Marine Combat Knife

Diamond Cut II

Diamond Cut II

Joined
Sep 1, 2002
Messages
1,245
This can be found at www.budkww.com . Has anyone used this knife before? It's about 12.99 but what I want to know is, is it a good survival knife? Does it match up to a kabar? Thanks in advance.


-DC2
 
Sorry, but that knife is in no way the rqual of the real deal. All of the materials used are of lower quality. Even the steel, 420, should be questioned. Which type of 420? If it is 420J2, then it doesn't even classify as a knife to me!

Do yourself a favor, if you are looking for this style of knife get the Camillus made Marine Combat. They make the best one.
 
There were a few original manufacturers of the Marine Combat knife. Ka-Bar was one of them, though they didn't make nearly as many as Camillus... and I forget if there were others during WWII. The typical M/C knife uses 1095 carbon steel, a great carbon steel that is easy to sharpen and takes a nice toothy edge. The stainless versions of these knives fro, Ka-Bar are.. well,, I forget. But they also come in D2 from Ka-Bar.

Comparing the carbon versions of Camillus and Ka-Bar, you get a higher fit and finish from the Ka-Bar version. But I'd take a Camillus. The grind line is a bit higher (read slightly better cutting performance) and the handle is coated in some kind of anti-fungal coating, protecting the leather from things that would eat it.
 
Equipped with a razor sharp 420 stainless steel
Click to expand...

That if from there site, and someone should file a lawsuit for false advertising :D there is NO WAY you are going to get a 420 stainless blade razor sharp, its just not going to happen. I would never buy a knife with 420 steel, i dont consider them knives. Go out and do yourself a favor and buy a Real Ka-bar or maybe a Cold steel Master hunter.
 
Kabar and the Camillus Marine Knife are both made with 1095 steel....
The difference is that usually the Kabar version of it is actually milspec plus..... Camillus's version is strictly milspec, like phosphorus coating, and I think the finish on the leather sheath is rougher than the finish on the Kabar's leather sheath.
I think the thread was somewhere around Blade Discussion Forum or the Camillus forum (more likely the latter).
These differences really don't make a difference on how well the blade actually would perform, and strictly speaking the Camillus version of the Kabar is cheaper anyways.
 
calyth, I disagree on your "Kabar is Milspec plus". I think something is either milspec or not. Kabar is not. Camillus is. I'm familiar with both. I kept my Camillus.
 
Any comments on whether the Camillus or Kabar, at around 40 bucks, is superior or inferior to the Ontario Spec Plus line (or other made by Ontario, in the same vein)? The Ontario knives seem, generally, a bit heavier.

John in Boise
 
Right now I'm saving up for a U.S.M.C. Ka-bar with black handles and a serrated edge. What do you guys think? Also, does anyone know where to get one with white handles? Thanks.


-DC2
 
bruce: I guess I didn't use the term correctly, but what I meant to say is that what Kabar does to their USMC pattern is actually beyond what the original military specs were. I'm only paraphrasing a thread that I don't know where it is right now.
Diamond Cut: I don't recall a white handled one.
 
Actually Calyth, your post is still misinformative. By "going beyond", you can't mean "make better." Yes, the coating on the Kabar versions is nicer looking and the leather handles are polished, but the Camillus is still a better performer. Kabar handles aren't treated with the anti-fungal stuff, as far as I know, while Camillus versions are. Also, the grind lines on Camillus USMC blades are a bit higher, IIRC, than kabar versions. Kabars are nicer to look at and look a little classier, but the Camillus versions are better performers.

But hey, I'd still pick up a kabar for a user any day! I actually have a kabar short that is in my collection.


Diamond Cut II: White handles? I've never seen those. USMC knives have leather handles, so you get black or brown.
 
Searching on google (image) I came across the Kabar with a white handle(search "kbar") Maybe it's just my imagination.


-DC2
 
Ka-Bars are very servicable knives, you should really get one.

But I would leave out the serrations unless you are going to cut a lot of rope (which is one of the very few things serrations are useful for).
Take care of the steel: it´s carbon steel, which means that it might rust if not cared for properly. I think wiping the blade with WD-40 from time to time should be sufficient, just don´t go salt-water diving with it. Any steel can rust if not taken care of, carbon steel even more so, but you gain better edge-holding from choosing a non-stainless steel and they are easier to resharpen than most stainless steel blades.
 
Originally posted by Crayola
Actually Calyth, your post is still misinformative. By "going beyond", you can't mean "make better." Yes, the coating on the Kabar versions is nicer looking and the leather handles are polished, but the Camillus is still a better performer. Kabar handles aren't treated with the anti-fungal stuff, as far as I know, while Camillus versions are. Also, the grind lines on Camillus USMC blades are a bit higher, IIRC, than kabar versions. Kabars are nicer to look at and look a little classier, but the Camillus versions are better performers.
Click to expand...
Crayola: I actually didn't know anything about the anti-fungal handle treatment and the different grind between the Ka-bar and the Camillus USMC pattern. So point taken.
Again... I was dictating a certain post that's somewhere in the database.
Diamond Cut: As far as I know, I've yet to see a manufacturer's Kabar with a white handle, but I suppose the construction allows modification quite readily.
Besides, I never have the intention of picking up the Kabar. I know I could trust Camillus and they're cheaper than the Kabars anyways :p :)
 
Well the Ka-Bar is good at its pricepoint and I do like the history behind it but if you're going to be using it hard the stick tang will not hold up too well.

The pommel of mine came loose on a camping trip after some light chopping and hacking of some brushes. Not what the knife was designed for but you might want to note the amount of work it can take if you plan on abusing it a little.

Dead easy to sharpen though and its size is a good fit for me.
 
I am a bit confused. Everywhere I've looked on the forum, the general consensus seems to be that 420 is crap and 1095 is decent. Additionally the Camillus marine combat is generally preferred as both an original and tougher version as opposed to the Kabar (don't hear much about the Onatario version).

My understanding is that the Camillus Marine combat is 420HC (their website says "high carbon blade". If that is so, why is it so accepted that the Kabar or Ontario (both 1095) don't stand up as well. I think Ontario also claims that their knife is original spec as well. So which is original, 1095 or 420HC?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top