Ka-Bar FIN as a survival knife?

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Fiction4128

Joined
Feb 10, 2011
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I know that the Ka-Bar FIN is usually advertised as a "tactical" knife, buti've seen it used quite effectively as a survival knife by FranciseChronicles on youtube.

I'm seriously considering getting this for a survival knife... anyone got some more info or personal experience with this knife.

I like the size and the glass breaker and it looks like the holes can be used to lash it to a stick and convert it into a spear, like the Gerber LMF II, which i think is cool.
 
Once again, what training or survival experience do you have? Where do you live and what geographical conditions will you encounter?

You can look "cool" all you want with a spear, but what does that do in any real survival situation?

Back it up and consider what you really need in order to survive in the locale that you live. Wasting calories making a spear and possibly losing the knife when it falls off the stick isn't going to help.
 
Field expedient spears are disposable. Making one out of a sapling and fire hardening the tip takes just minutes and is an infinitely better idea than tying your knife to a stick and risk losing or breaking it.
 
CWL said:
Once again, what training or survival experience do you have? Where do you live and what geographical conditions will you encounter?

You can look "cool" all you want with a spear, but what does that do in any real survival situation?

Back it up and consider what you really need in order to survive in the locale that you live. Wasting calories making a spear and possibly losing the knife when it falls off the stick isn't going to help.
Click to expand...

I only added the spear part as a side note, i am only considering this because it is apparently very comfortable and is about the right size... not for the spear

i would use this knife in mainly a temperate deciduous forest environment
 
I had the FIN drop point and it is stout blade that I'd stake my life on. I used it outdoors quite a bit. I used and abused it, maybe harder than any knife I've had. Not ONE issue with it at all. The only reason I don't have it any more is that I decided I wanted to convex the blade (not just the edge) to see if it improved the performance. So I stripped the coating and used a belt sander on it. It actually worked out pretty well, but I liked it as is from the factory much better, so I sold that one.

I'm planning on getting another one when I can.

I'm not much on the knife/spear deal, but it does lashing holes on it if you want to use them for such.
 
I've had the drop point / serrated Fin, and didn't really like it. The handles are extremely uncomfortable after a while, ungloved, that is. I just feel like you shouldn't have to wear gloves to use a tool all the time. Just my opinion.
 
Fiction4128 said:
I only added the spear part as a side note, i am only considering this because it is apparently very comfortable and is about the right size... not for the spear

i would use this knife in mainly a temperate deciduous forest environment
Click to expand...

There are dozens of knives which will function admirably in the $50 price range. I don't recommend serrated edges for many reasons, not just difficulty of resharpening, but because you really won't be able to do any fine woodworking with it. Here's a "try stick" originated by Mors Kochanski for practicing woodworking skills useful in bushcrafting. You can't use a serrated knife, nor a 1/4" prybar to learn these skills.

TryStick15.jpg


You don't really need a spear to eat if you can make traps, it'll take less energy as well since you can make multiple traps. You should also learn how to make a rabbit stick/throw stick for hunting the typical small game that you will encounter.
 
Handle comfort would be something to think about.
It's a high quality knife wth some nice reviews.
If you like the looks, you should go for it and let us know how it works out.
Reviews are appreciated.
 
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I will admit that the handle is on the aggressive side. I guess it depends on what kind of hands you have....

Rough/tough hands will be fine. Softer hands might need gloves. I'm kind of in the middle and I didn't find it troublesome at all.
 
The KaBar FIN is the only knife that I've ever bought that I returned for a refund. It is the single most uncomfortable knife I have ever used. It truly would be a survival knife for me, because the only way i would ever consider even picking one up again would be in a situation where it was essential for my survival!
 
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