OPINIONS WANTED! KA-BAR for Aussie girlfriend.

J

Jakeb90

Joined
Nov 20, 2011
Messages
17
Ok, so my girlfriend is moving here to the states in February from Sydney. She loves camping and adventuring, so I thought it would only be fitting to hook her up with a great American blade. I was thinking either a short classic KA-BAR http://www.amazon.com/KABAR-Short-Black-Plain-Knife/dp/B000GKD41G/ref=pd_sim_sbs_sg_3
Or a Mark 1 http://www.amazon.com/Ka-Bar-Kraton...3KF2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1324879278&sr=8-1.
If you guys have any other suggestions I am completely open to them (my price range is $50-60). Thanks!
 
Out of those two, I would recommend the classic. But my personal recommendation would be a ka-bar becker, probably a 2 or a 7 depending on the size/strength/preference of your gf, i know there are some aussie women that are my size (and still beautiful :D). If she is a strong girl, go with the 7, otherwise go with the 2. Good luck buddy!
 
If she ever goes home a Ka-bar becker tweener type knife will be more passable - I can imagine customs not liking the daggerlike guards even though its legal.
 
Becker BK9, BK7, or BK5 (also works great in the kitchen) then get her a custom kydex sheath. You can mod either one to make them perform small tasks as well. Here is mine:

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Jakeb90 said:
If you guys have any other suggestions I am completely open to them (my price range is $50-60). Thanks!
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Sorry if this sounds flip, but most hikers and backpackers in the USA carry Swiss Army Knives. The great American outdoor knife that just happens to be made in Switzerland. LOL.

Is she a hunter? A Buck knife (Woodsman, Pathfinder, Special) is definitely in your price range.

But if your intent is to get her something that Australian's would consider "American" (the "yank tank*" of knives), the Becker line is really nice.

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* Stereotypically large and wasteful American vehicles, like the Chevy Subburban, are called "yank tanks" in Australia. :D
 
I'd suggest the Tops USMC Combat Bowie. Now that's a knife.
 
Thank you all for the replies! I already have a BK2 on the way (for myself), so I was aiming at getting her something a little smaller for finer work seeing as she is a smaller gal (barely 115lbs). Just out of curiosity (knowing it is out of price range), what feelings do we have towards the bench made rant bowie?
 
I would strongly advise against the short Kabar. I own the very knife you referenced and regret the purchase. The biggest flaw with the knife is that the blade is too thick, it's the same thickness as the full size Kabar. A thick blade is not usually something I complain about but the knife is rather narrow and the edge/grind is even narrower. Between the thickness and the narrowness there isn't enough room to achieve a proper cutting edge. When my knife arrived it was basically a barely edged, mini prybar. I put a lot of work into it by grinding a new edge by hand but with the lack of edge space the edge is still to steep for any fine cutting tasks.

My other complaint is the very small handle. Except for being the same thickness, the short Kabar is a scaled down version of the full-sized model and as a result that little handle makes it seem like a toy. Unless your girlfriend has very small hands I think she might have trouble using it for any heavy knife work.

I don't know about any knives in your price range to reccomend.
 
man this is a difficult question.
You want a knife that will go camping & hiking so something small and light would be in order.
If she's an Aussie she would have the sense to use an axe ,hatchet or bushsaw to to cut firewood(more likely you will be doing those jobs under her direction).A ginormous bowie is therefore
unsuited.
You want to give her something typically American -a great idea. Lots to choose from.Fixed or folding?
Will it be strictly for camping or will it be a gift that she will carry around on her to remind her of you?
So semi large fixed blade that can be taken out at home and used in the kitchen or small folding scout type knife such as an olde Camillus .
How about this a GEC - 1316725892814-2076516679.jpegstylish & feminine yet functional. Not a million miles out of the price range either.
cheers.
 
Take a look at the Kabar Mark I Navy knife rather than the short USMC. Nearly the same size, but a much more useful blade shape and geometry for light camp work/food prep. And it's All-American. :D
 
Does she already have a camping knife? What does she currently bring with her?

I just got a new, Ka-Bar Mk1 and it's great. It's nicely thin and sharp out of the box. I don't have any experience with the shorties.

If she doesn't have a regular camp knife, I'd recommend a BK-11 necker or 14 eskabar instead. They have a thin profile and decent blade length in a small overall envelope. Though I love my mid-sized blades, there is very little I cannot accomplish with a chopper (hatchet, axe, golok, or BK-9) paired with the 14.
 
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I'd go with a leather MK1. Its a classic, and I hear the ladies love'em.

The lack of the top guard, the better grind for slicing, and the larger handle are what make it work better in my opinion.

Good luck :).
 
another vote for the Mk1 -- great woods knife, grip is not too big, not too small.
leather or kraton is up to you, but while I have the kraton, it's only because the leather wasn't available at the time.
 
1066vik said:
another vote for the Mk1 -- great woods knife, grip is not too big, not too small.
leather or kraton is up to you, but while I have the kraton, it's only because the leather wasn't available at the time.
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:thumbup::thumbup:

My vote is also for the Mark-1

I have the kraton version, it is an awesome knife.
 
Kabar MKI.

Got one in for some contests, my wife was rummaging around in the box, and came out with the MKI.

"You're getting me one of these." She said. SO, I did.

She loves it. She's got medium size hands, and it works well for her.

Come see us in the Kabar or BKT forum if you get a chance, lots of cool stuff goin' on over there.

Moose
 
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