ka-bar potbelly, my mind has been changed....

F

Fonly

Joined
Sep 24, 2006
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5,010
Hey guys,

So, the other day I received the pot-belly and a BK5 from upnorth. I unboxed them and immediately favored the bk5, the handle was nice, edge geometry, over all aesthetics were right up my ally. Pot-belly, not so much, but I was willing to give it a chance.

so, we hit the woods and promptly got a fire going as it was -4 F (-20C) but had the wind blowing at about 25km an hr, so feeling more around -30*c

Here were a couple of the tools being used.
DSCF1187.jpg


Our fire.
DSCF1185.jpg


After doing this a few times, I was sold on the pot-belly, it as stunning to use... (click to see potbelly chopping)

Splits and fuzz sticks were a breeze, split rounds so fast.
DSCF1184.jpg

IMG-20120114-01690.jpg


This was without a doubt one of the funnest knives I've used, it sailed through everything, kept its edge, worked for every thing I needed it for. Truly something I recommend you all to try.


BK5?:

I hate it, not what I was looking for, egro's were fine, but it was no where nears as nice to use as a camp knife. as a stand alone, maybe, but I will need to take it on a few trips to try it out.
 
Looks like a great testing environment for an 'all-rounder' knife. If the potbelly is working for you, i'd keep trying it out and see how much more you can do with it or how much more comfortable you are in using it.

Are you buying these or just playing then buying new somewhere? I missed that in the earlier thread - sorry if you covered it already....
 
fmajor007 said:
Are you buying these or just playing then buying new somewhere? I missed that in the earlier thread - sorry if you covered it already....
Click to expand...

No, he just sent them my way to try out for a couple months, I have been wondering about the PB for a little bit, just an odd overall shape, but its has worked well so far...:thumbup:
 
I miss my Potbelly. I'm planning on getting another one SOON. By far the BEST knife in the 7" blade category that I've ever used outdoors. Choke back on the handle and it chops better than some 9"-10" knives I've handled. Choke up on it and can handle most fine work as well. I'd gladly carry that blade any place at any time. I can't think of another knife I can say that about.
 
I love to chop, but haven't found a knife in the 7" range that I actually enjoyed using that much. That looks like it just may fit the bill. Thanks for the vid.
 
looks like a nice outing! i had a similar experience: when i got the bk-10 i really liked it. i kept thinking it's way better than my bk-2 in every respect...hit the woods with them and immediately realized the bk-2 performed better than the bk-10 in actual use. that's why i don't put much stock on knife reviews when the reviewer posts a pic of an un-used knife and touting it as best knife out of all the other knives he's "tested".
 
I agree with your comments on the BK5 110%

Had one-tested it-and sold it quick

Going to try one of those Pot-bellys

Thanks for posting
 
WILLIAM.M said:
I agree with your comments on the BK5 110%

Had one-tested it-and sold it quick

Going to try one of those Pot-bellys

Thanks for posting
Click to expand...

You know, I have wanted to try one bad sense they first came out, Cammilus went under, and I thought I lost my chance. I'm really not upset about it...


Potbelly on the other hand, huge surprise, very strong user, had much more then I would have thought.:thumbup:
 
JV3 said:
looks like a nice outing! i had a similar experience: when i got the bk-10 i really liked it. i kept thinking it's way better than my bk-2 in every respect...hit the woods with them and immediately realized the bk-2 performed better than the bk-10 in actual use. that's why i don't put much stock on knife reviews when the reviewer posts a pic of an un-used knife and touting it as best knife out of all the other knives he's "tested".
Click to expand...

I understand you completely. This was a shocker for me, figured the bk5 was going to be it, that one I had been looking for, not so much.

TheGame said:
I love to chop, but haven't found a knife in the 7" range that I actually enjoyed using that much. That looks like it just may fit the bill. Thanks for the vid.
Click to expand...

All I can say is this, from a production point of view, I've owned a rat7, justin's rd7, cammilus bk7, rat rc6, ka-bar's, sog's even used a few Busse's and Randall's in my time. While some of them were higher quality, the pot-belly out-preforms all of them... its was incredible.

they have done something with the 1/4" thick hollow ground 1095, its was a blast to use.
 
Cool stuff Fonly, I've often looked at those and thought they appeared a neat knife.

I'm suprised nobody on here has bought the Ka-Bar ZK-Pestilence Chopper Knife yet as well ?
 
Cool. About all I used that P.B. for was shelter limbing when I first got it. Went through the limbs like a laser. I know and have acknowledged that the P.B. is a superior blade for its size. But, for good or bad, rational or irrational I have a love affair with my BK-2. The Pot Belly is now yours Fonly. If we can work out some type of trade fine, if not, consider it a gift. No stress over here. Have fun.:thumbup:
 
Now you have used it more

Is it like a small kukri?
Angled handle
Forward well defined sweet point

But with a hollow grind blade!
 
Fonly, I like the video you did. what is the over all length of it? Do you get 2 fingers in the over sized choil? It sure looks like you could. Over all i like the looks of it. How long is the cutting edge?
Also could you post a pic of the knfe from the top view of it. it looks to me that the end of the handle shape down or thinner towards the pomel.
Lots of questions I know lol.

Thanks for the review it gives me some ideas,

Bryan
 
Every once in a while there's that blade that on paper just seems wonky, but in real life winds up making a killer tool. I didn't expect much out of my new Buck Paklite Caper, but boy oh boy she's fast becoming one of my favorite slicers.
 
That's really quite the potential dilemma....

Suppose you somehow try a blade (or even a certain type of automobile - say, for example a minivan) that's completely ugly - no redeeming positive aesthetic attributes at all, but it performs (slices/carves/chops) *fantastically*.

So, here's this butt-ugly knife that somehow works better than anything else you've ever used - what do you do? Keep it and use it regualrly (even in front of all your Bushcraft buds) or pass it along or put it in the drawer and take it out only ocassionally?

Dilemma.

:D
 
I must confess I initially had an aversion to this knife from an aesthetic and ergonomic point of view.

It does seem to be growing on me the more I look at it though, and given its literally the scales that are putting me off aesthetically, it seems pretty dumb not to take it at face value, a well balanced looking chopper.

Thank you for the video also. It helps show not only how great it chops but how well the handle works. Like Mr B though, I would like to see how that big choil works for you? This kind of forced ergonomics is always a struggle for my neutral-ergonomic-puukko-phillic mind.
 
I normally like a fatter handle area near the pommel and that one is going from thicker at the front of the handle and then tapers getting thinner as it goes to the end of the knife.

I hope Fonly gets a pic showing the top view of the knife. He is probably out in the woods using that knife right now lol. Go Fonly:thumbup:


Bryan
 
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