which grip on ka-bar?

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bivikez

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Oct 5, 2013
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hi.over here in the uk knives cost almost double than the states.im after a ka-bar 5 inch blade with kraton grip and nylon sheath for 55 pounds.
my question is this-
would it be worth spending an extra 15 pounds to get the stacked leather grip and leather sheath?
 
Not unless you intend to spend a lot of time looking at it as apposed to using it. UK is mostly damp yes? Leather will retain moisture which is not good for tool steel. Most Ka-Bars are 1095 high carbon. The stacked leather might look cool if that's what you're into. Also the nylon sheaths have better lashing options.

I guess this is just a long winded no.
 
I haven't had any issues with the stacked leather handles, even though I live in a very humid area. The protective coating they put on it at the factory holds up quite well. It has no practical advantages over the kraton handle, so I wouldn't pay extra for it unless it makes a big difference to you from an aesthetic point of view.

The leather sheaths on their USMC models suck, though. They are made out of very thin leather. If you intend to use the knide, get it with the hard synthetic sheath.
 
I have and like both. If I am going to be working in a wet/muddy environment, I prefer to use a Kraton handled model because, IMO, the Kraton is less slipperier (if that is a even word :rolleyes: ) than the leather when it gets wet/muddy. Now, I also have 50-80 year old leather handled knives that are still in excellent, usable condition. It's just a matter of proper post-use clean-up and leather treatment product use.

Being a relatively frugal hard-headed German heritage rural farm type, if I could only afford 1 or only wanted to buy 1 knife, I'd go Kraton.
 
Get what you like. This whole leather handles deteriorate and rust up the knife overnight is a bunch of BS, unless you're planning on going for a swim with it. I've been using mine for quite a few years in every kind of weather you can think of with no problems. I've also been using my kraton handled one for about the same amount of time with no problems. If you prefer the leather handle, get it, even under abuse, it won't fall apart any time soon. If you like the kraton one better, get it, it won't fall apart on you any time soon.

The leather sheaths are okay, but they do wear out every so often, the plastic ones should last forever.
 
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There's plenty practical to think about.

Does leather hold moisture? Yea

Does it matter? No

The tang is coated and your going to get rust right where the pommel meets tang with the kraton too.. I have an older one where its obvious because the orange has made it the surface and I have one that saw action for about 5 months before I broke the knife, it to had rust in the same spot but I never would have known if i hadn't removed the handle as it wasn't visible.

The leather is not coated, just highly polished/compacted.

Kabar test show that the leather handle adds strength to the tang in terms of being less prone to bend in the handle.

Does that matter? Not really, it isn't that big of a deal to begin with.

People who think that Leather will fall apart in front of your very eyes should bear in mind that there kraton is actually easier to tear up being The soft rubber that it is compared to the highly compacted leather washers.

My kraton handled kabars have plenty of damage to them. Cuts, scrapes, pock marks, you name it.

Am I worried about it? No, of it comes off they always have replacement leather washers for a handle.

I like the grip of the Keaton knives, its true that they have a better grip when wet.

Leather is actually much tougher than soft rubber guys.
 
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