Ka-Bar or Ontario or SOG

rfbadger

rfbadger

Joined
Jul 19, 2007
Messages
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I'm going to Cabela's next Wednesday (8/15). I'm going to buy a Ontario SP-4 Navy Knife or a Ka-Bar Short Kraton Handle USMC pattern knife or a SOG Seal Pup. Any opinions on which to buy. They're all about the same price so that does not enter into the decision.
 
Mine never has !!!:D:thumbup:
JohnDean076.jpg
 
They are all good knives in my book. There are a few for sale here and most stuff for sale here is cheaper than Cabelas.
 
To my mind the Ontario SP-4 is essentially a copy of the Ka-Bar USMC. I'd say go with Ka-Bar because they were the ones who put that fighting knife style on the map. Of course I'm a little more traditional in my thinking so I'd would also go with the leather stacked handles for an extra $10.00. Gives the knife character! Both Ka-Bar and Ontario SP-x knives are 1095 carbon blades - which take real abuse as general camping knives. The guards would get in the way for some things though.

The seal pup is AUS-8 - stainless steal. The SOG would be preferred if you were really interested in corrosion resistance e.g. in salt water, but the metal is not nearly the worker that 1095 would be when used in camp chores.
 
kgd said:
To my mind the Ontario SP-4 is essentially a copy of the Ka-Bar USMC. I'd say go with Ka-Bar because they were the ones who put that fighting knife style on the map. Of course I'm a little more traditional in my thinking so I'd would also go with the leather stacked handles for an extra $10.00. Gives the knife character! Both Ka-Bar and Ontario SP-x knives are 1095 carbon blades - which take real abuse as general camping knives. The guards would get in the way for some things though.

The seal pup is AUS-8 - stainless steal. The SOG would be preferred if you were really interested in corrosion resistance e.g. in salt water, but the metal is not nearly the worker that 1095 would be when used in camp chores.
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You can cut off the top guard on the Ontario or Ka-Bars if you need to. I would get a next generation Ka-bar but definetely Ka-Bar over Ontario. Also the Sog Seal pup is AUS6 the Seal pup elite is AUS8.
 
I dont know, I have both SOG and Ka-Bar knives, and not one ontario. To be honest, in a wet enviroment go with the sog, general use get the sog. Want a beater knife? Get the Ka-bar.
 
Hmm and here I thought that Ontario manufactured the Kabar for Kabar. IMO, neither the Ontario nor the Kabar style that you are looking at, would be my choice for the field work that a bush/camp knife would need to perform and I'm not a big fan of SOG knives. So............... I'm going to recommend a knife that several here own and are probably happy with. That being the Fallkniven F1.
 
I guess having an idea of what you intend to do with the knives would help us help you.

Given those choices, I'd pass on the Ontario SP-4 due to it's low grind and presumed obtuse edge. I like SOG, but I've never purchased the SEAL Pup because of the serrations. I do like the SEAL Pup Elite because it is available with a plain edge. If SOG were to make the SEAL line with plain edges, I'd buy on of each.

Of your choices, I'd pick the Short Kabar, with a plain edge. And I'd grind off the top guard as soon as I got home. The 1095 steel is easy to reprofile should you find the need, and it is easy to touch up in the field. It is a good and basic utility knife.
 
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