Kabar USMC Fixed blade which style handle is better?

T

the Ryan

Joined
Jan 5, 2009
Messages
53
I was wondering which fixed blade Kabar usmc I should get Here they are:
Option #1
Or,
Option #2
I like the looks of the wood handle, but is the Kraton G handle more grippy or shock or will it reduce shock?
Thanks for any help.
 
the classic brown leather washer handle although i'd want the leather sheath rather than what is offered in the link you provided, with just basic care the leather would last along time, its a time tested design.
just my 2 cents though.
 
What's the use? I don't have any use for leather on a real world use knife, there's a reason its not used anymore.
 
Buy the leather handle. I have a leather handled pilots survival knife, and a leather handled Ka-Bar. Both have served a great number of years in heavy use environments.

While Kraton is an ok material I don't think it will last as long as the leather under heavy use.
 
Leather!

It's like a synthetic stock on a Garand if you go with the plastic. Doesn't belong on a Ka-Bar.
 
Tripton said:
What reason is that?
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Affected by temperature, moisture, exposure to sunlight etc. Leave a leather handle in saltwater and you'll see what I mean. If it's going on a shelf, in a display, or will come out every now and then I have no problem with leather. But we do stuff on a planet that's 70% water and gets sunlight for the majority of the day in most parts of it.
 
I have both and like the Kraton a little better than leather when working with wet(bloody) hands; easier to keep a good grip when cleaning wild game or else working in the rain.
 
Hammer27 said:
Affected by temperature, moisture, exposure to sunlight etc. Leave a leather handle in saltwater and you'll see what I mean. If it's going on a shelf, in a display, or will come out every now and then I have no problem with leather. But we do stuff on a planet that's 70% water and gets sunlight for the majority of the day in most parts of it.
Click to expand...

Basic knife care says leather requires the same maintenance as a knife. It responds to the elements much like the steel of the blade. Keep it clean and oiled and it will be fine.

What you do with your knives is your business, but I only know of a few that were designed for saltwater bathes.
 
Hammer27 said:
Affected by temperature, moisture, exposure to sunlight etc. Leave a leather handle in saltwater and you'll see what I mean. If it's going on a shelf, in a display, or will come out every now and then I have no problem with leather. But we do stuff on a planet that's 70% water and gets sunlight for the majority of the day in most parts of it.
Click to expand...

I don't think that anyone here is going to claim that a Kabar with a stacked leather handle would make a great dive knife.

I live in Iowa, and I tend to take care of my knives as well as use them, so I do not really care about that anyway.

Funny, here we get sunlight for the majority of the day between the spring and fall equinoxes and vice versa for the winter. Strange stuff around here.:confused::D
 
Yeah, I'm a fan of the aesthetic of the leather. Plus it just feels quality. Ditto on the leather sheath.
 
I'm actually a fan of the old milspec pattern, now only available from Ontario, but you might find some of the Camillus ones out there new. They have the weatherproofed leather handle instead of the polished leather.
 
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