2 vs Next Gen

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dshairs

Joined
Aug 21, 2011
Messages
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I am planning on buying a KA-BAR D2 extreme knife. After doing extencive research and wayching a painful destruction test on this amazing knife, I think ive decided on this one. Any personal experiances to inforce or contradict this choice? and how does it compare to the KA-BAR next generation?
 
dshairs said:
I am planning on buying a KA-BAR D2 extreme knife. After doing extencive research and wayching a painful destruction test on this amazing knife, I think ive decided on this one. Any personal experiances to inforce or contradict this choice? and how does it compare to the KA-BAR next generation?
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Funny, I was looking at the same thing today.

D2 longer edge retention, diamond set good to sharpen with, harder RC.

Plus, they have a pretty good sheath.

The next gen are going away soon.

Lemme know how you decide.

Moose
 
My d2 should be coming in tomorrow. I went through the same comparison against the 440a nextgen - I have quite a few 440 and love em, but I don't have a single knife in d2 yet...

I'll toss you some impressions if you haven't already purchased it - I know I have no patience
 
William P said:
My d2 should be coming in tomorrow. I went through the same comparison against the 440a nextgen - I have quite a few 440 and love em, but I don't have a single knife in d2 yet...

I'll toss you some impressions if you haven't already purchased it - I know I have no patience
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I spent my month's knife money already, on some Kabar steel. 6 knives in all. No D2 Extreme though. Soon, very soon. I gotta keep putting pennies in the bank for my Christmas and birthday customs, but, hey, I do need a good fall knife to match my outfits. :D

Moose
 
One of my dream knives is the Next Gen style with a 1095 blade. Had a Next Gen and foolishly sold it. Are they dropping it? Damn, so many knives I need, so little money.
 
damn, i hate serrations. mainly cuz d2 is tough as nails to sharpen normally let alone try to sharpen serrations too
 
The D2 extreme was my first good quality knife. I had been wanting a Kabar for awhile and almost jumped on the USMC, but the steel and sheath of the D2 swayed me. And it looked cooler, although I now own a USMC and the stack leather is really awesome.
Yes, the steel is a bit of a bear to sharpen. But edge retention is very good. I brought mine to my mom's a few Easters ago and batoned firewood and kindling all night, then proceeded to prepare a prime rib after a quick cleaning. The tip was still pointy as hell and the edge was right there with me still.
I have since stripped the coating, put a nice patina on her and sharpened the top swedge. (I'll try to get a pic up). I normally dislike serrations but I feel that on a blade of this length they do not drastically take away from the function. It is one of my favorite knives - period. When I go out camping next week this baby will probably spend the majority of time on my hip.
 
I thought my D2 kabar 7" fixed was quite heavier than the 1095 version, but the weights supplied by the seller were only .10 lb off.
 
I wonder if it will be discontinued or replaced? I have no experience with the steel they used in the next gen, so i wonder if it will be due to lack of sales or that particular steel not being ideal for a fixed blade.
 
I for some reason feel that I should buy a Next Gen, For the sole reason it will not be offered anymore. That's a good enough reason, isn't it.
 
redmech said:
I for some reason feel that I should buy a Next Gen, For the sole reason it will not be offered anymore. That's a good enough reason, isn't it.
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It's a reason I have used many times (too many) to justify a purchase. :D In fact I just purchased one.

Tom
 
spydie fanatic said:
I wonder if it will be discontinued or replaced? I have no experience with the steel they used in the next gen, so i wonder if it will be due to lack of sales or that particular steel not being ideal for a fixed blade.
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KA-BAR uses 440A in the Next Generation. It's not a super steel, and isn't all that popular lately, but it should serve adequately in this application.

Tom
 
440a? O gees that's like limp ramen noodles next to d2


Ok maybe not that drastic. 440a is good in some applications. A "survival" knife is not one of them. It requires to much resharpening to make it worth while in the bush
 
That depends on whether you subscribe to the easy to sharpen school or extreme edge holding school. If I'm stranded out in the wilds, I'd rather have a knife that I can easily sharpen when it needs it (and every knife does).
 
cramsey3006 said:
That depends on whether you subscribe to the easy to sharpen school or extreme edge holding school. If I'm stranded out in the wilds, I'd rather have a knife that I can easily sharpen when it needs it (and every knife does).
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This is my opinion as well.

Tom
 
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