Put a new edge on the Kabar with the Worksharp MK2 & it does S cuts through paper now.
The Joe X destruction test of the Kabar made me trust it.
The Condor Lost Roman is interesting, but I'd definitely nick my fingers.
Don't jump on one too soon. Look for that good combination of a good feeling handle, a good profile, a steel you are comfortable with which doesn't have to be a super steel and learn to sharpen one. Hearing you say that you wouldn't be able to sharpen the tanto, means you should probably learn to sharpen freehand in addition to whatever system you are using. Enjoy.
Thanks for saying this, I feel like a lot of us younger folks rush into things.
I do strop by hand, and even do a 3ft sword in sections.
The hidden tang of the kabar USMC is part of what makes it light, and why there is some reduced strength there, particularly for prying purposes.
The rattle of the kabar could be the sheath, probably the most likely if you have their plastic sheath but you mentiomed leather so that should be quieter. Sometimes the guards come loose and can rattle.
The cold steel full size leatherneck is very close in size to the Kabar USMC, but has a thicker tang adding weight. It's a solid knife. The cold steel SRK is in that realm also but likely a weaker tang somewhere between the kabar and leatherneck.
Given your uses, I wonder if something like a 7 to 9" leuku could be interesting. It's very different in look than the kabar, but based on the description of your uses, might be interesting to consider. They don't usually have a guard, but they are lightweight due to the hidden tang design. I wouldn't want to pry with one though, given your concern about the tang on the kabar. They are fairly well designed as a field or camp knife, IMO. They're a bit of a traditional option. The stromeng leuku is currently my favorite version.
As far as something to address the little leatherneck, there are a lot of options out there. What uses do you need from it that the kabar isn't satisfying?
True on the stick tang making it lighter.
I meant more like the weight distribution towards the handle makes it comfy for baldric carry.
The Leatherneck is too heavy for my taste.
The SRK handle felt weird, and the SRK-C too small.
Will look into the Leukus I actually bought like 5-6 knives last summer.
Weighed em, and tried carrying em around before I made a return.
The Recon Tanto sort of caught my eye, but a leather sheath for it would be too expensive.
The rattle is just the leather button up top shaking + the knife itself when I run.
I usually just take a Drop Forged Hunter out for a jog.
"Currently, my main knife use is general fieldcraft (army) & hunting (skinning, field dressing, etc.)
I don't do or expect to do anything crazy with my knife, but I presume I'd like the option.
Guys talk of batoning or digging, but I usually have an e-tool or hatchet."
After cleaning and skinning many deer, I'd have to say that a 7" blade or even larger, is not needed, too large for my liking and unnecessary. Try cleaning a squirrel or rabbit with one. Sure it can be done and I've done it with a couple of similar sized knives like a 6" Kershaw and a Buck 119 as well as the 3" pocket knife I had to use once, but I think they are way too big. Personal experience helps you decide what you are comfortable with.
I like 5" for deer. Most like 4". 5 lets me get down in the blood comfortably to cut the diaphragm as well as not being too overly long up in the throat for the windpipe. There are many good all around knives in 5". If you get too thick for woodcraft, you make cleaning animals cumbersome and too thin and they can bend too easily if you get too rough. That's why most have many knives for many purposes. There may be a good 5" compromise out there.. I'm sure there is. At 76 I no longer hunt, having to stay home to care for my wife, but I'm still looking for that knife for the grandkids now, that they can enjoy out in the woods.
Don't jump on one too soon. Look for that good combination of a good feeling handle, a good profile, a steel you are comfortable with which doesn't have to be a super steel and learn to sharpen one. Hearing you say that you wouldn't be able to sharpen the tanto, means you should probably learn to sharpen freehand in addition to whatever system you are using. Enjoy.
Agreed on size.
Got a drop forged hunter that's around 4" & 9 overall that I'm gonna put a convex edge on soon.
I think I'm happy with the Kabar.
I like to periodically re-eval and see what the market has to offer.
I was looking up info on the little leatherneck and that's priced quite well. The only thing in stainless that comes to mind that I've tried in that price range is some of the Cold steel "clones" (roach belly, Canadian belt knife, their puukko, etc.) and moras. None of those have that military styling, if that's something you're interested in.
I'm sure CRKT has something, but I always feel like they charge a lot for what they offer.
Bird and trout style knives are usually what I go for in the small knife category, but I mostly settled on what I like in that size, a design of mine, so I haven't done much looking lately.
Most of what I have personally been looking into for little knife the past few years are carbon steel knives. And, I have been getting stout folders that are reliable enough to compete with a small fixed blade, as the lock strength won't come into question. The advantage for packability usually wins out there, but for cleanability, in the case of either food prep or hunting uses, the small fixed blades win.
Will look into some bird and trout knives.
Folders are expensive up here since only big importers can bring em in.
A good folder is $80-100 while a fixed blade can be had for half that.
I already carry a Gerber (multi-tool), but I like the simplicity of a fixed blade.
My Plan is:
Use the Kabar until it needs replacing, and at that point I'll likely either get a modified Tanto or the Dog's Head Utility one.
For the mini leatherneck I'll replace it with a Kyoto II. (edit - 4/2 didn't like the Kyoto II)
The drop forged hunter seems like it'll last forever so forget that.
