Showdown: Kabar USMC 7" vs. Becker Combat Utility 7"

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knivesngear

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Lets have a showdown between the classic Kabar USMC 7" and the Becker Combat Utility 7".

-kng
KA1217.jpg


VS

BKT-7.jpg
 
I would take the Kabar in a min because it has a very long history and is time proven.

I also carried them for 4 years when I was in the USMC.
 
As a fighting knife i don’t see much difference. The handle on the Becker K9 seams to give you a better grip than Kabar Heavy Bowie.
 
Becker Bk-07 in a heartbeat. The handle is more ergonomical and the tang is more stout on the Becker; it is the entire width of the handle. The Kabar tang is thin as it goes through the handle.

As a fighting knife I would not hesitate to carry both into battle, but as a survival blade I would carry the Becker first IMHO.

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Beckerhead #32
 
Having owned both types, I'd go with the Becker. I used a Kabar a long time in military. Still the Becker is the better in my experience, having used and owned both. Becker is a well balanced combat knife. Both are fairly big but the ergos and the heft is better in Becker.
 
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Does the Ka-Bar still have square shoulders at the tang/blade junction? If so, that's a real weakness in a hard-use knife.
 
I own two USMC knives by Ka-Bar and several Becker models. I've broken one of my USMC knives (that weak tang, man!). I've never broken a Becker. Based on this, my choice should be obvious :)
 
I would call the USMC Ka-Bar a Fighting - Utility blade.

I would call the Becker BK7 a Heavy Utility - Fighting blade. (But I hardly think anyone would choose this as a real fighting blade.)

The USMC is smaller, lighter and has a different tip and blade width based on what it was designed for. In the case of the USMC, beyond its utility function, it was also "designed" to suck the life out of another human being. It is very efficient at that but would therefore be less durable at tasks like batoning where the BK7 would excel. Both are very good blades, just pick with your task in mind and the choice will be obvious.

I carried a USMC model for 6 or my 8 years in the Corps. Never broke it, never bent it, never chipped it, never noticed any weakness in the spine, and like most, I USED it.
 
shortwinger said:
I would call the USMC Ka-Bar a Fighting - Utility blade.

I would call the Becker BK7 a Heavy Utility - Fighting blade. (But I hardly think anyone would choose this as a real fighting blade.)

The USMC is smaller, lighter and has a different tip and blade width based on what it was designed for. In the case of the USMC, beyond its utility function, it was also "designed" to suck the life out of another human being. It is very efficient at that but would therefore be less durable at tasks like batoning where the BK7 would excel. Both are very good blades, just pick with your task in mind and the choice will be obvious.

I carried a USMC model for 6 or my 8 years in the Corps. Never broke it, never bent it, never chipped it, never noticed any weakness in the spine, and like most, I USED it.
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Well it is the "Mark II Fighting-Utility Knife," beloved by many and the second most common issue knife of WW II. Still, a stress-riser is what it is. Opinions change it not. And it is an unnecessary weakness; just radius the tang/blade junction. But that would cost a few cents. When I was taking a survival course at Barstow years ago (as a civilian), the MGS heading the course showed us how easy it was to snap the blade off. So a known weakness.

Looks deadlier than the Becker to my eye. Nicer lines. But the Becker could probably hurt someone (Do ya' think?) and does not have the known weakness of the Mk II.
 
Kabar. Love my Becter, but love my Kabar more, and I've put it through hell, and it's 70 yrs old. Still a beast!
 
This needs a poll option :)

My vote is USMC though, but if the becker had micarta slabs it would be much closer
 
I only own the Kabar and have had no issues yet with it. That said...guess i'm getting a Becker soon to try out.
 
bush-haus said:
Becker Bk-07 in a heartbeat. The handle is more ergonomical and the tang is more stout on the Becker; it is the entire width of the handle. The Kabar tang is thin as it goes through the handle.

As a fighting knife I would not hesitate to carry both into battle, but as a survival blade I would carry the Becker first IMHO.

_______________________
Beckerhead #32
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Ditto here. I like both, but if it came down to which one I'd trust my life to, it would be the Becker, despite all the years of good service the Kabar has provided to our armed forces.

- Mark
 
I'd put my trust in the Becker with its more robust tang, to save my fur hole out in the bush.
 
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