USMC Ka-Bar

G

Gao8

Joined
Apr 7, 2008
Messages
8
I'm looking into purchasing one for some outdoor use and just cause I've always wanted one. How's the build quality on the current ones? I've heard they have a terribly thick grind and not made as well as other fixed blade knives at the same price range.

Also, should i look into the plain edge or serrated?

thanks.
 
the grind is thick but theses knives are well made.KA-BAR USMC are too big & to tick to be good slicer and too small to be a good chopper....In my opinion the handle is maybe to big for medium size hand.If a need to cary only one knife in the wood it will be my KA-BAR.
If i carry two blade i take a small MORA knife with a 4 inches blade and a bolo machete.
 
weird.
my kabar had a nice thin grind and thin, fairly sharp edge.
actually the was was very thin on it.

hmmmm.
too thick to be a good slicer???
isn't it 1/8" thick???
and I have a kabar 'fighter" which is a little longer so it makes a good very light (I'm refering to the actualy weight of the knife here) chopper.

and i think the handle is a decent size, not that big at all.

I guess we have different opinions...
for around 50 or 60$...
i don't think they're a bad buy.
 
The Classic Ka-Bars do have thick grinds for cutting. They can't take as much abuse as they look like they could, and in relation to the blade thickness, because of the tang. They are well made and not a bad deal for the price. I like my short alot better than the larger versions. The leather sheaths are also knife. Good knife if you like classics, but you can find better if function is what your after.
 
I agree that you can do better, but it is still a great knife. Kabar also has some consistently excellent QC.
 
k-bar is a good knife for what you want but you will have to change the edge, because the other poster is right the factory edge leaves a lot to be desired.
 
I just mic-ed my Pearl Harbor Commemerative - .172" thick. Let's not forget the KaBar's heritage... it was the lower/faster bid during wartime. No, it isn't the finest slicer... but you could cut up a chicken to cook if you were a GI in France in WWII. Rations, foil-packed or canned, could be opened. You could sever ropes - barb wire - and, of course, throats, with it. It was still one of the top five knives in Vietnam - at war again - according to 'Blade'.

Today, we have such 'modern', job-specific knives, it seems of little consequence. It's 1095 carbon steel, Parkerized as before, still needs care that a simple Buck 119 doesn't. My late Dad's old WWII 'friend' from the S. Pacific was my camping knife for years, although it is retired now. I bought a pair of users since. Would I get one if I didn't have one now? Well, I have a smattering of Bucks, Bark Rivers, Puma's, etc larger fixed blades - ubetcha I'd still get a KaBar! Nostalgic and useful... kinda like me, except for that useful part!

Stainz
 
I had a WWII USMC .Someone stole it. I used it a lot. Chopped a lot of sticks with it. Ive since replaced it with a Sharade Extreme Survival knife. Less than 20 bucks at SMKW. Its much heavier and chops better. The Kabar is a handsomer knife ,though. Especially an old used one.
 
My 30 year old Kabar mikes at 0.168 inches. Its beat up and worn but its still hanging in there.

Bought if for less than $30 if I remember correctly.
 
Look at the Camp Knife. It has a fuller head to it for chopping, but one that is not too big for cutting.
 
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