Ka-bar Mark I or Ontario Blackbird SK-5

[theyoungone]

I need a knife for hunting, camping and light bushcraft whatnot, and I am stuck on these two knives.

I like the Kabar kydex sheath and the approx. $50 price, but its 1095 steel so I need to take more care of it especially with butchering game. I also worry about the rat tang bending or breaking with hard use.

The Ontario Blackbird is a hair over $100, but it has great 154CM stainless steel and micarta handles. The sheath is OK, and it seems to be a sturdy full tang knife. For some reason its seem bigger than the Mark 1 but the stats on both are similar with similar blade shapes. However I never seen an SK-5 in person.

Anyone have both and could provide a comparison pic. Is getting a SK-5 worth the extra $50, or should I just get a Mark 1?

 

[Lee D]

I don't have both, just the MK I, but I will admit, being a bit of I history buff, I bought it purely for the "old school" coolness factor. imo its a good knife that has served me well on several camping trips knife.