- Joined
- Jan 1, 2009
- Messages
- 3,427
KA-BAR Dog's Head Utility - The first 30 Days
After receiving this knife, I felt obligated to test it out. I see so much written about the original KA-BAR. Some of it good, some not so good. With many folks it has achieved almost legendary status. While others write it off as old school, aging, and weak.
Since that last sentence seems to fit me more now than it used to. I thought we might make a good team.
This is not an original idea, nor is it mine. Some of the stuff you will see, I have already done with other knives. Much of it right here on this forum.
How much new stuff does anyone today really do with a knife? When two cavemen lashed a sharp rock to a stick, and sliced open their first critter, that was groundbreaking. Today everything is just a rehash. I will try to keep it somewhat interesting, but you get what you get.
Disclaimer #1,
My credentials. I don't have any. None, zero, nada. Just a guy, with a knife. About as boring as it gets. If this is a problem, stop reading right now.
If I was anymore of a none entity. I could work for the C.I.A. Maybe I did. I can't remember. They do some weird stuff to your mind. Those Culinary Institute people will stop at nothing to achieve their objectives.
There was a brief stint in a Special Operations Detachment of the Cub Scouts. "The Weblos" But that ended badly. Something about throwing a box of .22s in the fire. Might have made it through that. But tying the snitching troop leader's kid to a tree at night in his jam jams, finished it. No Rolling Stone interviews for me.
Then to add insult to injury, the SEALs, stole my song.
"At night when your sleeping, the Weblos come a creeping in your bed" no royalties either. But I digress.
This is about the knife, the KA-BAR Dog's Head Utility.
I personally find it hard to pick up any KA-BAR, without feeling some of its history in my hand. This knife may be old school and outdated. But it has earned its reputation in a way that demands respect. What other knife can claim what this knife can?
Part of what inspired me to go ahead and do this was Semper Praesidio's thread on what do you use your U.S.M.C. for? It got me to thinking about what this knife could or couldn't do.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1295011-What-do-you-use-your-USMC-for
I have a unique way of testing knives. I just use them. I don't have any great testing criteria. I just do stuff I need to do. I live in the northern Adirondacks. So I have the raw materials.
Disclaimer #2,
But part of my dilema is, what do you do with this knife. Or say about it. That hasn't already been done or said. In places like Tarawa, Bougainville, or Iwo. Tough act to follow.
Fortunately, KA-BAR took the Dog's Head in a decidedly more civilian direction. So that is where I will focus my time and efforts. Doing things that many average folks might try and do. Boy, does that take a lot of pressure off. My neighbors seem a little more relaxed too. Nobody wanted to pull sentry duty anyway. Slackers!
Even the stamp is decidedly demilitarized. I call it the Pirate Dog.
The leather sheath shares the logo,
I like this knife. But I am no "Fan Boy" I will try to be objective in my assessments. Thirty days is a long time to just use one knife. But like others, I think it will emphasize what it does well and what it does not.
So let's begin and see how this works out.
One of the first things I do with any knife I plan on keeping, is cook with it. I figure what good is a knife that can't feed you? Nothing new here, just breakfast. Indoors even.
Slicing up some peppers and onions can tell you a lot about a knife. Sharpness, thickness, friction, steel type, and other assorted goodies. The Dog's Head made quick work of it.
Next a little chopping. Here is one place where I see many newer survival knives suffer. Those with the handles angled down, and the overly thick ones, make slicing and chopping food way more difficult than it has to be.
English Muffin,
And finally some ham and cheese. All good, and better than expected. Even on the soft Monterey Jack. It actually cut that better than some of my kitchen knives. The coating maybe, or perhaps juice from the veggies.
Another piece of old school, outdated, iron. Older than I am and still serving me well,
To be honest this is one of the uglier omelets I have made in a while. But it is what it is. Trying to take pictures and cook presents some unique challenges. But it is still better than what I see in some diners. The knife butters bread well.
First two weak spots have already appeared. One minor, one more important, First this knife is 1095 steel, so any exposed steel needs to be looked after. No big deal, but needs to be mentioned.
And it won't do the dishes. I left for twenty minutes, and when I returned, it was still just sitting there.
Well that is the first installment. Not overly impressive for a survival/utility knife of this pedigree. But if one is to survive, one must eat.
More to come,
After receiving this knife, I felt obligated to test it out. I see so much written about the original KA-BAR. Some of it good, some not so good. With many folks it has achieved almost legendary status. While others write it off as old school, aging, and weak.
Since that last sentence seems to fit me more now than it used to. I thought we might make a good team.
This is not an original idea, nor is it mine. Some of the stuff you will see, I have already done with other knives. Much of it right here on this forum.
How much new stuff does anyone today really do with a knife? When two cavemen lashed a sharp rock to a stick, and sliced open their first critter, that was groundbreaking. Today everything is just a rehash. I will try to keep it somewhat interesting, but you get what you get.
Disclaimer #1,
My credentials. I don't have any. None, zero, nada. Just a guy, with a knife. About as boring as it gets. If this is a problem, stop reading right now.
If I was anymore of a none entity. I could work for the C.I.A. Maybe I did. I can't remember. They do some weird stuff to your mind. Those Culinary Institute people will stop at nothing to achieve their objectives.
There was a brief stint in a Special Operations Detachment of the Cub Scouts. "The Weblos" But that ended badly. Something about throwing a box of .22s in the fire. Might have made it through that. But tying the snitching troop leader's kid to a tree at night in his jam jams, finished it. No Rolling Stone interviews for me.
Then to add insult to injury, the SEALs, stole my song.
"At night when your sleeping, the Weblos come a creeping in your bed" no royalties either. But I digress.
This is about the knife, the KA-BAR Dog's Head Utility.
I personally find it hard to pick up any KA-BAR, without feeling some of its history in my hand. This knife may be old school and outdated. But it has earned its reputation in a way that demands respect. What other knife can claim what this knife can?
Part of what inspired me to go ahead and do this was Semper Praesidio's thread on what do you use your U.S.M.C. for? It got me to thinking about what this knife could or couldn't do.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1295011-What-do-you-use-your-USMC-for
I have a unique way of testing knives. I just use them. I don't have any great testing criteria. I just do stuff I need to do. I live in the northern Adirondacks. So I have the raw materials.
Disclaimer #2,
But part of my dilema is, what do you do with this knife. Or say about it. That hasn't already been done or said. In places like Tarawa, Bougainville, or Iwo. Tough act to follow.
Fortunately, KA-BAR took the Dog's Head in a decidedly more civilian direction. So that is where I will focus my time and efforts. Doing things that many average folks might try and do. Boy, does that take a lot of pressure off. My neighbors seem a little more relaxed too. Nobody wanted to pull sentry duty anyway. Slackers!
Even the stamp is decidedly demilitarized. I call it the Pirate Dog.
The leather sheath shares the logo,
I like this knife. But I am no "Fan Boy" I will try to be objective in my assessments. Thirty days is a long time to just use one knife. But like others, I think it will emphasize what it does well and what it does not.
So let's begin and see how this works out.
One of the first things I do with any knife I plan on keeping, is cook with it. I figure what good is a knife that can't feed you? Nothing new here, just breakfast. Indoors even.
Slicing up some peppers and onions can tell you a lot about a knife. Sharpness, thickness, friction, steel type, and other assorted goodies. The Dog's Head made quick work of it.
Next a little chopping. Here is one place where I see many newer survival knives suffer. Those with the handles angled down, and the overly thick ones, make slicing and chopping food way more difficult than it has to be.
English Muffin,
And finally some ham and cheese. All good, and better than expected. Even on the soft Monterey Jack. It actually cut that better than some of my kitchen knives. The coating maybe, or perhaps juice from the veggies.
Another piece of old school, outdated, iron. Older than I am and still serving me well,
To be honest this is one of the uglier omelets I have made in a while. But it is what it is. Trying to take pictures and cook presents some unique challenges. But it is still better than what I see in some diners. The knife butters bread well.
First two weak spots have already appeared. One minor, one more important, First this knife is 1095 steel, so any exposed steel needs to be looked after. No big deal, but needs to be mentioned.
And it won't do the dishes. I left for twenty minutes, and when I returned, it was still just sitting there.
Well that is the first installment. Not overly impressive for a survival/utility knife of this pedigree. But if one is to survive, one must eat.
More to come,
.
