Which would you choose? KABAR USMC, CS Leatherneck, or KABAR EK BOWIE

I am not going into combat, or even serve in the military, but saw 3 similar knife designs, and thought it would make a fun discussion to compare them.

FortyTwoBlades suggested that Blue is very visible in the wilderness. I would think Purple may also be very visible in an outdoor setting, but the other main colors can be seen all over the place in the Fall. Even that zombie Lime green may not stick out as much in the Fall colors.
 
My Kabar showed up today and it is absolutely beautiful ---guess you can tell what my choice is.

I got the fully modernized version with kraton handle---combo edge and plastic sheath. Bought it for an all round camping /hiking knife instead of taking out sentries.

Now I'm kind of wanting a Mark I.
 
Back in the 70s during my service as a US Marine I took a USMC Kabar. CSwas not around, and the EK is only suited for one task.
 
Sharp Steel said:
I am not going into combat, or even serve in the military, but saw 3 similar knife designs, and thought it would make a fun discussion to compare them.

FortyTwoBlades suggested that Blue is very visible in the wilderness. I would think Purple may also be very visible in an outdoor setting, but the other main colors can be seen all over the place in the Fall. Even that zombie Lime green may not stick out as much in the Fall colors.
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Ah, so "hand to hand trench knife fights with zombie terrorist sentries" fantasy combat. Which apparently means "camping." Got it. :thumbup:

Coulda just said that at the beginning.

For camping, and those were my only choices, I'd probably go Kabar, though there are plenty of knives designed specifically for camping that would do the job much better.
 
Marcinek, I think he just wants more of a utility fighter knife just for the fun of it. I don't think it goes beyond that. Woods use? Who knows. I have a number of such blades and they never get used. But I still enjoy handling them from time to time.
 
22-rimfire said:
Marcinek, I think he just wants more of a utility fighter knife just for the fun of it. I don't think it goes beyond that. Woods use? Who knows. I have a number of such blades and they never get used. But I still enjoy handling them from time to time.
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Hey, your guess is as good as mine. But the OP did begin a discussion about visibility in the wilderness and fall foliage. :confused:

If one is looking for some kinda just for fun/because-its-cool type of combat knife, this very recent thread dealt with exactly that subject...

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1393918-Any-recommendations-for-a-good-budget-combat-knife

But. like I said in that thread, we don't know what the OP thinks is cool.
 
marcinek said:
Hey, your guess is as good as mine. But the OP did begin a discussion about visibility in the wilderness and fall foliage. :confused:

If one is looking for some kinda just for fun/because-its-cool type of combat knife, this very recent thread dealt with exactly that subject...

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1393918-Any-recommendations-for-a-good-budget-combat-knife

But. like I said in that thread, we don't know what the OP thinks is cool.
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I did tell you only a few posts in that I liked the look of bowie and tanto knives, plus the general shape of the Kabar USMC....if that doesn't give you at least some vague idea of what I think looks cool, I don't know what will....
 
Isaac300011 said:
I did tell you only a few posts in that I liked the look of bowie and tanto knives, plus the general shape of the Kabar USMC....if that doesn't give you at least some vague idea of what I think looks cool, I don't know what will....
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All that does is further muddy what the question being asked in this thread is. If you would like to discuss the topics in your thread, your thread is probably the place to do it. :thumbup: Just a thought.
 
Of my utility fighter type knives, I still like my old Randalls (but never use them). I also like the BK-7, the EK bowie, and probably my favorite the Blackjack 1-7. That one just sort of makes my pupils dialate when I hold it. Love the thing, but I prefer the Blackjack 125 for woods type use or the BK-15. (No serious batoning with those knives for the most part but if I had to split a little wood with one, I feel I would be up to the task.) All of these pretty much exceed the $100 budget except for the Kabar EK and BK-7. Never really got into the classic Kabar USMC knife, but it always attracts my attention when I am in a knife store. If you want something for zombies, the BK-20 would be fun (exceeds budget). That is one that I will probably end up buying as I like the short machete type choppers and use them.
 
My original intent of the thread was to discuss these 3 different takes on the same design, and whether the reputation/specifications/steel would make one more desirable than the others. I guess it could have just been a poll?

There are plenty of people on the forum who served with the military, which is why I suggested the choice for combat. The thread seems to have gone off the rails, which is probably my fault. My apologies. :concern:
 
Sharp Steel said:
My original intent of the thread was to discuss these 3 different takes on the same design, and whether the reputation/specifications/steel would make one more desirable than the others. I guess it could have just been a poll?

There are plenty of people on the forum who served with the military, which is why I suggested the choice for combat. The thread seems to have gone off the rails, which is probably my fault. My apologies. :concern:
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As posted here a Dog's Head variant Ka-Bar performed well on a lot of things, including woods tasks. Many have used the Ka-Bar as a woods knife and like it for that. It has certainly performed well on the battlefield and as a "utility" knife.

That said, I'd either take the BK7 (which Ethan Becker designed to replace the Ka-Bar, only the USMC wasn't having it) as an all-arounder, or for the utility role, the Glock 78. D-2 steel has already been described as brittle in this thread, and regardless of task, my preferred fixed blades all have a functional guard and an anchor for the little finger to withdraw the knife, which, while I like Moras, is why I won't use the wood-handled ones for anything.

One other thing: you cited that blue handles are very visible in the woods. With the Becker handle kits, a BK7 can do that, as well as green, red, or pink. No Ka-Bar can unless you spray-paint the thing, and I don't know how that would come out.
 
I have a KABAR UMSC. The knife does everything. It chops, it cuts, it stabs, and it is proven over many years in the harshest uses.

The stacked leather handle is a thing to touch and behold. I can't believe a product of this quality comes at so low a price. The leather sheath is perfect.

Sometimes, time tells the truth.
 
marcinek said:
For what purpose? Reality combat where one uses their knife primarily for opening MREs and crates and stuff, or fantasy combat where one engages in hand to hand trench knife fights with zombie terrorist sentries?
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This is true.

Talk to combat veterans; talk with SF Operators who have been there - done that. They will tell you as Marcinek has spoken. Most knives that have seen use in "combat" were multi-tools.

That said, within the context of "combat" I like the Becker BK-7 because while it it not my favorite Becker, or even number 2 or 3 favorite Becker - it is a great all arounder and utility knife of useful size and it's affordable. I also like the KaBar and Ontario military styled/inspired knives.

As for a "knife fighting" knife for extreme CQC (H2H) I have neither the experience nor the knowlege to speak to the finer points and, perhaps like most who buy these knives, could only offer an opinion based upon style and appearances.
 
Rusty-Gunn said:
CS Leatherneck in D2. Its on my list of knives to own before I die.
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I have been turned off to D2, because there are a lot comments about it being brittle. After some reading/viewing last night, I saw that even KABAR has the D2 Extreme Fighting/Utility. It has been around for a while, and they would not sell it in D2 if it was junk steel. I have not been able to find the "Noss destruction test" mentioned in a few places, but would be curious to see it.
 
J85909266 said:
I have a KABAR UMSC. The knife does everything. It chops, it cuts, it stabs, and it is proven over many years in the harshest uses.

The stacked leather handle is a thing to touch and behold. I can't believe a product of this quality comes at so low a price. The leather sheath is perfect.

Sometimes, time tells the truth.
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Semper Fi.
Might want more will rarely need more.
 
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