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

scruffuk said:
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.
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I never cared for the grip shape or materials, and the clip\swedge on the top end because of potential battoning. Some knives just seem to fit while others put you off for some un or definable reason. Really for me it was the grips and weight of the knife. I have enough weighty blades and becoming less interested in them over time. The potbelly because of it's various features is a little more unique because it is heavy duty with a 1\4 inch spine, so it's rugged. But it also has that semi hollow grind allowing it to be a fine slicer, which also makes it easy to sharpen. A few swipes on a Sharp Maker and it's sliding through paper.
 
hey guys, sorry have been way too busy at work, i will get some pics up tonight. and if i get time this weekend i will take it out again with a longer video.

im teaching this week, some new cdn forces recruits and -55*c, should be fun... I'll only start to worry when they spot bitching. :D
 
Great I can hardly wait to see the video. Can you show in your video the top of it also. Oh heck just show all sides of it lol

Bryan
 
upnorth said:
I never cared for the grip shape or materials, and the clip\swedge on the top end because of potential battoning. Some knives just seem to fit while others put you off for some un or definable reason. Really for me it was the grips and weight of the knife. I have enough weighty blades and becoming less interested in them over time. The potbelly because of it's various features is a little more unique because it is heavy duty with a 1\4 inch spine, so it's rugged. But it also has that semi hollow grind allowing it to be a fine slicer, which also makes it easy to sharpen. A few swipes on a Sharp Maker and it's sliding through paper.
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Indeed weighty is not the same as choppy (and should certainly not be at the expense of wieldy!).
I do baulk at the blade thickness.

I have a wonderful handmade Thai eNep and Thai Forest Ranger Knife (an eNep hybrid of sorts).
They are great choppers and light. The narrow handles do tire the hand slightly. I should get wsome pictures of them up.

Brian - I found these pictures elsewhere which show the views I think you are after:

3-1.jpg


2-2.jpg


I don't really understand the size of the palm swell towards the choil. Maybe it helps balance the weight and preventes the hand tiring??

Think I've gone off it again now! lol!
 
I really like the looks of the hand-grip. Looks don't always communicate enough and each persons grip requirements are, well, individual.

How do *you* like how the grips feel in-hand? After working the knife awhile - still nice (presuming it's nice....) or some hot spots?
 
scruffuk, thanks for the pics. that was what I was after. You know I am not sure about the palm swells either but I do know this we as humans are always inventing lol. It might be just the handle shape that will work great for me or others too. I ma going to have to try it just for fun lol. One with the handle shape like that and then one with the handle a little thicker towards the pommel. Reveresed I guess you could say lol.

it sure looks like it worked pretty good for Fonly.

Bryan
 
I told you so!

Listen, when I first saw the Potbelly, I thought it was a silly looking knife, then I read a couple positive revues, and thought, what the heck. One came up in a trade, and I went for it. I used it, and then traded it...its been 2 years, and I just finally bought another and this one is staying in the truck!
Much like Fonly's experience, you have to USE one to understand the funny looking handle. It is comfy as hell.
The blade is easy to sharpen, its one steady curve... The choil (which I usually hate) works for the fine work very well, and the handle towards the butt is deceptive, it swells in width and allows you to choke WAY back and get the maximum out of the chopping power of the blade.
The more I look at it and hold it, use it, its a freaking brilliant design. A very usable knife.
I have never held a knife in its size and weight range that could out perform it or felt better in hand. Oh, and a side note, it is a dream to use in the winter with gloves on, some knives give me issues when I am wearing gloves, this one works fine both ways, gloves or not.
I will say, I hate the color of the handle, so I am making some custom natural micarta grips for mine.

Fonly,
what do you think of the sheath that came with the potbelly? Not bad huh?
 
gunknifenut said:
I used it, and then traded it...its been 2 years, and I just finally bought another and this one is staying in the truck!
Much like Fonly's experience, you have to USE one to understand the funny looking handle.
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I used it and acknowledge that it is a good knife. I do not however like the cold, plasticy, greasy feeling (to me), grips. I considered using some of my Elk antler for new grips but decided that I am happy with my micarta gripped BK-2. It's all individual choice.
:thumbup: :)
 
As Ka-Bar and BK&T are now as one I wish they would bring out a PotBelly and also a Ka-Bar ZK-Pestilence Chopper with the Becker handles !
 
pitdog said:
As Ka-Bar and BK&T are now as one I wish they would bring out a PotBelly and also a Ka-Bar ZK-Pestilence Chopper with the Becker handles !
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Agreed. That would be wonderful and a game changer for me. :thumbup:
 
pitdog said:
As Ka-Bar and BK&T are now as one I wish they would bring out a PotBelly and also a Ka-Bar ZK-Pestilence Chopper with the Becker handles !
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Hmmm? Nope, the Potbelly is the knife it is, due to the handle shape. Like I said in my post, the handle material is basically crap, I will be adding Micarta to my personal Potbelly. Then, it will get a custom sheath (I like the factory, but I am big fan of leather sheaths) and all will be well with the world.
The knife's handle shape is what aids it in performance. I don't know if it is "tougher" than a BK2, but it does every "knife" related chore better.
I am a Beckerhead, because of the BK2, but the Potbelly is a better design...period. If only hot chicks were good in bed, we wouldn't have this population explosion....that's my scientific analogy.
Anyways..I like all kinds of knives, to different degrees, and many are my favorite for SPECIFIC themes, the Potbelly is a good all around knife IMO, and covers a lot of bases, which many "survival knives" do poorly across the board.
Your mileage WILL vary!
 
Gunknifenut, what would your thoughts be for a 9" version of the potbelly knife. I bave been thinking to myself since seeing fonlys video of what the 7" did and it is 1/4" just adding 2 more inchs to it could really make a better chopper. I was in my knife making shop today and doing some drawing on some steel.
Anyhow any thoughts from ya on that?

Bryan
 
sicily02 said:
Gunknifenut, what would your thoughts be for a 9" version of the potbelly knife. I bave been thinking to myself since seeing fonlys video of what the 7" did and it is 1/4" just adding 2 more inchs to it could really make a better chopper. I was in my knife making shop today and doing some drawing on some steel.
Anyhow any thoughts from ya on that?

Bryan
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I would be all over that...I am a big chopper guy though. What I like about the handle design of the Potbelly, is it makes that shorter blade "feel" longer...and it DOES indeed seem to chop like a 9 inch chopper, instead of a 7". I would think an actual 9 inch knife with similar lines would have the power of say a small Kukri. It would be fun to see come to life no matter what!

Kabar makes several knives with the handle profile (or what I like to call "butt ugly handle shape") and one that is out there I would like to test is the ZK War Sword. BUT, if you took that sweeping blade design of the Potbelly and stretched it another 2 inches and KEPT it at .250 thick, that would be very cool indeed.
 
sicily02 said:
Gunknifenut, thanks for the reply. I am going to send you a pm.

Bryan
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Here is a quick sketch. Man, after drawing it out, it looks a heck of a lot like a Parang with a clip point!
Which is fine by me...
attachment.php

My Potbellied buddy...
attachment.php
 
gunknifenut said:
Here is a quick sketch. Man, after drawing it out, it looks a heck of a lot like a Parang with a clip point!
Which is fine by me...
attachment.php

My Potbellied buddy...
attachment.php
Click to expand...

That will be cool although I'd be tempted to keep a flat spine in case you need to batton it !
 
upnorth said:
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:
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I was just RE-reading this thread and saw this! Good for you Brother! Thats why Bladeforums is the best knife related forum on the web...period, because of guys like you. Thanks.
 
gunknifenut, I really like the drawing you drew up lol. that is cool. I like how you have the handle material closer to the small choil. Less riccoso is way better to me also lol. After chatting with ya on the phone this knife design is really going to be fun to mess with I think. Thanks again for taking the time to draw it up and chat with me about your thoughts and your knife also.

Bryan
 
I had a PotBelly & for a 7" knife it chopped like a 10" knife ! The handle is UGLY but very comfortable, I'de give the handle a 7 out of 10 because of the "cheap" handle material. I traded the PotBelly to a good friend who really liked it. I compared it to my BK9....BK9 hands down, just my .02 ! If I had kept the PotBelly, I was gonna have a set of Micarta handles made for it. I would recommend this knife to a friend ! Bryan...I can't wait to see what you have come up with !
 
I'd love to get my hands on a Potbelly with a 9" blade!!! The chopping power would be unreal. I'd like to test it on the same tree I used my Kabar on, just to see how much faster it would cut through. I did a 5" thick tree in about 3 minutes with the 7" blade.
 
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