i dont go hunting without mine :thumb: as well as my skinning knife

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/13906-1.html

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/13911-1.html

 

Kabars are your friends

For an all-around utility camp knife that you can use and abuse, it's one of the best. They take some regular maintenance and will rust, easily remedied. After years of use, the leather sheath it came with fell apart at the top so the knife hung out a bit lopsided. Last I checked you can get kydex sheaths made through many companies, and the newer kabars have them if I remember correctly. Newer models have come out, with serrated edges and tanto blade designs,as well as the mini Kabar. The price has gone upon them, and there are many cheap imitations. Do a bit of research to get the real deal and you can't go wrong.
Mine became an emergency tent peg, can opener, hammer (the buttcap is STRONG!), meat cutter and small limb chopper. Not the best at limb chopping, but in a pinch it worked. When I repurchase camp gear, I may pick up both sizes, original and mini. For the backpacker like myself, it's a great purchase and will last forever. They are the type of knives you can pass on to the next generation of outdoorsmen.

 

For an all-around utility camp knife that you can use and abuse, it's one of the best. They take some regular maintenance and will rust, easily remedied. After years of use, the leather sheath it came with fell apart at the top so the knife hung out a bit lopsided. Last I checked you can get kydex sheaths made through many companies, and the newer kabars have them if I remember correctly. Newer models have come out, with serrated edges and tanto blade designs,as well as the mini Kabar. The price has gone upon them, and there are many cheap imitations. Do a bit of research to get the real deal and you can't go wrong.
Mine became an emergency tent peg, can opener, hammer (the buttcap is STRONG!), meat cutter and small limb chopper. Not the best at limb chopping, but in a pinch it worked. When I repurchase camp gear, I may pick up both sizes, original and mini. For the backpacker like myself, it's a great purchase and will last forever. They are the type of knives you can pass on to the next generation of outdoorsmen.

Now you said that there is a remedie for rust, what would that be?

 

great knife that deserves to be in everyones collection.

I can get one here for $50, its the new black handeled unserrated with kydex.

 

Thanks for the save!

I was fumbling about for remembering the rust antidote.Ya nailed it. CLP! Great stuff! I STILL have a bottle of that smelly stuff since 93! Just a bit left...it's what I used primarily for cleaning. I let it sit on things for a bit...man it's been so long that I was really into all of my gear that I had forgotten! About 6 years ago roomates stole near everything. Kabar included! Gone were a 22 rifle, a 410, a semiauto 12, LOTs of ammo, ammo bag, and blackpowder revolver. After this I didn't get anything again. I'm following my Dad's lead and getting back into it, if only to go hunting with him.
I digress...sorry, just remembered a patient ex of mine putting up with the weekend cleaning of gear after housework. She'd vacuum, I'd dissassemble and oil and clean after she and I went to the range.
The place would smell of CLP and Hoppe's...ahhhh, memories.

 

a friend of mine ,a machinest at work suggeted this to me, he is highly impressed with it for preventing rust

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_70549____SearchResults

 

I have had mine for years and I take it every time I go camping, it stays with my BOB as well. I have the shorter version, not the larger KaBar fighting knife. I love it, its a great all around utility knife. I would get the kydex sheath personally. I have never had a problem with rust on mine. You can find Kabars for around $50-60.

 

I own three Ka Bar knives:

The heavy Bowie:

https://www.kabar.com/product_detai...ductNumber=1277&mode=category&categoryId=1,2,3,7&categoryName=Military/Tactical

The Next Generation:

https://www.kabar.com/product_detai...ctNumber=1221&mode=category&categoryId=1,2,3,7,9&categoryName=Military/Tactical

My fathers from WWII. None are for sale.

 

I have a Ka-bar with the new kydex sheath and love it. Wife has the Ka-bar warthog-it has the same steel with a shorter (5") blade and much fatter. Hers is more suited than mine at digging/prying open logs, etc. and mine is a better chopper/fighter. Hers lives in her BOB bag and mine alternates between my BOB and my car trunk. Absolutely a good knife for $50! You can buy a better knife, but it will cost over $200, and will probably be custom made....

 

I have a traditional KaBar and a well made copy called the KaBar 2000 that is made by MilSpec
Dont use the traditional one much anymore but the KaBar 2000 is my main field knife

 

+1 for the Ka-Bar. I have the heavy bowie also, nice chopper and all around camp knife. For the price I don't think you could go wrong.

Tbull

 

I have a new original style Ka-bar, 7 inch blade. Love it. Very sturdy knife. Just needed a little sharpening and it was good to go.

 

look out ka-bar's are VERY sharp right out of the box i was rubbing some oil on the blade with my finger and miss rubed it and put a nice cut on my finger

 

that they are. probably one of the best factory edges.

 

does the black oxside paint prevent the rust azwell?

 

it helps but any exposed metal will rust. If is gets scrached of warn it will rust there too, its best to just keep the blade oiled.

 

I have the large heavy bowie and have owned several of the 7" fighters. The large heavy bowie is a great knife for the price but the traditional ka-bars are just too weak for me. The rat-tail tang design is way too small and squared off, causing it to snap easily, especially in the cold. I need a 7" knife to be able to chop, pry, twist, baton, flex, dig amongst other unauthorized things. I have broken several of the standard 7" fighters right at the junction of the handle and spine. Although the site is controversial, Knifetests.com can pretty much confirm that they are very sharp but also very weak.

 

The skinny tang of the USMC is weak.

Check out the Kabar Becker models

 

I have a kabar, haven't broken it, works fine for me.

 

Just keep in mind that the Ka-bar is only $50. There are better knives out there, but they are usually $200 and up. Busse for example is $500.

 

Nah... A KA-BAR Becker BK-7 is a 7" inch full tang combat bowie that can be had for around $70. It is a much better knife than a USMC. Currently they also come with a small backup knife, the BK-13 for free.

 

so should i get it?, i do think tht the handle looks a little weak but im still thinking about it.

 

KaBar's have been known to bend and snap at the tang/ blade junction, due to it being squared off (stress riser) instead of rounded. Everything else about them is tough as nails, though. I have a USMC marked one that I bought a few years ago and have abused the heck out of it. I also removed the black epoxy coating from the blade. As long as you know it's limitations (weak blade/ tang junction) it will serve you well.

 

My uncle who was a marine in Korea gave me his that he carried in combat for two tours. It lives in my BOB. I have another that my dad gave me lat year for Christmas. It is a new one with the kydex sheath. It goes with me on all camping,hunting,fishing trips.
I have other more expensive knives but my two Kabars get more use than any of them.

"73"
Rex

 

mine is semi seraded. I love it i used it ALL the time in Iraq. there awesome

 

I have the short Ka-Bar it works great! I also should mention that I have had the thing for over four years and I abuse the crap out of it and it has never broken or rusted. In fact the leather sheath wore out and I had to get a kydex sheath for it. The worst thing to happen to my Ka-bar is some of the powercoating on the very very tip came off. I would recommend Ka-bars very strongly.

 

Heavie bowie, short one is a good choping tool. Very sturdy and reliable. To thick in the middle of the handle and is hurting the hand. A black ball for that.

 

Have the Ka-Bar 1245 w/nylon sheath and love it. Going to get the short version also.

 

I've owned two and I ended up giving them both away, one to a marine cadet that was my XO in my ranger company at Auburn University ROTC and the other I gave to my uncle who served in Korea and to whom I wished to repay a debt of gratitude for him helping me out once. I've always been planning to get another and it's on my list of knifes to re-aquire. Everyone needs a KaBar. :thumb: