Kabar USMC fighting knife- still a great knife?

I'd vote for the Kabar Mark 1 as a better all-round cutting tool. A 5 1/4" blade might not be long enough for pig sticking but it's fine for most other tasks.
 
Corton93 said:
Outside of the freak incident I posted above, this is probably where 75% of my batoning is done, although at this point I'm mostly processing smaller pieces.

Have split probably thousands of smaller 3-4 inch dia pieces sitting on my brick hearth with a ESEE 4 or BK16 to get smaller kindling to get the fireplace up and going.

Plus there is just something therapeutic to me about splitting logs..
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Yup, I hear that! I also really enjoy splitting wood. I like to get and geared up with my big fixed blade, my folder, maybe a multitool, and my hatchet/axe and go split some firewood. I may not use anything but the hatchet/axe, but it kind of comes with the territory for me haha.
 
chevyrulez1 said:
Probably because they were not using their swords to try to baton knotty hardwood 😂
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True, true. But those swords were often used blade-to-blade, on iron helmets and armor and so on. Still hard use, and the handles construction has a reputation for durability when used that way. "That way" often involved two hands and a fighting man's full strength.

I still find it interesting that the single bamboo peg works.

No, it is not batoning.
 
shane45-1911 said:
Exactly my point. But there ARE many other (better) options today.

Currently, Kabar is selling knives based on the legacy of their name and their longevity, and not much more. They were good knives when there was not much to compare them against.

Fast forward to today, and Kabar is outclassed by every major current production manufacturer (Tops, Becker, ESEE, etc.) who cater to the same "survival/combat" knife demographic.
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Uh, Becker is made by Kabar, so Kabar has a "beefy, survival line" and has no need to "update" their 1940s tooling.
 
VorpelSword said:
True, true. But those swords were often used blade-to-blade, on iron helmets and armor and so on. Still hard use, and the handles construction has a reputation for durability when used that way. "That way" often involved two hands and a fighting man's full strength.

I still find it interesting that the single bamboo peg works.

No, it is not batoning.
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It is a very interesting fact, and I appreciate your comment. My reply was not aimed at your comment but was a snarky remark at the concept of batoning wood. I was not aware the old samurai swords were constructed that way. To your point this style of construction worked in a combat role for hundreds of years. Similar to this is the fact that the tang construction of the US Military knives and bayonets was considered a proven design for combat utility use for many years, until someone decided we had to pick up a stick and start beating the knife blade through hardwood logs 6 inches in diameter. This abuse of a blade is notorious for breaking even well made blades, and has now made a lot of people act like knives like the Kbar are suddenly inadequate or flawed in some way. Fact is, as a knife for cutting stuff and general utility use that can also be pressed into a fighting role (which is what it was designed for) they are still great knives. I realize that there are a lot of people who think it is important to split logs with their knife, and for them the Becker or some other 3/8” thick monstrosity should be exactly what they need. However I am not interested in those sharpened prybars. I guess you can tell I am not a fan of batoning 😂
 
zzyzzogeton said:
Uh, Becker is made by Kabar, so Kabar has a "beefy, survival line" and has no need to "update" their 1940s tooling.
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Uh, yes Kabar purchased Becker, but they are still using many of their decades-old Kabar tools and jigs for the Kabar product line. Yes, they DO need to update their tooling. That has been the long-standing reason why Kabar will not switch to a full width tang - because they don't want to invest in tooling updates.

The fact that they are now "competing" against themselves, makes it even more relevant that a Kabar should have a full width tang, to compliment their Becker offerings.

It's a Volkswagen/Porsche thing. While owned by Volkswagen, I certainly don't consider a Porsche to be a "Volkswagen". Kabar and Becker are essentially still two different brands (and still made on their original, respective equipment/tooling) but now under the Kabar umbrella.

Instead of Kabar buying out Becker, it's too bad Ethan didn't purchase Kabar and bring them into the 21st century.
 
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Another comment on the Kbar style (combat knife, Camillus, Ontario 498, whatever you want to call it), after all the internet chatter of the knives sucking because they kept breaking because of the rat tail tang, I think Kbar changed their heat treat because now I am seeing all the “torture tests” showing the knives bending at this point instead of breaking. Now everyone is like “this piece of crap is bending way too easy!” Well if they hadn’t kept complaining about them breaking when they pried and batoned with them, then that wouldn’t be an issue either. Just a theory, but I feel pretty sure that they have changed something trying to address the issue
 
If you want to complain about the "kabar" start with an Ontario or an older Camillus. The modern KA-BAR brand knife is not mil spec and hasn't been since WW-II.
 
shane45-1911 said:
Uh, Kabar only purchased Becker, and are still using many of their decades-old Kabar tools for the Kabar product line. Yes, they DO need to update the tooling. That has been the long-standing reason why Kabar will not switch to a full width tang - because they don't want to invest in tooling updates.

The fact that they are now "competing" against themselves, makes it even more apparent that a Kabar should have a full width tang, to compliment the Becker offerings.

Kabar and Becker are essentially still two different product lines (and still made on their original, respective equipment/tooling) but now under the Kabar umbrella.

Instead of Kabar buying out Becker, it's too bad Ethan didn't purchase Kabar and bring them into the 21st century.
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I never realised the tang of kabars was a problem . Again I am going back a ways and not a knife guy.
 
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I invite informed remarks on the "modern" Ka-Bar with D-2 blade and synthetic handle.

Any better?
 
mickb said:
I never realised the tang of kabars was a problem . Again I am going back a ways and not a knife guy.
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It's not much of a problem for "normal" knife use. It only rears its ugly head when one pushes the extremes of a what a knife should be used for. However, given the "survival/combat" nomenclature, one would expect that there is the high probability that these knives could be (ab)used beyond "normal" knife usage. And that is when the half-width tang is not ideal.
 
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VorpelSword said:
I invite informed remarks on the "modern" Ka-Bar with D-2 blade and synthetic handle.

Any better?
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I like mine (half-width tang, and all).

I did have to add a sharpening choil. :)

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shane45-1911 said:
It's not much of a problem for "normal" knife use. It only rears its ugly head when one pushes the extremes of a what a knife should be used for. However, given the "survival/combat" nomenclature, one would expect that there is the high probability that these knives will be (ab)used beyond "normal" knife usage. And that is when the half-width tang is not ideal.
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I was in my countries army over a decade and didnt see much abuse of knives to be honest,. We used 'combat' knives but also looked after them, nothing like I see these kids do on youtube vids. Anyone busting one of these up doing crazy stuff would probably find himself in the lockup. Some fellas had Kabars for personal use, which is where I first saw them, and it was considered pretty prestigious to have one pre-internet
 
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With a stick tang and 90 degree stress risers, I wouldn't use a Ka-Bar C/U for more than light bushcrafting. For an all-around knife that's going to be used for hog hunting, I'd go with a BK9 instead:

 
If someone approached me for this job, I would push for a fixed blade in either 8670 (the toughest carbon knife steel) or AEB-L (the toughest stainless blade steel), in 5/32" stock with Suretouch handle scales. Something like this fighter I made a while back, but with probably more of a profile taper to the tip and maybe a bit wider guard.

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Tafkaag said:
With a stick tang and 90 degree stress risers, I wouldn't use a Ka-Bar C/U for more than light bushcrafting. For an all-around knife that's going to be used for hog hunting, I'd go with a BK9 instead:

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Bit thick and heavy for easy sticking, also limited handguard and the force needed to get it in means when the handle is slick with blood, you risk riding your hand onto the blade.
 
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