Thoughts on a Couple KaBar Knives Please.

N

Nalapombu

Joined
Oct 26, 2001
Messages
303
Hey all.

I’m not that experienced with knives. I love all kinds though.

I’d like to get your opinions on a couple knives if you don’t mind helping. I am nosing around for a knife to be on my side when hunting hogs here in Texas. I shoot longbows and recurves so I’d like something with a kind of more Traditional look, but I’m not insisting on it. It would be nice to have. Also, I might get invited to go hunting hogs with some guys that use dogs. When the dogs bay them up, the hunters come in and dispatch the hog with a thrust into the armpit. So that might be a possibility for me that I’d need a capable knife to do that with.

Ok, the knives I looked at on their site were

Kabar Bowie, item 1236
Kabar Marine Hunter, item 1235
Kabar Mark 1, item 2225

These also caught my eye, the Becker Combat Utility BK7, and lastly the Jarosz Turok, item 7503.
Of course the standard KABAR that everyone knows about is also in the mix, I guess.

The Jarosz is likely out if my price range though, but it interests me so I thought I’d ask.

Anyway, I’m sorry for asking about so many, but I wanted to have some different choices and am looking for the best all around knife to hunt with, dress game, dispatch a hog if needed and other tasks that come up when hog hunting and/or camping.

Anything you can tell me about these knives would be much appreciated. Which one would you carry or what would you give to your son or daughter that’s hog hunting?

If there’s any other knives in this range that you would also recommend, by all means please post them.

Thank you all for your time and any help you care to give me.

Have a FANTASTIC Memorial Day! Please remember and thank the VETERANS and their families. They’ve given us so much and we owe them much more than we give them.

Larry
 
The turok seems to be the stabbiest looking, but the kabar USMC probably has the value of the bunch and there are many used ones that can be had usually. The dog's head addition is a little cheaper and I think the best prices for kabars is Tomar's kabar. I think the BK7 is probably the best for all-around use and I think the handle is probably more secure than the turok. I personally like the feel of leather, especially if I'm going to be sweating. The smoother handles of the beckers and Jarosz knives are a bit too slick for my liking, but that can be remedied pretty quick with some grip tape like tennis racket tape or basic athletic tape.

I have a modded USMC I've been looking to gift away. It's not the nicest as the top leather spacers came apart and I glued them back up with some wood glue but it's holding together from the light camping use I put it through. I could send it your way if you would like to give it a try. Buy a new one if you like it and gift this one to someone else, or keep it, up to you. If interested, email me at c (dot) rector at live.com

So, I think the BK7 and the USMC are my top pics for all-around use. I will admit, I like the bigger blades a bit and a 6-8" is kind of my sweet spot for a do-it-all knife. One big thing, if you haven't already, is to try and get a few in hand and see how they work for you. If you use the knife a lot, a good handle design will be very worth the consideration. Dressing game with a big knife can be a little tricky but it can be done. If it's an option, I would recommend having a smaller knife with it. The kabar dozier folder is a great little slicer and would be a nice little companion knife at a very reasonable price, especially if skinning small to medium sized game.
 
the marine hunter is stainless and looks the most "traditional.
the navy Mk 1 has a 5" blade.
The Turok is plenty solid, but not so traditional looking
an EK 45 would also work very well -- especially if you are at least minimally capable of working with wood, because then you can make some scales out of mesquite or other local wood.
 
Great choice in knives... Ka-Bar make fine tools.

Stabbing game requires a steady and firm push. I’ve seen many ill prepared hunters stab and flail wildly. Instead, you must get close, quickly locate the tip position, and push hard. Having a guard is important. Having a sharp blade is also important.

For dispatching only, 1066vik had a good recommendation with the EK45. It’s not going to be a great skinner though. As bikerector mentioned, a smaller nimble blade would better serve you for that task.

The MK1 sort of bridges the gap between both worlds.

Whatever you decide let us know. And share some pics! Have fun!
 
This ^^^

for that you want a strong but pointed tip bordering on dagger or flat top ... I would have to think on which Kabar I would go with ... I believe the 7 could do the job as is ...

but I might prefer a bit of a tip reprofile with a false edge on top ... not trying to talk you out of a kabar really enjoy them ...

but just as a reference in what I've seen used check out the blade shape on the Knives of Alaska Magnum Boar Hunter.
 
Of the first 3 knives, I would suggest the Mark I as its the only USA model. I’ve looked into the Taiwanese made leather wrapped 1.4116 classic styled knives before. The general consensus was that they were ok at best and not quite up to snuff with their USA made classics such as the USMC and the Mark I.
 
Nalapombu said:
Hey all....I’m not that experienced with knives.... I’d like something ..kind of more Traditional look, but I’m not insisting on it. ... I’m .. looking for the best all around knife to hunt with, dress game, dispatch a hog if needed and other tasks that come up when hog hunting and/or camping.
...Which one would you carry or what would you give to your son or daughter that’s hog hunting?...
If there’s any other knives in this range that you would also recommend, by all means please post them.
Click to expand...
 
Xr6X,

That’s a gorgeous BK7. I also like the one pictured with it too.
The only thing about the BL7 that concerns me is whether or not it’s just too much of a knife and too heavy to pack while in a pig hunt. I agree that if I am on a hunt where dogs are involved and the pig must be dispatched via blade to the chest cavity, tge BK7 would be great cause all the other gear you’d have would be a pistol. With bow hunting though, I’ve got a lot of stuff I have to carry when I go.

Lots of great knives to pick from.
 
Nalapombu said:
Xr6X,

That’s a gorgeous BK7. I also like the one pictured with it too.
The only thing about the BL7 that concerns me is whether or not it’s just too much of a knife and too heavy to pack while in a pig hunt. I agree that if I am on a hunt where dogs are involved and the pig must be dispatched via blade to the chest cavity, tge BK7 would be great cause all the other gear you’d have would be a pistol. With bow hunting though, I’ve got a lot of stuff I have to carry when I go.

Lots of great knives to pick from.
Click to expand...
Thanks Nalapombu, the BK7 would be my choice for a light weight pig knife. The Sheath that comes with it would be to much Sheath to have hanging on your side. You would definitely want to change to a nice kydex or leather sheath both make a much shorter package to have hanging :D. Pigs are a pretty tough animal I don't think your going to want something to light or shorter than 7" blade. Regardless please share what ever you decide on :thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
Hog hunting ride a long blade...BK7. Tough, good length and the thumb ramp for stopping when need to thrust.

Me I don't got one, but I'd use my BK9s for hunting those things if we had them around here. Sure came in handy when my dad's hogs got uppity when I had to go in the pen to get their mired food trough out.
 
maxresdefault.jpg

Not my pic
 
The MKI is a great knife but I think the blade is a bit short for offensive operations against a hog. I own one and love it, but not the best tool for this job. I think a Kabar Fighting knife would probably suite both dispatching a hog and cleaning one fairly well. A Kabar is the answer to your question, but which one to choose may be a little tricky. I also have a BK9 and that would do the trick probably
 
BK5 is a great hog hunting knife -- so is the BK15
I've gifted both to friends who used them to dispatch hogs down in Texas.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top