Marine combat knife compairson

savagesicslayer

savagesicslayer

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May 24, 2005
Messages
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I was wondering witch of these knife makers makes the best U.S.M.C. type fighter? KA-BAR,CAMILLUS or ONTARIO.You probabilly know that I'm a ka-bar fan but I want to know what you all think.If you know of a better made verson of these knives please let me know.
 
It's a tossup between Camillus and Ka Bar. Ka Bar looks nicer, though. Both very nice.Ontario is good too, just feels..cheaper
 
Definitely the Ka Bar. The Camillus and Ontario are the ones actually issued to US troops, but the Ka Bar made ones are much nicer.
 
I like the Camillus, because I believe the heat treat is better.
 
I would go with... the Case. I know it wasn't one of the ones listed but they aren't hard to find and I just like them best.
 
I have both the KaBar and a Camillus. The KaBar is better, but the Camillus isn't that far behind. I've seen some Ontario made U.S.M.C. knives they look on par with the Camillus, but can't really comment. Stick with a KaBar!
 
KaBar (and Ontario) coating is just awfull! You can damage it by your fingernail and after use on wood it looks very bad. Guard is also not palm friendly (however it is historical design). Next Generation, when it was out of Sandvic bead blasted, was probably best, but now they make it from 440A + same urgly epoxy coating but gray.

However I like KaBar look better then Camillus and Ontario.

I wish somebody (better KaBar) will make this knife out of prmium materials - like CPM 3V, BC coating (of TN or TAlN), without serration...

Thanks, Vassili.
 
I never liked the handle design on these knives. You should take a look at one of the Ontario Quartermaster Knives. The blades are thicker and the handle design is better. I particularly like the WWII version that were made from carbon steel. The modern ones with 440A alloy stainless should be pretty tough given the blade thickness. These are better weighted and balanced for hacking ability than the old MkII design.

You should also consider getting a Camillus Becker BK7. It has a better grip, and better blade than the old MkII design:
http://www.camillusknives.com/1mainframe.htm?bkt/index.shtml~main
 
Lil Timmy said:
Ka Bar also makes a version of the Next Generation in D2. :cool:
Click to expand...

Yes, but for some wiered reason they don't make them without serration.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
I can understand not wanting serrations on a sub-4" folder. But for a knife with a 7" blade, I don't mind having the last 2" serrated.
 
Lil Timmy said:
I can understand not wanting serrations on a sub-4" folder. But for a knife with a 7" blade, I don't mind having the last 2" serrated.
Click to expand...

I am not so tolerant to manufacturers wiered desire to put serration somewhere on the knife, even it is just about little less then 30% of the premium steel edge. :)

Thanks, Vassili.
 
The place that I don't want the serrations are right where they put them, next to the guard. That is the area where I would do push cutting such as whittling. I would rather have serrations on the spine for cutting wire. Better yet I would like a series of wire breaking notches of several sizes.
 
ON a knife like theese I'd like to see the serrations on the outer third of the blade to leave the back for a draw blade.
 
My only experience has been with the Ka-Bar and the Ontario. The Ontario, I rate as "poor" in virtually every way. The Ka-Bar, I've kept in the tool boxes of my vehicles for 11-12 years. It's easy to sharpen, cuts nicely, hasn't rusted with minimum attention and still looks okay despite the blade finish being worn badly.
 
A member once did a comparision between the Kabar and the Camillus Marine Combat. The Camillus was found to have better edge-holding and a more durable finish.

The Kabar in D2 should have better edge-holding, but has been criticised as a survival knife because D2 is not easy to sharpen.

Ontario has a reputation for QC problems, such as poor heat treatments.
 
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