Ka-Bar: old school or next generation?

Quiet Storm

Quiet Storm

Joined
May 17, 2002
Messages
5,757
Alright, I'm going to buy a Ka-Bar soon. But I'm undecided yet whether I want one of the traditional models or a modern version.

It's going to be either a Next Generation F/U (full size, plain, Kydex scabbard)

151.jpg


or a USMC F/U (full size, plain, leather sheath).

61.jpg


I know that the latter will require more maintenance (which doesn't really constitute a problem) and I know the different capabilities of both steels (440A and 1095).
But I just can't determine which one of those two I really want. The new version is definitely more practical, but I kinda like the looks of the older model, as well as its historcal relevance.

Please feel free to try to convince me either way.

Thanks in advance!

PS: no replies containing the words "get both", please! :D
 
There is a reason why the traditional KBAR style was made for so long (And by so many different companies!) I have had both big and small old style kbars....LOTS of bang for the buck. It is nice to see that KBar is joining the times with newer designs, and still maintain the quality we expect from them. For me though, I say go with what works. I deal A LOT with military types, and I have seen MANY traditional styles, while only a few NGF's. There is just something classy about the leather stacked handle and the old blade style that just shouts WHO RA! at me.

Either won't disappoint...only one will make you nostalgic AND cut cut and cut.

R/SLD in WA
 
I don't think that a good idea goes out of style.

My father-in-law was a Marine in the Pacific at the end of WWII. He told me that despite his 'point of the spear' location, not every soldier had a full compliment of equipment. He stated that he NEVER was issued a Ka-bar and had to borrow one when assignments called for one.

(Don't worry, guys. Josh at PVK&T helped me find a historic copy actually made on the old WWII tooling. I was happy to present it to him.)

Anyway, my f-i-l told me that the Ka-bar was primarily used for rough cutting, digging and pounding.

Since this is the case, I would go with the tradional steel, be it 1084 or 1095. Sure, you have to clean it, and oil it, and the pretty finsh will come off of it, but it earned its rep for being the tool that it is.

Trust me, you should have seen the look in my f-i-l's face when he opened the box.:D
 
I've had mine since 1970, issued by Uncle.

Seen plenty of use, beat up good, easy to sharpen, gets a good edge, tips ultra rugged and not prone to snap easily.

Summer of 83, flat tire on the rear wheel of the scooter. Had some tools and the k-bar in one of the bags.

Had the hand tool that will remove and replace a tire from the rim. Damned thing, I couldn't get it between the rim and the tire to start it off.

Pretty frustrated at this point I grabbed the k-bar and stuck the tip of the knife flat side betwen the rim and tire.

Figured this would be easy, twist the tip which was about 3/8" deep and the edge will slice the rubber and we are done.

Won't budge or cut at all like it's steel. It was. The rim of the tire had a steel band which mated to the rim under pressure.

Take the tip out a little and in a position of leverage with my body and both hands on the knife handle twisted the tip, diging it into the band.

Took some effort but the band was cut and tire replaced after hitching a ride to town. Hand tool worked slick getting the new one on, can of air and on the way.

Damage to the knife showed me the edge where it cut the band was chipped deep enough to plainly see it.

Got it home, sharpened her up back to razor. Left a very small nick in the blade. That was 20 years ago, the nick is gone, the knife survives but the blade is ugly.

I'm convinced they are quite the bang for the buck and a real sleeper in the industry.

Brownie
 
I would say, put aside the war stories and go with what you think will better suit you. Both knives are good but I like the original leather handle more than rubber kraton.
 
Hi quiet Storm!

I have them both! They're both great, if you want a good advice, buy the Classic Ka-bar, go to your local gunsmith and ask him to take the top guard off! You'll get a classic Ka-bar with a great feel in hand and the charme of the classic Ka-bar! I send you a pic of my classic without top!:D
 
Quite Storm, I think your topic is a good one! I have often wondered the same thing. And not to make things even more difficult for you but have you considered a Kabar in D2? I have one and although it doesn't have that leather handle look it does have a cool black blade that is so sharp out of the box that I could not believe it! And it comes with the eagle sheath that has a big pouch were I personally keep a few Buck diamond sharpeners available for survival reasons due to the fact that D2 is so hard I don't know if you could sharpen it on anything natural? Maybe someone could straighten me out on that? Anyway just another option. Indy
 
I have a 23 year old classic....I totally abused it up until last year - as a gardening tool, a machete, and used it all last winter to split firewood in the basement. (We used it like a froe, spine beating it through log-splits to make kindling) I was curious about the steel and decide to re-edge it this fall. 45 minutes on Arkansas stones and it is shaving sharp again. The leather handle is tough to beat for great looks and great grip.

Thom
 
I can only vote for the Classic, I haven´t handled the NG.
I bought my Classic in 89 for a camping trip in the rockies.
Along with my sak all cutting chores were met with ease.
I got more modern military blades now, but if i get the "call of the wild" i´d still grab my classic and leave the fk a1 at home. The classic also gets a nice patina with age.

Matthias
 
Heck just buy both and you will feel much better I know I did! I have had the USMC original since I was a kid and just this year I bought the Next Gen partial serrated. I think I may buy another in plain as well and some Blackhawk or Eagle Sheaths.
 
I have the Next Gen, and have had quite a bit of time to handle a new production old style Ka-Bar my friend bought.

The Next Gen is a much more substantial knife in terms of construction. Fit is better, the blade grinds are about the same, both finishes were very good. The handle is much nicer on the Next Gen, more of an oval shape, compared to the round standard. The Kraton has a much firmer feel than the leather gripped model. The Ka-Bar my friend bought had a much more spongy handle, than other F-U production knives I've handled from Camillus, Ontario, Case.

The standard sheath is o.k. for light-middle range use, but if it was to see a lot of carry time, I'd go with a custom leather, kydex, or perhaps an Eagle sheath. The kydex Next Gen Shealth is really nice, but a bit clunky, you definately know it's there when you're wearing it:).

Honestly, The only things I feel the standard Ka-Bar has over the Next Gen(excluding price) are the carbon steel blade, and tradition.

Both are great knives, that will give years of service, but if I had to pick one to go into the woods with it would be the Next Gen.
 
Hmmm you say the Next Gen is 440A ?? I thought it was Sandvik 12C27. But OK if it's 440A I'd say the choice is obvious: the 1095 one. I have a classic 1095 btw and it's amazing a lot of bang for the buck.
 
Hi Quiet Storm!
Damn! I didn't knew Ka-bar switched to 440 A...It's quiet a step down compared to the sandvik steel... So no hesitation!
Buy a Classic Ka-bar and remove the top guard!
 
First of all, thanks for your informative replies.

WillyD,
according to Ka-Bars homepage (and I guess the specs they give are accurate) it's 440A.
And to be honest, judging from the Sandvik steel's alloy composition I'd rate both steels as being roughly equal in regards to their overall performance.

Olivier,
thanks a lot for the pic you sent me. That traditional model sure looks great with a single guard.

I just read that the Next Gen has a sharpened back edge. Is that a feature also incorporated in the leather handled USMC version?
It's pretty much impossible to tell from the pictures I linked to above.

If not, I'll probably go with the modern F/U.


By the way, Matt, you moved to Cologne, our media capital? I really hope you'll get your tv career going there!
 
i think either one is a good choice.

I have two of each along with other brands of the USMC knife.

My preference is the original USMC Kabar over the Next Generation model.

The stacked leather handle has a very nice grippy/tacky feel to it, far better than the rubber on the NG and the blade has a finer edge which I have found to be a better cutter.

I'd also reccomend looking at the other brands of USMC knife. I recently bought a Camillus USMC knife and it's also nice but it has some differences, The blade is ground higher which should made it an even better cutter. Also, the handle is round vs oval as on the Kabar...some like, this some don't. I flattened the sides of mine to feel more like the Kabar.

Which ever you choose, you'll end up with an awsome knife!

Collecter
 
For what it is worth Camillus has their Desert Marine Combat Knife ( also known as the Ka-bar even though Camillus is supposed to have made a lot more of the ones used in WW II than Ka-bar) on sale in their closeout shop for $26.95.

Camillus Closeout shop
 
KaBar has owfull epoxy coating - worse things I ever see. Old New Generation was just beadblasted Sandvic 12C27, but the new New - has this terrible coating. Try to buy old one. Also there is Camillus USMC F/U with 1095 and phosphat blade treatment.
KaBar has excellent design, perfect knife on my opinion - but epoxy coating ...!
Thanks, Vassili.
 
True about the back edge although mine wasn't quite as sharp out of the box as the main edge.

Quiet storm: just my opinion but I really don't like 440A (maybe I bought to much herbertz POS in my youth) and I prefer the sandvik to it. But just my 2 cents...
 
I was in the marines 25 years ago and had alot of experience with the original kabar,it's a good blade.But if you live on the Oregon coast around salt water,the next gen. with a kydex sheath seems a prudent choice.I do and I did.Bought mine for a boat knife,it works and is easy to maintain.But there is nothing wrong with the old school blade either.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top