Dude, that's like no contest. Ka-Bar all the way. The original line of knives from Cold Steel like the Tanto Series and the Trailmaster are first rate blades but you pay for them, too.

The quality of a Ka-Bar or Becker far exceeds the price tag. I love my Next Gen stainless. Great value. You can get them cheaper all over the place. The ballistic nylon sheath is the way to go.

https://www.kabar.com/product/produ...umber=1222&mode=search&categoryId=1,2,3,7,9&categoryName=Product Search Results

 

I own both. My ka-bar camp is attached to my bob and my bushmans are attached to day packs. The Kabar is a better knife but I bought 2 bushmans and a finn bear for the same price. I subscribe to the idea that two is one one is none, having extra knives around in case of gear loss or breakage is more comforting than having 1 good knife. my bushman knives are daily beaters with the kabar held in reserve for SHTF situations. I own several smaller fixed blades, folders, and a couple of machetes also. No one knife is perfect for all situations. If I was just starting out I would go with a bushman and a couple of moras over a single kabar and add to the collection as I was able. If you have a variety of knives already then go kabar.

 

i do have other knives that i'd bring with me but i was wanting a good quality fixed blade that can take some abuse

 

if you're gonna go with one or the other then you should definitley go with the kabar. i don't have nor have i ever used or owned a bushman but i do have a foilage green kabar and it is the shiznit. you can't go wrong with a kabar. it has a good weight to it for light chopping and batoning and it's tough as nails. i have looked at a bushman in a store and it seems like a decent blade but i wouldn't want to beat up on it very much.

 

i have looked at a bushman in a store and it seems like a decent blade but i wouldn't want to beat up on it very much.

No you would not...

I have a Kabar Next gen, and I like it. I dont like the Kabar folder though, for the size of the blade the size of the knife is ridiculously large (I have forgotten exactly what model it is I am talking about..)

I prefer the Benchmade Red series than anything else though (Red being the cheap ones I can afford to buy), but its a lot of personal preference.

IMO you would be better off comparing knife to knife than manufacturer to manufacturer.

 

Id get a kabar thats 1095 with the rounded tip...

 

I own a bushman bowie and a kabar short. I like both but the kabar is a better knife simply because it for one has a better handle, meaning more control safety and a gaurd meaning it doubles as a tool and weapon. yes you can mount the bushman onto a stick and make a formidable spear but then you loose your concealability. The kabar is thicker translating to more utilitarian task as prying.The all metal construction of the bushman while it is its strong point in strength it is also its weak point in adverse climate conditions. Here in Texas temps range high and an metal handle will surely heat up quick leaving one not even being able to hold the tool that they need if left in the sun for any period of time. The same would happen in the winter without gloves. The kabar is just more utilitarian and user friendly. Both are good blades but if you could have only one get the kabar.

 

I have a Kabar, and a USArmy/Airforce survival knife. BOTH are on me when I camp, or hike for a long time. Usually the Kabar is on my pack, and the US army/airforce is on my belt, but I often have them both on my belt. The USArmy/Airfoece survivall knife is carried horizontally on my belt at my left front, and the kabar vertically on my right side next to my compass. The Kabar has a diamond sharpening stone, and a magnesium firestarter added to custom pockets on the original leather sheath. I have the old stacked leather handle Kabar, not the newer ones. The USArmy/Airforce survival knife has a Magnisium firestarter, and the compass has one in it's case too. I also carry a credit card shaped Diamond steel in my wallet.



Those two knives paired are unbeatable.

Generally, although not necessary, I allways have a small utility folder on me as well. When I camp, it's in my pack though, not on my belt. My Silat friends seem to be encouraging me to carry a good folding fighter or two, or three, or four...but so far I have not added these to my carry options. Enough is enough.

 

hope this helps

http://www.knifetests.com/


http://www.knifetests.com/KnifeTestsPage2.html


try this one if money is a problem
http://www.knifetests.com/CheaperThanDirtRoughUseKnifeDtest.html

 

I actually decided to upgrade the knife next to my bed just in case an intruder comes inside.
I was looking for about a 7" blade and wanted something that wasn't junk.

I have been thinking about the fallkniven A1 which i saw for $170 shipped.


Then I came across a dustar dimona online which is about
$ 260 shipped....I think that might be a bit pricey since it is d2 steel.

Anyone have either of these?

Any insight?

 

I actually decided to upgrade the knife next to my bed just in case an intruder comes inside.
I was looking for about a 7" blade and wanted something that wasn't junk.

I have been thinking about the kabar d2 extreme which is about $ 93 shipped.

Then I came across a dustar dimona online which is about
$ 260 shipped....I think that might be a bit pricey since it also is d2 steel.

Anyone have either of these?

Any insight?

Buy a five dollar machette. You will get more respect weilding one of those.

 

Let the knives speak for themselves. Hell; let any knife speak for itself by submitting every knife you are interested in to the Cold Steel challenge. Don't know what that is, go to the website and videos then go test your knife the same way.

 

Damn. Now you have me looking into
The cold steel oss.

That one seems good at $ 55.

Makes the dustar seem super pricey now.

 

I was given a K-Bar back in the '80s. I didnt ever do anything exciting with it other than use it as a utility knife camping , fishing etc. One excellent tough blade. It wasnt fancy and had a plain edge on it, no serrations, and had a leather sheath.

I have no idea how old it was when I recieved it and it "Walked away" all by itself a few years ago but I absolutely loved it.

 

I am not a fan of Cold Steel with the exception of two knives, the Spartan and the OSS/OSI depending on legality. If I were to choose a folder from only kabar or CS it would be Cold Steel, that being said as for fixed blade I choose KaBar/Becker hands down no contest. The comfort of a full size KaBar, and mobility of the large blade is superb. Plus it has the advantages of numerous years of field testing, there were several companies making the KaBar style back in WW2 but only it has prospered, do you wonder why? Try the Case version, it failed.

Im not much into counting my survival on unproven technology, and sorry Cold Steel your balls haven't dropped yet and I have seen numerous Kabars hold up to more extreme torture than I would ever put one through.

 

Now as far as folders go IMHO the CRKT Carson's M21 is an excellent choice.
The spartan would be equally as good. Also leatherman made some folders with great designs......no not the multitools, the lockblade folders.

The real fact is any knife is.better than none, and two are doubly good. If you know.your knives limitations then you will not go wrong with any choice you make, if you keep in mind the following 1) Full tang is the best. 2) a steel that is designed for the application 3) handle material/comfort 4) blade dimensions 5+ inches no bigger than 8" blade thickness no less than 1/8 inch thick 5) sheath design and extra features including but not limited to carry options, extra storage, piggyback blades, tie down holes.

If you look and touch, you will soon learn what feels good in your hand, as my hand has nothing to do with your survival.

 

So I ended up getting the cold steel oss from amazon for $ 55 shipped.
That is going in my night stand in case an intruder comes in.

I also did a trade with someone and ended up getting a Falkniven A1.

That will be my survival knife in case tshtf.

As far as the san mai....seemed like a gimmick.
The blade was vg1 which seems to be some made up type steel for them.
Don't confuse it with vg10.....not the same.

 

KA BAR vs cheap cold steel KA BAR!!!!!!!!!!! A good Carbon V is a tough call though. But if it was all out war, I know which will outlast That said, a cheap worn out dull as hell old USMC issue Camillus 'Kabar' No. There are better MRE openers!!

 

I have an extensive knife collection that I have built up from a young age. I have everything ranging from Bucks, Gerbers, Kabar, Benchmade (Love), high dollar customs pieces, you name it I have had it at one point in time or another.
Last week I decided to add 2 new knives to my day pack. I didn't want to spend much and decided to experiment with a Mora of Sweden 4.5" fixed blade for my belt and a Cold Steel Kukri for the pack, $40 total for both w/ shipping. Minus the grips on both (which are fine), the blades are very impressive! I was blown away with the quality of the mora blade and love the style and weight of the kukri but had to put it to the test first. Wow! Is all I have to say for the performance of both, best $40 I've spent in a long time.

In the past I was more snobbish about my knives, but in todays economy finding quality and value is quickly becoming my new criteria for blade and firearm purchases.

 

Well I have used the Ka-bar extensively in the Marines, but on all 3 of my combat deployments I carried the Cold Steel SRK.. I liked the grip and the way it handled better than the Ka-bar.. I dont really think you can go too wrong either way really they are both good manufacturers

 

I can't dog on ka bar considering the one I had I only used twice before losing it in a creek one summer but I can say that cold steel makes some damn good blades. I own both the trail master and its younger brother the recon scout and both are truly beloved, and in fact are my favorite camp knives!

 

I have the all black Kabar with the rubberized handle and I have put it through the test this fall/winter. It is an awesome knife!

 

I have a Cold Steel SRK that is the older model when they still used the Carbon V steel. It is absolutely top shelf. I know that they no longer use this type of steel so I couldnt say for the new ones.
I for one will not buy another knife with anything other than a carbon steel blade. Yes I know that stainless will hold an edge longer, but try to re-sharpen it in the field. I can re-sharpen my carbon blades to like new in the field with very little work.
My second reason for prefering Carbon blades is their ability to strike spark from flint etc. I have on many occasion used the back of a Mora blade to put spark to char cloth and start my fire.
Another good carbon blade is the RAT series of knives.

http://www.wildbillwholesale.com/on8630.html

Anyway that my 2 cents worth.

 

I think cold steel is made in china and kabar in the US. Even though china does make and has made a excellent KNIFE I will go with the USA brand.:

 

for 70 bucks you can get 2 or three knives from condor knife and tool.

i got the large bushcrafter for 28 bucks and it comes with a high quality leather sheath. and it is more condusive and made for the tasks you are going to require of it.

i have a KA-BAR, i have a BHK, i have a HUGE knife collection. i have cheap ass moras, and high end blades from various custom makers.

i have been training with, playing with or using knives as a profession since the age of 9. my opinion might not mean jack squat to you...

but that IS the bottom line.

here are more of my thoughts on the issue at hand.

 

What are you going to use it for?

 

I own several Cold Steel. Some machetes. They are OK, but nothing special.
I'd go with the Ka-Bar if it was that or Cold Steel.

Personally, I'd buy the Ka-Bar Becker BK-7 (which will likely be my next knife purchase).
http://www.amazon.com/Ka-Bar-Becker-BK7-Combat-Utility/dp/B001IPMG8K

Or the BK-2
http://www.amazon.com/Ka-Bar-Becker-BK2-Campanion-Fixed/dp/B001N1DPDE

Both are outstanding knives for the money!

 

Well after watching that cold steel video I" would say.. nope! I was interested in the ka-bar anyways before I saw that.