Kabar MK1 (Bushcraft) review

stabman

stabman

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Sep 17, 2007
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My Kabar MK1 showed up today (thanks Moose!!!:))

DCFC0208.jpg


Stats:
Blade length=5.1"
Handle length=4.25"
Stock thickness=0.170"
Thickness at beginning of blade grind=0.155"
Thickness near where the tip area starts=0.145"
Blade height/width=1.110"

Size comparison pic with other knives:

DCFC0205.jpg


Spine shot:

DCFC0206.jpg


It comes arm hair shaving sharp.
The knife is awesome. The sheath is...okay.
The knife is made in USA, the sheath is made in Mexico. It shows. The leather is a bit on the thin side, but not too bad.
The handle is extremely comfortable, contoured but stable in the hand.
Balance is WAY in the handle. This is a cutter, not a chopper.

This should be the companion knife for the Zombie Killers:

DCFC0207.jpg


It cuts wood:

DCFC0209.jpg


And paracord:

DCFC0210.jpg


And it even kills Hitler:

DCFC0211.jpg


I like it alot.:)
 
This will make a nice bushcrafting knife. It's light enough to hike all week with, while having enough blade to warrant it being on a belt.
The handle eliminates any "hot-spots), so hand fatigue and blisters shouldn't be a concern.
It also looks rather classy.:)
When next I get into the woods, this knife will certainly be going with me. It deserves a position in my outdoors knife retinue.:thumbup:
 
Really like the look of this. May have to look into seeing if I can get hold of one over this side of the pond. Will look forward to reading your field tests.
 
Loves me some reviews. Can't wait for the outdoor portion of the test.

Also, what ZK knife is that? I've been looking for good reviews of the war sword, but can't really find any that are much more than an unboxing.
 
ocnLogan said:
Also, what ZK knife is that? I've been looking for good reviews of the war sword, but can't really find any that are much more than an unboxing.
Click to expand...

That's the Pestilence chopper.
I'll be testing it at the same time as the MK1.:)
 
Nice review I'm really impressed with the overall profile and construction of the MK1 it just seems like a very practical no BS field knife that is very reasonably priced.
 
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You are most welcome, mon ami. Eh?:D

Its a damn good, solid, no frills knife. Budget Bushcrafter? You bet your ass it is.

The first thing I noticed, was the hand filling handle. In my medium/large (glove size) hands, it ALMOST feels too big, but alas, when working wood, it doesn't.

Like I said in the contest, caber, clean out of the yard.

Moose
 
Is the tang on this thing the same as a standard Ka-Bar? Looks like it.

I wish Ka-Bar would get rid of the 90 degree angle stick tang type design and go for a tapered rat-tail tang like on typical Scandinavian designs. Way stronger! Ah well. I'll still buy one. Already broke / bent two of my Ka-Bars at the tang... I obviously don't learn. :D
 
NothingCoherent said:
Is the tang on this thing the same as a standard Ka-Bar? Looks like it.

I wish Ka-Bar would get rid of the 90 degree angle stick tang type design and go for a tapered rat-tail tang like on typical Scandinavian designs. Way stronger! Ah well. I'll still buy one. Already broke / bent two of my Ka-Bars at the tang... I obviously don't learn. :D
Click to expand...

Yeah, I have the same problem. Learning, not so good. :D

Moose
 
I so wish that knife was out last year before I bought my wife the small kabar like it with the old style grind and its edge just too thick for a small knife.
Love the stacked leather.
 
Can Someone please tell me the name of a dealer that stocks the stacked leather handle version of this knife. Most I've tried don't have them. If this violates some code please PM with
the info. I have been looking for quite some time.

Thank you in advance.
 
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