Need me a good knife around the farm, how about this Ka-Bar?

5377 Views 59 Replies 36 Participants Last post by MG08, Dec 22, 2021

RealReglarGuy

Discussion Starter · Nov 20, 2021 (Edited)

3

Are these legit Ka-Bars on Amazon?

www.amazon.com

Amazon.com : KA-BAR Full Size US Marine Corps Fighting Knife, Straight, 100-percent-cotton-jersey : Tactical Fixed Blade Knives : Sports & Outdoors

Amazon.com : KA-BAR Full Size US Marine Corps Fighting Knife, Straight, 100-percent-cotton-jersey : Tactical Fixed Blade Knives : Sports & Outdoors

www.amazon.com

I don't need a Rambo knife, just something heavy duty and durable.
But this price worries me????
Seems pretty cheap to me to be a decent HD knife in my thinking.
Anyone ever bought one of these?
Can you recommend something similar and better?
Even an old used classic similar knife will do me fine.
I just don't want a piece of junk.
Thanks!

ETA: I mentioned Ka-Bar because it was the only name I knew.
I had an excellent general use knife for years, was issued to my dad in the navy, it was a small fixed blade, leather handle, with a Camillus blade with blood grove. I always thought it was a small Ka-Bar but it looked different than the big knife carried by Marines. I think it was issued for general duties on board or something. A real shame I lost it. Maybe I can find one on eBay and get a picture to help me hunt one down?
I'll be back!
ETA AGAIN: I did not see any knives the same, some similar, but not same. Mine did not have any military markings, only "Camillus" on the blade.
It looked similar to this knife on eBay but where you see the markings below mine only had "Camillus."
My knife had a heavy blade with blood groove also. I'm sure it came from the navy, dad was not the type to spend money on a knife.

Wood Tool Wood stain Nickel Hardwood

Wood Door Book Wood stain Hardwood

Rectangle Gas Font Wood Metal

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SteveMKentucky

· #41 · Nov 26, 2021

Old Hickory also makes a slicing knife that may appeal to you:

Tool Wood Clock Kitchen utensil Blade

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fastdadio

· #42 · Nov 26, 2021

2

garandguy10 said:
An Air Force survival knife with sheath and sharpening stone are USA made and used to be available as new surplus cheap.
I bet you can still find a USA made surplus one somewhere. I have several. I like them for their shorter blade.

This is a link to a china made copy, it may be a good knife even though it comes from china.

www.basspro.com/shop/en/ontario-knife-company-499-air-force-fixed-blade-knife?ds_e=MICROSOFT&ds_c=Shop%7CGeneric%7CAllProducts%7CHigh%7CSSCCatchAll&gclsrc=ds

There was an excess pilot knife floating around the supply room during my stay with uncle sam, so I adopted it as my own and it followed me home when I ets'd in 86. We've been together ever since. Yes it is an excellent hunting/utility knife. Very durable and holds an edge well.

Tool Knife Blade Wood Dagger

This is but one of dozens of deer this knife has dressed over the years, and is hardly even broke in yet.

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E pluribus unum

· #43 · Nov 26, 2021

I’ve had a Buck hunting knife for many years that is a simple no frills tool.
A little hard to sharpen but holds an edge well. Still made in the US.
Looks like they changed the handle material a bit.

www.smkw.com

Buck 120 Fixed Blade Knife General Pro Fixed Blade

The Buck 120 General Pro Fixed Blade 7.3" S35VN stainless steel clip point blade with advanced edge2x technology and a satin finish. This full-tang fixed blade has a green canvas Micarta handle with an aluminum guard and pommel. It's 12" overall and weighs 8.3oz. Includes leather sheath with a...

www.smkw.com

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E pluribus unum

· #44 · Nov 26, 2021 (Edited)

On the higher end if you can find a Puma White Hunter they are excellent. My go to fixed blade, I bought one each for my Dad and Brother years ago. Been carrying mine for well over 25 years.
WOW!
Didn’t realize how much they went up in price, ouch.

Reactions: 1

Polytech-M14

· #45 · Nov 26, 2021

RealReglarGuy said:
you think it's the real deal? Not a cheap you know what copy?

In the description it shows imported which leads me to believe it’s a cheap Chinese copy. I’m not sure if it’s made with better steel just in a Chinese factory or what. For 80 bucks it should work fine. Be careful though. I bought a machete on Amazon and the tang was up barely half the thickness of the blade and it broke. It was past its warranty period so I got stuck with it. I just welded a new handle on it as it was strictly to cut palm fronds so I wasn’t too worried about aesthetics.
I have a Gerber survival knife that’s a fixed blade full tang with a hammer head pommel. Has a fire starter stick and overall it’s a decent knife. My hunting knife is a Buck fixed blade I had forever it’s one of those big little sets that I use for skinning deer or elk when I go hunting

Zipdrive20

· #46 · Nov 26, 2021

RealReglarGuy said:
ETA AGAIN: I did not see any knives the same, some similar, but not same. Mine did not have any military markings, only "Camillus" on the blade.
It looked similar to this knife on eBay but where you see the markings below mine only had "Camillus."
My knife had a heavy blade with blood groove also. I'm sure it came from the navy, dad was not the type to spend money on a knife.

Like this?

St Croix Blades

St Croix Blades buys and sells knife collections, Japanese samurai sword collections, and individual knives and swords.

stcroixblades.com

stcroixblades.com

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RealReglarGuy

Discussion Starter · #47 · Nov 26, 2021

Zipdrive20 said:
Like this?

St Croix Blades

St Croix Blades buys and sells knife collections, Japanese samurai sword collections, and individual knives and swords.

stcroixblades.com

Yes, that is, well . . . was my knife.

kuffaar

· #48 · Nov 26, 2021

About K-bars.

I bought an original, made in Olean, NY Ka-bar back in 1983 for $19.95 mail order. That just goes to show you how much our dollar doesn't buy these days. But, I digress. . .

I still have the knife and have used it as my main camping and outdoor knife. It's done everything from build shelters to skin deer, albeit not very well. While it's a rugged, dependable knife, it does have a few design flaws.

Firstly, it's designed as a combat knife and is weighted heavy in the handle. Great for a combat knife, but not for chopping. A weight forward design works much better for camp chores.

The round leather handle allows the blade to rotate in your hand while chopping wood. Try removing hemlock branches from a tree to build a shelter and you'll find it rotating in your hand, leading the mis-strikes on the next blow.

Perhaps the newer designed handles have solved the above issues. Still use it, still carry it in the woods as my big knife. But something to think about.

Sgt Zko

· #49 · Nov 26, 2021

Some of the old Camillus's bring some high$$ so I'd check yours out if not the sentimental value it has is high too. I have some kabars, & kabar style, most people call all combat knifes kabars, that I'll never wear they are collectible. To fill a void I got a current issue OKC combat knife for 60$ at army navy.com. The OKC air force survival knife is also a tool for about the same $$ & they can be made razor sharp...!!!

ManxumFoe

· #50 · Nov 29, 2021

Sounds like the OP doesn't really need a Rambo like "combat" knife, right?

About any serviceable knife home made from an old file would be a good bet. Its just sweat equity and another one can be turned out for a few hours work with minimal power tools. The first one won't be knife show quality, but its not for show right?

If price is not an issue, the Chris Reeve sheath knives are as rugged as anyone would need. I know of one that was used to carve out a fighting position in Iraq a number of years ago. The shorter Pacific or the 5.5-inch Green Beret are probably more useful for edc around the ranch.

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15636215

· #51 · Nov 29, 2021

CMP has New USGI M7 bayonet with scabbard for 42.00 In the box. Not opened. for 42.00. I have a few, never opened.

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15636215

· #52 · Nov 29, 2021

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$42.00
PB008M7 - US M-7 Bayonet & M8A1 Scabbard. Various manufacture. The bayonet overall length is 12" with a blade ...
$42.00

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ManxumFoe

· #53 · Dec 9, 2021 (Edited)

SteveMKentucky said:
Old Hickory also makes a slicing knife that may appeal to you: View attachment 463735

In the 1990s, I had an opportunity to hunt or trap alligators (legally) in Louisiana with a friend. I asked him what I should bring to the swamps near Morgan City, as I really had no idea what to expect. One thing he mentioned was a "good belt knife". I had a Buck 110 but nothing else then really. I thought of finally getting a nice high end sheath knife, then thought about showing up looking like the city slicker I was with some shiney new expensive rig I'd bought on a gold card.

So wat I did was to go the the supermarket and buy an Old Hickory knife that looked about right. Then cut out and laced together a sheath for it.

Spent ten days in the bayous and canals with our friend. Got to meet some genuine swamp people. Caught a number of good-sized alligators.

The Old Hickory line of cutlery are solid and basic carbon steel knives at a bargain price.

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jarhead714

· #54 · Dec 9, 2021

The Ontario SP series are all great knives for the money. All are $60 or less and U.S. made. I have the SP-1, SP-6, and SP-10 and have made good use of them.

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Capona

· #55 · Dec 17, 2021

jarhead714 said:
The Ontario SP series are all great knives for the money. All are $60 or less and U.S. made. I have the SP-1, SP-6, and SP-10 and have made good use of them.

I have an older Ontario SP2 coming but I noticed OKN spec plus knives being sold new that say OKN on the blade instead of Ontario. Any idea if this is a new look change, or maybe a Chicom knockoff?

Reactions: 1

MuppetMeat4Me

· #56 · Dec 17, 2021

2

I have a friend in Alabama who recycles blades and makes knives out of old knives, on occasion with files, or blanks, with custom handle work as well as leather sheaths. His eyesight isn't always fantastic, and most often it's not going to be impeccable craftsmanship, but on occasions where I had an issue that I didn't feel like sliding, he handles it with an apology, and for custom knives that are entirely functional, neat to look at, and made by a former Wyoming Train Robber (professional re-enactor) retired in Alabama... I'm really happy to be able to do business with him and support his retirement hobby business/craft.

Plus, he often gives me buy one get one free kind of deals!

Example of a knife I asked him to make to partner with Der Dreiaugenrotwolfe...

Wood Natural material Hardwood Feather Wood stain

These are a set that ended up with the neighbor's kids....

Textile Musical instrument Natural material Office supplies Font

I might have one of his pieces as a prize choice from the 'pile' the M14 of the year drawings.

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Capona

· #57 · Dec 17, 2021

MuppetMeat4Me said:
I have a friend in Alabama who recycles blades and makes knives out of old knives, on occasion with files, or blanks, with custom handle work as well as leather sheaths. His eyesight isn't always fantastic, and most often it's not going to be impeccable craftsmanship, but on occasions where I had an issue that I didn't feel like sliding, he handles it with an apology, and for custom knives that are entirely functional, neat to look at, and made by a former Wyoming Train Robber (professional re-enactor) retired in Alabama... I'm really happy to be able to do business with him and support his retirement hobby business/craft.

Plus, he often gives me buy one get one free kind of deals!

Example of a knife I asked him to make to partner with Der Dreiaugenrotwolfe...

View attachment 465471

These are a set that ended up with the neighbor's kids....

View attachment 465472

I might have one of his pieces as a prize choice from the 'pile' the M14 of the year drawings.

Those are nice looking knives.

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jarhead714

· #58 · Dec 22, 2021

Capona said:
I have an older Ontario SP2 coming but I noticed OKN spec plus knives being sold new that say OKN on the blade instead of Ontario. Any idea if this is a new look change, or maybe a Chicom knockoff?

I don’t know. All mine say Ontario USA. It’s possible they changed the markings. I believe they changed the sheaths and even the grade of steel so I suppose it’s possible.

Reactions: 1

MG08

· #59 · Dec 22, 2021

DLupini said:
. Cold Steel SRK Fixed Blade Knife w/Sheath Amazon.com : . Cold Steel SRK Fixed Blade Knife w/Sheath : Sports & Outdoors

The Cold Steel SRK is what I was given to use during Arctic Survival training. The instructors swore by them. The same knives were given to students all winter long and beaten on. They stood up well to the abuse. I got one after that and it’s been my go to backpacking/outdoor knife since.

For those interested, they stopped using the standard AF bolt knife at Arctic Survival because they become brittle in the extreme cold.

you get what you pay for. the SRK is - or was- a good knife. I still have two - one is my general hunting knife in my pack, holds an edge, rubber grip is grippable with wet, cold, blood. I have given them as gifts to friends and relatives going to the sand box and mountains overseas, all seemed to like them and kept them. Never liked the aircrew survival nife - heavy and never held an edge. I got a WWII Kabar issued to me, still in good shape but in my "collection" pile . there are better designs for knives. you need to determine what you want the knife to do. Size, weight, job function all matter. Heck - a screwdriver may be better for your truck, depending on what you want it to do. Remember to oil the knife - they will rust up sitting in a truck box or under a seat.

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MG08

· #60 · Dec 22, 2021

some of my other "service related" knives. Gerber I carried, (along with my Kbar) Randal a relative of mine carried and I have it now, the EK was a gift from a team of special people we did training for .... I don't really carry or use it. the Gerber is a very early one - sales rep came out to the base to show them and gave us a killer deal on them . We used to get knives and such from the teams when we did training OPS with them. I have a nice benchmade auto knife received as a gift from one of the groups - same one they issued to their guys. Scared to lose that one.... Grand kids are already divvying them up along with all the other knives and poky things.

Knife Utility knife Blade Composite material Tool

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