Ka-bar Mark I vs Ontario Afghan Bush

H

Harris762

Joined
Apr 7, 2014
Messages
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Hello! I am in need of your guys' expert opinions! I have recently begun to get serious about my outdoors life (I've always loved camping and hiking but never was properly prepared) and I am looking for a nice, solid fixed blade for hiking and camping and (hopefully not) survival duties. I first came across the Ka-bar mark I and thought I'd found the perfect knife for me. Not too big, not too small, 1095 steel, great sheath...but then I came across of video of it being put to a batoning test against the Ontario Afghan Bush, and the Afghan did much better! The Afghan, to me, seems like the better general purpose outdoor knife, while the Ka-bar seems like it has a tactical/defensive/offensive side to it which I do not need. Both knives are roughly the same price, I'd have to pay a bit more for the ontario though.

So my real question, which blade would you choose and why? I've heard great things about both companies, but recently read some posts on this forum in which people were complaining about the quality of Ontario knives and praising the Ka-bars.

Sorry for the long post, I'm a first timer for this forum! Thanks in advance for your advice
 
I'd also like to point out that it seems the Ontario has a full width tang (if I am using the term correctly) and the Ka-bar, while having full tang, it is not full width. Is that correct?
 
Hi and welcome . I would go with the KB-BAR mark 1 . but I am bias I have only had mine a couple of month's . and I am still in the honeymoon faze ;)-handle-choice-stacked-leather-handle-choice--7965-p.jpg
 
Harris762 said:
I'd also like to point out that it seems the Ontario has a full width tang (if I am using the term correctly) and the Ka-bar, while having full tang, it is not full width. Is that correct?
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That is correct. While I do not have either of these specific knives, I do have others that are very similar, and your impression of each knife is about the same as mine. The Ontario is going to be more of a "hard use" knife, and the combination of tang construction and handle material sort of contribute to that. The Ka-bar is variation of their classic fighting knife, and while it certainly can handle plenty of outdoor work, it wouldn't be my first (or second or third or . . .) choice. I suppose it does have some utility value in that you can use the pommel as an improvised hammer, which isn't true on the Ontario.
 
You really can't go wrong with either choice. Kabar and Ontario don't make junk, but between those 2 I'd go with the Afghan. You really have to see one in person to fully grasp how well made they are. I'd throw something from the Becker lineup in the mix too. Maybe a BK2? I'm really digging the BK17 lately.
 
Thanks for responding, gents! I decided to go with the Ontario as it seems better suited to my needs and seems like it is a bit more robust. I wish I was able to handle them in person to really make an educated decision, but that is not possible as the sportsman stores around me don't have a wide selection of knives unfortunately.

AntDog, I was looking at the BK2 and read good things, but it costs $20-25 more than the Ontario and the only advantage appeared to me it has a lanyard hole. Also, the coating on the blade looks very durable, but that is just an assumption based on bad amazon.ca pictures haha

thanks again gents!
 
No problem sir. I think the Afghan will serve you well. They really are nice blades.

You would probably be ok with the BK2, but the blade is thicker. For your intended uses I think the Afghan will do fine, probably better. I think the Bush version of the Afghan is 3/16" thick and the BK2 is a full 1/4". The Becker works well for chopping smaller stuff, whacks through branches and splits just fine, but it's too thick to be a great slicer. It's also sabre ground where the Afghan is flat ground. The best thing about the BK2 is that it's practically indestructible. The Afghan should be plenty indestructible as well though. Good choice!
 
AntDog said:
No problem sir. I think the Afghan will serve you well. They really are nice blades.

You would probably be ok with the BK2, but the blade is thicker. For your intended uses I think the Afghan will do fine, probably better. I think the Bush version of the Afghan is 3/16" thick and the BK2 is a full 1/4". The Becker works well for chopping smaller stuff, whacks through branches and splits just fine, but it's too thick to be a great slicer. It's also sabre ground where the Afghan is flat ground. The best thing about the BK2 is that it's practically indestructible. The Afghan should be plenty indestructible as well though. Good choice!
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Yea one of the reasons I like the Afghan Bush is because it is 3/16 of an inch thick rather than 1/4. 1/4 thick for a 5 inch blade seems a bit much to me. The Ontario Afghan (not the Afghan Bush) is a 1/4 inch thick and it looks too beefy for my hands. Although it is a tank of a knife! Like you mentioned, the Afghan Bush will do me fine for my intended purpose. I probably won't do much chopping, I have a folding saw for jobs like that. But I will probably do some batoning with it while backcountry camping.

I can see my self in the not-so-distant-future picking up a Ka-Bar! I really like that company as I've read nothing but good things about their products and their customer service.
 
"...The Ontario Knife Company Ranger Series Afghan Orange G10 was recently featured in the major Hollywood motion picture The Hurt Locker, starring Jeremy Renner, Guy Pearce and Ralph Fiennes as elite Bomb Squad unit members whose job it is to disarm and diffuse bombs that plague modern day Iraq. The Ontario Knife Company Ranger Series Afghan is carried by Fiennes’ character throughout the film. - See more at: http://www.skinnymoose.com/stabley/2009/06/13/ontario-knife-introduces-afghan-orange/#sthash.xY3sJjDD.dpuf..."

I believe this is the same knife as the Afghan. I came across it when I Googled the "knives used in the Hurt Locker". If I hadn't already just ordered an ESEE - 4 I would be the proud owner of one now.
 
Blackie Scantling said:
"...The Ontario Knife Company Ranger Series Afghan Orange G10 was recently featured in the major Hollywood motion picture The Hurt Locker, starring Jeremy Renner, Guy Pearce and Ralph Fiennes as elite Bomb Squad unit members whose job it is to disarm and diffuse bombs that plague modern day Iraq. The Ontario Knife Company Ranger Series Afghan is carried by Fiennes’ character throughout the film. - See more at: http://www.skinnymoose.com/stabley/2009/06/13/ontario-knife-introduces-afghan-orange/#sthash.xY3sJjDD.dpuf..."

I believe this is the same knife as the Afghan. I came across it when I Googled the "knives used in the Hurt Locker". If I hadn't already just ordered an ESEE - 4 I would be the proud owner of one now.
Click to expand...

Good movie!
 
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