Kabar question

dutch_0311

dutch_0311

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I have a full size Kabar USMC fixed blade which I carried during my tour in Iraq. I love the knife but have never really put it to extremely hard use other than cutting MRE's, rope, clothing, etc. I brought it out the other day and I noticed that it appears to not have a full tang. I have looked at the Kabar sight and they do not specify if it has a full tang either. If this is the case, does this reflect negatively on the knife to the point where I might want to consider not using it for fear of it breaking if need be some day I have to use it under highly extreme conditions or in a survival situation??
 
dutch_0311 said:
I have a full size Kabar USMC fixed blade which I carried during my tour in Iraq. I love the knife but have never really put it to extremely hard use other than cutting MRE's, rope, clothing, etc. I brought it out the other day and I noticed that it appears to not have a full tang. I have looked at the Kabar sight and they do not specify if it has a full tang either. If this is the case, does this reflect negatively on the knife to the point where I might want to consider not using it for fear of it breaking if need be some day I have to use it under highly extreme conditions or in a survival situation??
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got pictures? How where you able to see yours wasnt full tang???:confused:
I believe the leather handle ones have the tang through and the pommel attached to the bottom???
Dunno i dont have one yet:D Soon though
ivan
 
I have two older ones.
WWII or Korea surplus. They are as IvanKerley described.

I believe the leather handle ones have the tang through and the pommel attached to the bottom???
Click to expand...

Also have a Camilus from about 10 or 12 years ago supposed made to original specs. Same thing (tang attached to pommel).
 
I have two, one leather ( On my KaBar plaque from my time with 4th Marines) and one with the man made material ( I don't know what the material is but it feels like rubber) that was my field knife from 98-03. Both are made the way IvanKerley describes. The tang runs through the handle and is (apparently) spot welded to the pommel peice. I have used and abused mine and never broke it. I also have a KaBar Camp Knife that has the same tang and pommel arrangement.

From what I have read on this forum I don't think this is called a full tang though. I think a full tang can be seen on the top and bottom and has two separate handle scales attached to it. I think the system used on a KaBar is called a stick ( or sword ) tang. I'm not positive about that though so if I'm wrong someone please correct me.

David
 
Every Ka-Bar I've ever seen in my life (including one I bought new a couple months ago) has the tang attached to the pommel.

Nothing's indestructible (even a Busse), but Ka-Bars are pretty legendary. They've been around for 66 years now, and you'd have to look pretty hard to find anyone who has anything bad to say about them.
 
Thanks for all the replies guys. That link from cstorr2004 answered my question. So is the "stick" or "sword" tang as strong as a "full" tang like you would see on a Busse or knives like it?
 
dutch_0311 said:
Thanks for all the replies guys. That link from cstorr2004 answered my question. So is the "stick" or "sword" tang as strong as a "full" tang like you would see on a Busse or knives like it?
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It won't be as strong as a Busse, but then again, a Busse knife is many many times more expensive. In most cases, you don't need a knife as strong as Busse. Another point to keep in mind is that the Kabar is a survival and combat knife where as most Busse blade shapes are better suited for arduous tasks. Having said that, a Kabar will be good enough for everyday tasks.

Stick or "rat tail" tang means the steel under the handle is similar to a stick while a full tang means the steel under the handle is as wide as the handle itself, making it naturally stronger.
 
Kabars will usually break at the guard/blade junture which narrows down to a smaller tang. The design could be strengthened if the cut-in on both sides had a chamfer. This would hopefully decrease the stress points. Typically they will bend before they break.

Usually abused kabars have bent up guards, mangled and worn handles or missing tips. Used in a "reasonable" manner, it should give a life time of service.
 
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