Best Kabar?

Nuke_Spook

Nuke_Spook

Joined
Oct 23, 2003
Messages
582
I have heard conflicting reports on the best kabar knife..Kabar vs. Camillus vs. Ontario. I am considering purchasing one while they are still available from Camillus so currently who makes the "best" kabar?
 
Ka-bar makes the impact series right now, a good micarta handled, full tang, D2 knife. I've always considered Ka-bars handles on the classic military style knife to be much more appealing. If your looking to buy the classic model, I'd say go with Ka-bar (I've never held an Ontario) the Camillus I had was kinda rough compared to the Ka-bar.
 
I have an ontario combat knife and it is a great knife for just about anything. Infact, I've probably used and abused that knife more than any other. I feel that the handle/guard/butt is an improvment over the original leather styled ones. The sheathes are good too. -I think the original ones don't come sharpened on the clip, but the ontario and camillus ones are if the matters to you.
 
Nuke_Spook said:
I have heard conflicting reports on the best kabar knife..Kabar vs. Camillus vs. Ontario. I am considering purchasing one while they are still available from Camillus so currently who makes the "best" kabar?
Click to expand...

More historically accurate I think is Camillus with original parkerized blade (KaBar has terrible epoxy coating). Best KaBar as I know was bead blasted Sandvic 12C27 Next Generation, but now they using epoxy coated 440A. On my opinion new handle material is better then leather - softer and more reliable. In this terms Black KaBar probably will be better then "original" (made by KaBar).

Scale-23.jpg


Scale-24.jpg


Thanks, Vassili.
 
I took the top off the guard, stripped all the black crud off the blade and handle and put a convex edge on it. Now it looks more like a hunting/camp knife than a military/combat knife. Never had a Ka-Bar but the Camillus had better finish on the bare blade than the Ontario. It's a beater but I like it.

Frank
 
I have a Ka-Bar short, and I love it! I want to get a full sized one soon, and I also want to get a Camillus version as more of a beater because of the blade coating (it seems more useable).
 
Out of the three I would say that Ka-bar has the best "marine corps combat knife" (for lack of a better term) out there. IMO it has the best cutting preformance and edge retention as well as taking the most abuse. However, it is important to note that although Ka-bars can take a lot of abuse they do show wear earlier than the other knives. The leather darkens, and coat scuffs but in the end it only makes the knife look better. This causes no damage to the knife and continues to preform well. I like ontario a lot but, I am only assuming you are talking about their Marine Combat knife which in my opinion is on par with the Kabar in terms of cutting ability and edge retention. However, I much prefer the looks and ergonomics of the Ka-bar so the kabar gets my vote.
 
I've got one of the Impact series mentioned,it's the D2 Spear point It eats up all the wood you can throw at it and I cannot get it to lose its edge.The size and blade shape make it a perfect survival knife( if you agree with such experts as Ray Mears)and for the price it takes some beating!!!
 
Does anyone know anything about the Case version of the kabar? They are made of 1095 and appear to have a parkerized finish but that is all I know about them.
 
Case seems to have modeled their version after the Ontario model. Leather is ground poorly and the blade grinds resemble Ontario Mil Spec version. You can add one to your collection just to have it but otherwise I would pass.

Seems odd that Case would do a poor imitation, in the past at least, they were known for quality. Not so on this one.

BTW, Case never made a "Marine FU" for the military. Made alot of M3's as well as others during WW2 but never the 7" utility.

Dan
 
Thanks for the input. I have been playing around with the ideal of replacing / supplementing my do everything fixed blade. It is an old Pal RH-36 (6.25" carbon steel blade, leather washer stacked handle) that I have had going on 26 years now. It still does everything I need it to but it might be time to update just a little. Maybe something that has a full tang.

Thanks again,
 
Nuke_Spook said:
Thanks for the input. I have been playing around with the ideal of replacing / supplementing my do everything fixed blade. It is an old Pal RH-36 (6.25" carbon steel blade, leather washer stacked handle) that I have had going on 26 years now. It still does everything I need it to but it might be time to update just a little. Maybe something that has a full tang.

Thanks again,
Click to expand...

Have a look at Ranger RD:

RangerKnives-RD6-07.jpg


Thanks, Vassili.
 
How does the Ranger 5160 compare to 1095 (like in a Becker)? I have heard some nice comments about Ranger knives but have no actual knowledge of them.
 
Becker is 0170-6 steel.

I'll leave it to others to expound on 5160 in comparison to 1095 and 0170-6.

Will say this, though - the Beckers are a fantastic value at their street price.
On the other hand, with the Ranger you're essentially buying a custom knife.

You're looking at the right stuff though now, IMO.
 
rifon2 said:
Becker is 0170-6 steel.

I'll leave it to others to expound on 5160 in comparison to 1095 and 0170-6.

Will say this, though - the Beckers are a fantastic value at their street price.
On the other hand, with the Ranger you're essentially buying a custom knife.

You're looking at the right stuff though now, IMO.
Click to expand...

Oops! I was still thinking Kabar. Thanks for the correction. Rephrase how is 5160 vs. 0170-6 vs. 1095?
 
How can I forgt Russians!

RosArms has excelent choise of field knives from choppert to slicers all light and durable. They made from Soviet analog of BG42, military stainless ball bearing steel treated both with electroslag remelting and vacuum-arc remelting - 110x18MSHD. Get one with birch bark handle. Check thickness - some models has thick blade, some thin.

Fighter:

RosArms-Fox-II-01.jpg


Heavy field knife:

RosArms-Taiga-09.jpg


Slicer:

RosArms-Edelveis-18.jpg


Thanks, Vassili.
 
so one person mentioned the ka-bar impact...are they any good...which one is the best... i like the spear point D2..are there similar modles else where? (ie another maker)
 
I've had KaBars from all three makers. One of them a USN MKII.

The only one still unbroken is the Ka Bar brand.

The Camillus and Ontario both broke at the blade tang junction. Heaviest work was slicing the cardboard wrap off rolls of printing paper. Basicly holding the knife steady and rolling the roll. No lateral pressure to speak of.

It also took each years to break, but still, you didn't even have to grip the knife that hard to make the cut. Not much stress involved at all.

I got a Swamp Rat Camp Tramp (same length blade), and that was the end of that problem.

Real Time.

I'd look real hard at the Ranger knives. The Camp Tramp isn't being made anymore, and the markup on the secondary market is insane, but Ranger is being produced at a very nice price for what you get, semi-custom at the least.

The new Swamp Rat line is due out, not sure when. LOL

If you don't want to wait or pay insane prices, I'd check out Ranger.

Rob
 
I have 8 ka-bar brand knives.2 USMC,D2 extreme,warthog and an assortment of smaller fixed blades.The D2 extreme is my curent woods edc.
One time I was in an army supply/antique shop and saw 2 kabar style knives under the counter.one was an ontario marine fighting knife and one was an old ka-bar that had seen action somewhere (the guy said WW2,I think it was vietnam myself but,I may be wrong).the ontario was so poorly made(bad grinds,shaggy leather,poor alignment and fittings) that I chose the beat down ka-bar.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top