I own both the USMC issued KA-BAR fighting knife and the KA-BAR "Big Brother", which is a larger version. They do have weaknesses when abused in ways not intended for, but they were made to kill the enemy and for that purpose are highly prized. SEMPER FIDELIS
I have an original PAL RH 36 (the six inch version) made in WW2 along side the "K-Bars" I still use it to open cans when my can opener strikes out. I got it in the 1970's as a rusted relic and I cleaned it up and it's been in service ever since. Yes it's pitted and it didn't come with an original sheath, but I'd still bet my life on it. I don't know what the originals were made of or how they were hardened and tempered... but even the new K-Bar K-Bars are basically just replicas. My 1980's K-Bar K-Bar doesn't feel anything like the original in hand or in use. I know that doesn't make sense, but when you feel an 80 year old original just slice through a steel can without dulling the edge or even marring the patina you know those knives were special.
@@RJ-vb7gh PAL RH 36 are on e-bay for $30. if you want some more of them. WW2 vintage. My Dad's K-bar is more than a knife to me and I made sure my son knew that. He had to use it on Okinawa in '44 it was a bad time for him and well everyone there.
In the field with a fellow Marine once, he pulled out his Ka-Bar he said he got as a final piece of his grandfather who had passed while he was in basic. It was tattered and field worn like it had some age. I started to tell him Ka-Bars are made about 40 minutes south of where I live in NY and he handed it to me. I saw it said “Made in China” on the bottom of the handle. I stopped giving my info about Ka-Bars to him. I didn’t want to ruin that for him.
@AntoinMhicArtain Ya it's his old man's but the story that he knows is the whole mystique of the knife.. why kill the story that it served him in Nam and replace it with "the story is B.S and bought it at a flea market." ? We didn't buy stuff from China then the way we do now. I would not have said anything either.. You did the right thing.
@@One_foot_in_the_Grave I stopped myself, it wouldn’t have helped anything to share that information with him. It was more like I was just sharing a little bit of history about the knives and their NY origin during the time of war and how they’re still made here in NY. But why take that memory of his grandfather and taint it for him
Thanks for this! My dad just gifted me his never-used Ka, and he's used his WW2 version for decades for hunting and law enforcement. The epoxy has worn off and the tangs are bent from using it as a hammer. I've been doing some research, and this is BY FAR the best video I've seen for stress-testing the Ka-Bar. Thanks so much!
I am a USMC veteran (1977-1981) and I own both. I got the "CHINESE!!" version from a place called BUDK for $20. I got the real one from KA BAR for $140. SEVEN times the price. I bought these knives about a year apart, a few years ago. I first bought the fake, as a camping, around the house knife. Having it made me want a real one, so I bought one. And I admit I have never used the real one for anything. I bought it as part of my collection. I still have my USMC dress uniform, which no longer even comes close to fitting, and dog tags. While the real thing is obviously a better knife, the fake one is better than many might think. I have used it for stuff that would have destroyed more expensive knives, and it was only $20. The only reason I don't recommend anyone not buy it (as a cheap knife) is because it is made in "CHINA!!" Yes, the pummel eventually came off, but I fabricated a metal one, and welded it on. It's still there. I noticed after you drug them behind a golf cart (I can't believe you got a battery powered golf cart to go a mile and a half) that the guard on the real KA BAR was badly bent, while the "CHINESE!!" one wasn't. I was a bit disappointed by that. So is a real KA BAR knife (a brand new one, not an original from WWII) worth seven times as much AS A KNIFE? Probably not. Again I bought mine as a collector's item. Several years later I am still using the fake one. Semper Fi.
You shouldn’t have welded the pommel to the knife. It lost its hardness now and has two dissimilar hardnesses. That’s why they drill and digit them in the factories.
I am Japanese. I am replying using Google Translate. I love Ka-Bar However, I was still a minor and couldn't buy the real thing, so I was looking for a video introducing Ka-Bar. The comparison video with your Chinese fake was very interesting, and I realized again the genuine durability and sharpness. Subscribe to the channel.
Had a Gerber myself while in the Army, got a real K-Bar my uncle had in the Marines, and you best believe they the best BEST knife I ever had. Could shave with it if I had to.
Enjoyed the video and appreciate the time you put in to it. One thing to note when batoning is that knots are a real wildcard. If you hit a knot, regardless of knife or knife steel, it is going to be a bad time for your blade. When 1095 Cro-Van was selected for this knife it was in part due to its "bend before break" qualities as a broken blade in a war zone is useless, but a slightly bent blade can still be used if needed.
My grandfather was a Marine and I’ve always wanted a Ka-Bar and I found one in a pawn shop for $40. I almost made it into the Corp. made it to MEPS and got sent home because I’m blind on one eye. Love this weapon.
The KA-BAR knife does not have a "rat tail" tang, it has a reduced tang. A rat tail tang is just a thin round stick of metal or at most, a square piece that is no wider than it is thick. The handle is usually held on by peening the end of the rat tail flat. The real KA-BAR has a much more significant tang than a rat tail, it's just not as full width as the blade is. The Pommel is held on by a pin through the pommel and the end of the tang.
I enjoyed the video. Thought I might give some history on the knife you presented. I own a late war Pacific theater WWII KaBar USN MkII with the NORD fiberglass sheath, 1/4" pinned pommel, and there is no markings on the blade, just the ricasso. Many companies made the MkII during the war with Camillus being the largest manufacturer followed by others such as Union Cutlery (Kabar) and Roberson and all had either marked the blades or didn't depending on the contract and time of manufacture.. Camillus was the first to make them and first run was shipped on 27, January 1943. Working with Union Cutlery (Kabar), Marine Col. John M. Davis and Capt. Howard E. America (the real Capt. America) helped develop the 1219C2 which was to be come the MkII and the design was adopted on 23, November 1942. Union Cutlery Co stamped "KA-BAR" on the ricasso of its knives even before WWII and the 1219C2 for marketing of the "kill a bear" story. This was carried on to the MkII and the Marines adopted the name. The name Kabar became famous in America during WWII with the Marines in the Pacific during hand to hand combat with the Japanese, and to capitalize on the popularity after the war, Union Cutlery changed its name to Ka-Bar Cutlery Inc in 1952 and began making reproductions of the MkII. The new knives that were sold , even up to this day, are not the same as the ones from WWII. the new ones have plastic spacers on the stack, they have blind pins that only go half way through a 3/8" pommel, and are painted. the Original knifes were 3/8" peened or threaded pommels (early) and 1/4" through pinned pommels. they were either blued or parkerized, the drop point of the blade was sharp, and the shape of the handle was different depending on who manufactured it.
@@oursimplestorychannel next time do your research dweeb. Your friend Bryan Kohberger used this knife a few weeks ago after watching your video! Stop propagating violence!
LOL! I'm not laughing at your very well put together vid, Gabe, but at the " China" insertions. 🤣🤣 Every single one, I busted out laughing. And you know it's time to break character when your wife says supper is ready. lol Y'all are too funny. Awesome vid. Taking a short lil trip for a few days soon enough to Jekyll Island, might have to get the K Bar, never know if I may run across or run up on some bears or coyotes when walking some trails or a gator on a guided kayak tour. 😂 lol Thank you for the vid, informative and much appreciated. I hope y'all have a fantastic weekend! Thank you mucho for the shout out. Keep on keepin' it real. 😊👍🙏✌️
Btw, all your fault, haha, I went to the Influencer page and got the Ka-Bar ( the company really should send you a new one, I agree), and the Rule The Wasteland fishing kit that I forgot to get last time when I said I was going to. Hope it helps. Take care and again, thank you for the informative vids.
@@oursimplestorychannel Oh my goodness, Gabe! You have tons of new uploads! I have gotten NO notifications and they are turned on! 😔 I'm sooo glad you sent a comment or I would not have known. I am going to watch them now, not all at the same time. lol I'm doing okay. 😊 I hope you and the family are as well! We're gonna get a smidgen of this storm I think. Late tonight and tomorrow. Not too bad I don't think for us. Fingers crossed. Again, glad you commented, I had no idea of the new stuff. Y'all take care. 😊🙏
My son bought me a KA-BAR from Olean NY this past Christmas. When i opened the box that's the first thing i looked fir - USA. Not made in CHINA. Glad to see it has the quality you'd expect and the rat tail design. I don't think I could drag it down a dirt road. Thanks for the sacrifice.
Awesome! I have not got a ka bar, they are excellent knives, I just haven’t bought one. The first knife I bought was a Condor Hudson Bay, than a British army MoD Survival knife. Svord Von Tempsky Bowie, a Gerber strong arm, and finally, an 81 and 78 Glock Feild knife. I settled on the Glock knives, Strongarm, and Hudson Bay. All the other knives were amazing, and tough as nails, just had too many lol. The British army MOD knife was 60£ at the time, paid 120 CAD. But still cheap and goodquality. By the time I found the so call ‘bargain cheap knives, like the Strongarm husdson bay and Glock knives, they were higher priced lol. The Svord was my only knife over 200$. Keep up the great work man!
Watched several KA-Bar vids as of late. It’s funny to see the comparisons but, truthfully it’s a utility tool…NOT A FIGHTING KNIFE. It’ll do most anything and can be a fighting knife. Thanks great vid.
For anyone who recently ordered a ka-bar and the other side which usually says "USA (model number)" is missing, there's no need to worry it's a change in ka-bar blades that they never announced publicly to my knowledge. Hope this helps anyone questioning the authenticity of a new blade
The only real issue (the "sharp out of the box" thing might be but from the video it just seems to be that the copy isn't equally sharpened) that's apparent from this video is the handle? To be more precise, it's how the pommel is attached making the handle eventuellt fall apart. So how would you deal with that after the fact? Considering you're still left with an otherwise usable blade
the more important question is when you buy one, and get it how can you tell you got the Actual real one, and not the fake one ? unless your going to do all this tests to it and hope for the best ?
Ka-Bars are mostly bought for their aesthetic looks and historical background. But i read many older owners, even vietnam veterans saying they weren't that durable. if you want a knife to do all the things you better off with a Glock 78 or 81. Because even if the Ka-Bar survived these tests, it won't hold up that long if you keep torturing it. Chinese or other knockoff Ka-Bars are fine, they are half as good for the 1/4 or even less price. And if you use it for feathering, cutting up meat and stuff, you will have it for long.
Not mentioned much, but the chinese copy usually sells for 20 bucks and the USA made knife is +/- $100. For the $20 chinese copy to hold up at all to being abused seems pretty good.
Your idea of 'almost identical' when comparing the sheaths is a lot different from mine, they're not even similar. I have two KA-BARs, an old one in excellent condition and a modern release (10+ yrs. old) and the only thing I don't like about the newer one is the coating rather than the parkerizing or oxide treatment on the metal, otherwise it was and is RAZOR-SHARP.
Im thinking about ordering Ka-bar's 5.25 inch Tanto style blade as i dont have a sturdy fixed blade knife to wear under my jacket this winter, now i know what to look for to spot the fakes
Sadly, not even the real Kabars are 100% made in the USA anymore as of this year. Here's a recent comment/review from a buyer on Amazon - "I noticed that my blade was only stamped on one side (Ka-Bar - Olean Ny) and was missing the product ID on the other. I reached out to Ka-Bar and this was their answer: "One side of the blade will have KA-BAR Olean, NY stamped. There is nothing on the other side. It used to have 1211 and USA stamped; however, KA-BAR is no longer stamping USA on the blade. This is a running change on all products. This item is manufactured in the USA with German steel."
@@BaptistJoshua It's not made in the USA if it's using foreign made steel. That's why Kabar had to legally remove the "USA" from the knife. Are you really that dense?
I just bought a Ka-bar today at Cabelas. $90 bucks for the full size 7" all black version. Looks badass. And yup it's a real Ka-bar, 1095 steel made in NY. Gonna keep it forever.
@@oursimplestorychannel I bought it for defensive carry. Since I don't carry a gun anymore, just don't want to risk shooting an innocent bystander. All the training in the world can't bring a bullet back.
Yes I bought the real usmc KABAR Knife for self Defense and it almost cost a $100.00 but the real price is a $120.00 it’s a very good combat knife it will save your life thank you Brian Newton
What people don't realize is that the kbar is no longer apart of your official gear issue. If you want one you have to go to the base PX to go and by one. You can buy one with a straight edge or a serrated edge. Either black or brown handle. So as I said before they are no longer apart of the official issue. If you want a real one get a visitors pass and go on base to buy one. Plain and simple. Thanks
I got a KA-BAR 1256 from bass pro and I noticed mine doesnt have the usa imprint on the bottom of blade but others do. Is this just something they forgot to do or is it a fake?
I saw in other comments that KABAR started using steel sourced outside the U.S in some cases hence the reason they don't imprint it on those particular ones. It's likely not a fake just not 100% product of the U.S but the quality should be the same
@@SnowPiercer1975 I asked them; "Our records indicate we are no longer engraving USA on the blade. This is a running change on all products. This item is manufactured in the USA with German steel. It appears you have one blade from an older production and one newer one."
I use my real kabar for hunting. It cuts clean through tulies and palm fromds use to brush up my blind and does a good job cleaning the ducks. I did put some resin on the handle out of the box bc that new leather handle is slick. I never lend it to anyone...ever
I like the "cutting oak" bit. It's good to remember the Ka-Bar was designed to be a "work knife" as well as a "weapon knife." In all likelihood most of the issued knives were used as a tool more than as a weapon. I never got a true knife in Vietnam. It was late in the war (69) and Ka-Bars weren't issued. A corporal showed up one day with a WP bag full of M6 bayonets designed for the M-14...it didn't fit the M-16, weren't that sharp and were uncomfortable to hold. I know my company CO had his own real Ka-Bar that he had been issued 20 years before when he had served in Korea. He had had to replace the sheath, but his knife was still superior to the "make do" bayonet they gave me...which is still rusting on a hillside somewhere west of Danang.
Sorry you feel that way, but I'll explain. My CO's name was Wesley L. Fox and the company was Alpha 1/9. I said 20 years because Colonel Fox had enlisted in the Corps in 1950...which is pretty close to 20 years before I served. He was a mustang, a Gunnery Sgt. who got commissioned in '66, promoted to Captain in April "69 and received the Medal of Honor. Retired in 1993 at the age of 62. He passed away in Nov. 2017. Look him up...he had a life. "Late in the War." That's my perspective. I was 0311, in from 68 to 69 before I got shot up in the AShau in February '69. (Same action Col. Fox won his MoH.) So for me, '69 was late in "my war." I was separated after getting out of the hospital in August, 1969. But by the time I was released, the 9th Marines were out of Vietnam, having redeployed to Okinawa in July, '69. That was 54 years ago...I can cut myself some slack memory-wise. So I know I'm not "FOS." I'll stack my 2 Purple Hearts, CAR and two bad knees up against your assumptions. I don't really give a sh*t about what you think. You might consider pausing before jumping to conclusions. Semper Fi.@DougCaletta-tg4ll
Great video. How about a comparison between an Army KABAR and a USMC KABAR. I own one of each and other than a few cosmetic differences, I think they are both alike. Who knows, it may be another good comparison video.
I wouldn't necessarily say buying the most expensive knife or gear in general is the best idea. KA-BAR is a legend and it still lives up to its name, but there are more expensive knives out there that might be just as good or worse than the KA-BAR. I recenetly bought a Jarosz Beartooth from KA-BAR. It's 25$ (40$ where I bought it due to me living in Europe) and it's an amazing EDC flip-knife. Buying a piece of equipment from a good manufacturer is what you should be aiming for, not the price.
Why does United Cutlery even sell this garbage? They must know that most people even half-way knowledgeable about knives know the difference between a Chinese ripoff and a genuine Ka-Bar. Was it a full-forged tang, or was it welded to the blade? I have a Ka-Bar model 1245 8" tanto, and I love it. It mainly collects dust on the shelf, which really makes that black Kraton handle look like shit, but the blade is sharp, sturdy, and the tip is like a needle. It's definitely my SHTF knife. Can't ask for more!
Having own both a real Ka Bar from ( the Vietnam war) and one from China, I can say yes the real Ka Bar is the better of the two. However starting at 9:27 in the video I notice that you only chop through the wood block once with the real Ka Bar and then three times with the China Ka Bar making the wood shaving test invalid in my opinion of-course. May have influenced the chopping test as well. I do agree that if you want a knife to that will last and you can pass down through your family get the real Ka Bar it will last longer and keep its edge. Other then the chopping test, Great Video
This test showed me nothing but the pommel being the difference maker. The edge test means nothing to me when considering the price points for both knives
Hey man I just found out about your Chanel and I'm loving your videos there entertaining I'm subscribing and one question where can I buy a real Ka bar knife?
It's obvious that the reason the fake Kabar did not do as well with the paper cutting was the young man wielding the blade did not use as much tongue biting to assist in his concentration as he did with the real Kabar.
Just got my KA-Bar from Bill a veteran in Goldfield NV, glad to have one. Bought a Bowie knife, thought I was getting US made, nope China made not a bad knife but not union made.
in all honestly you can't expect a 20 dollar knife to perform as well as a knife costing 100 dollars more. I have one of the China made copies for about a year and had no problems other than the sheath being pretty crummy lol. but between the $120.00 Ka-Bar and the $28.00 copy which are you going to take camping and run the risk of messing up? Cheers
Can't forget the mother of all China-Marts: Harbor Freight! 😂 But honestly, as tools, these knives (and other made in Chynuh metal products) are of "adequate" quality, at a far, far, far lower price than "Made in the USA" stuff. If I were to damage a $100 knife I bought because it was made by fellow Americans, I'd be pretty upset. If I damage or break some $15 Chinese copy, I shrug and order another from Amazon.
it being sold on amazon makes me feel like its from china. I was expecting it to be sold by a company that solely takes pride in this blade over the decades
You can find a real Ka-bar on amazon not just copies. Look for the one with the highest number of ratings and that’s how you know if its the real deal. I got an official Ka-Bar USMC knife from amazon and it was sent in the official box and it said Olean NY on it beneath the Ka-Bar name which is how you can also identify a real one.
I got mine from a surplus military store. Was kinda worried since jj buddy had a few and was upset they were all Chinese made but the ones we found there were real absolutely love the thing it’s a beast
Here's a great test: From a seated position, one hand on each end of the knife (taped blade of course) flat side facing down, SHARPLY bring down the knife across your knee with the hilt being in the center of your knee. Count how many times you can do this with each knife before it is broken in two. Video THAT!
I found a K-Bar still in it's sheath in my wife's home backyard {which is lightly wooded but on a downhill slope and was rarely used at that time) in the mountains of Western North Carolina.. No idea why it was there, for how long, or what it had been used for. This happened some 30 + years ago. It's been run through the hoops of activity well before I found it. I actually use it to dig targets my metal detector selects. It serves me well as I can dig but not ruin someones property as it cleans up/ hides holes very well. Even then, though, I knew it was a major implement of death in WWII. Upon inspection I was shocked to read on the blade that it had been made in JAPAN! For those as old as I you know that Japan, after the war, started making lots of junk, such as Matchbox--type metal toys and other small (junk) things they could on the road back from the Hell they created for themselves. We of course thought we were being gracious and put them back into the steel making business to the point WE couldn't compete with them! Thanks MacArthur! It shows no date, big surprise. As for it's blade, I'm unsure it could cut through cold butter. I was just struck by the irony. FYI,
They are worth the price as long as you use it as a knife and not an axe! I've done some pretty stupid things with mine and have yet to break or even bend one. You have to REALLY be smashing on it hard through a large, thick piece of knotty hardwood to really end up bending or snapping it. But wouldn't recommend it for batoning unless it's reasonably sized smaller stuff. If you need to chop or split wood...bring long the axe or hatchet which is what they were made for! If you plan on using it for woods purposes, get the plain edge. The serrations, as on most knives, are a waste of useful blade space unless you plan on cutting lots of thick rope or something.
Its a investment! It will last a couple of lifetimes! I use mine constantly as a carving knife and a survival knife and even done some extreme batoning with a rock and a hammer chipped part of the spine and its still going strong! Now I use it only for cutting and the occasional moderate batoning. Its a Beast of a knife that will be there when you need it! Treat the handle and sheath once in a while and its going to hold up for a long time!
Learn how to strop and put a convex edge on the Kabar (which is really easy to do once you get it), and it becomes an amazing cutting and carving blade...contrary to what many say is "just a combat knife".... I make finer curls and hold a better edge with my convexed Kabar than I do with my scandi grind Moras. That was an unexpected result for me.
I bought a KaBar knife because I thought it was just so iconic. It came in a box which had a diagram or schematic of it's proportions which I thought was so beautiful. I will NEVER use it & it will just be a work of knife art for me forever. I have lots of other knives which I use regularly. I probably have a 100 knives or more, some I modify, lots of them I use and the rest are just cabinet Queens. Mostly I carry folders.
Nice! Maybe that movie was my inspiration. It is my one of favorites after all. I make a ton of references to the movie in my backyard to the ocean series.
@@oursimplestorychannel I’m not exactly sure. I’ve just noticed a few differences. Both are made in the USA using 1095 steel. The OKC has a better grip. The space between the leather wraps is bigger allowing a bit more stable grip. The tang is wider on the OKC. The hand guard is thicker and stronger. The pin goes right through the pommel as opposed to just into one side. The sheath is a thicker more durable leather as well. The handle is also coated in a waterproof paint that looks ugly but makes it more durable. Also the price. It’s a lot cheaper. The Kabar has much better finish; looks way better. Also the Kabar comes sharp out of the box. The OKC not so much so you’ll need to give it some wet stone and strop work. Personally I use my knives a lot. They aren’t just to look at. So I prefer the OKC
@@oursimplestorychannel I didn’t even notice it was bigger. The swedge is a bit of a different shape. All in all, both great knives. I don’t mind beating up the OKC a bit more though. Actually in all honesty I’ve been using my Tops HOG more than anything else these days. Only 4.5” but it gets the most use. Great for skinning rabbits and all general usage. Anyways, keep up the good work !
BRUH....the Kabar over the OKC all day. OKC, even still today, has terribly inconsistent heat treatment and edges. We were issued the OKC3s bayonets in the Marines and chucked them for the traditional Kabar USMC. (It would take paragraphs to explain why) Don't get me wrong, I have lots of Ontarios and they have knives with great designs but it's always hit or miss with them. Never had that problem with Kabar.
I purchased the real deal a few days ago, I will be doing a review, but it will remain nice, shiny, smelling great, sharp, etc, when the review is completed. 🤣
Well it seems I started watching these KABAR videos a week too late. I ordered what I thought was a steal in a KABAR ($25 plus $11 shipping and yes I am a newbe collector with a lot to learn) on ebay a week ago. When I received it 3 days ago I realized it was a Chiiiiiiiiiina fake. I ordered the real one yesterday and now I have both versions and I am not out much cash on the fake one.
If you dig this, then check out my US vs Soviet made bayonet battle here ua-cam.com/video/UHKRHl_Mw8E/v-deo.html&lc=UgzTMM48SyIPXSJajCB4AaABAg
I own both the USMC issued KA-BAR fighting knife and the KA-BAR "Big Brother", which is a larger version. They do have weaknesses when abused in ways not intended for, but they were made to kill the enemy and for that purpose are highly prized.
SEMPER FIDELIS
I just gave my son my fathers WW2 KA-BAR he used on Okinawa in 1944. Still has a razor sharp edge and original sheath. And the leather handle in tact.
That's gotta be worth a fortune!
@@AntoinMhicArtain To me and mine, it's priceless.
I have an original PAL RH 36 (the six inch version) made in WW2 along side the "K-Bars" I still use it to open cans when my can opener strikes out. I got it in the 1970's as a rusted relic and I cleaned it up and it's been in service ever since. Yes it's pitted and it didn't come with an original sheath, but I'd still bet my life on it. I don't know what the originals were made of or how they were hardened and tempered... but even the new K-Bar K-Bars are basically just replicas. My 1980's K-Bar K-Bar doesn't feel anything like the original in hand or in use. I know that doesn't make sense, but when you feel an 80 year old original just slice through a steel can without dulling the edge or even marring the patina you know those knives were special.
@@RJ-vb7gh PAL RH 36 are on e-bay for $30. if you want some more of them. WW2 vintage. My Dad's K-bar is more than a knife to me and I made sure my son knew that. He had to use it on Okinawa in '44 it was a bad time for him and well everyone there.
Thats a knife that must stay in the family
I fell in love with the Ka-Bar ever since i've seen one of my company's sergeant carrying an old one during my military service in Germany in 1998..
Thank you for your service.🇺🇸🙏🏼 I’m actually in the army stationed in GRAF where at in Germany were you?
@@Reflige224 It was as part of the French army stationed in Saarburg back in the 90's..
Bryan Kohberger used one to kill 4 people in a few minutes
In the field with a fellow Marine once, he pulled out his Ka-Bar he said he got as a final piece of his grandfather who had passed while he was in basic. It was tattered and field worn like it had some age. I started to tell him Ka-Bars are made about 40 minutes south of where I live in NY and he handed it to me. I saw it said “Made in China” on the bottom of the handle. I stopped giving my info about Ka-Bars to him. I didn’t want to ruin that for him.
It's still his grandfather's knife, regardless of where it was made.
@@AntoinMhicArtain1000% I don’t think he would’ve cared
@AntoinMhicArtain Ya it's his old man's but the story that he knows is the whole mystique of the knife.. why kill the story that it served him in Nam and replace it with "the story is B.S and bought it at a flea market." ? We didn't buy stuff from China then the way we do now.
I would not have said anything either.. You did the right thing.
@@One_foot_in_the_Grave I stopped myself, it wouldn’t have helped anything to share that information with him. It was more like I was just sharing a little bit of history about the knives and their NY origin during the time of war and how they’re still made here in NY. But why take that memory of his grandfather and taint it for him
👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks for this! My dad just gifted me his never-used Ka, and he's used his WW2 version for decades for hunting and law enforcement. The epoxy has worn off and the tangs are bent from using it as a hammer. I've been doing some research, and this is BY FAR the best video I've seen for stress-testing the Ka-Bar. Thanks so much!
I am a USMC veteran (1977-1981) and I own both. I got the "CHINESE!!" version from a place called BUDK for $20. I got the real one from KA BAR for $140. SEVEN times the price. I bought these knives about a year apart, a few years ago. I first bought the fake, as a camping, around the house knife. Having it made me want a real one, so I bought one. And I admit I have never used the real one for anything. I bought it as part of my collection. I still have my USMC dress uniform, which no longer even comes close to fitting, and dog tags. While the real thing is obviously a better knife, the fake one is better than many might think. I have used it for stuff that would have destroyed more expensive knives, and it was only $20. The only reason I don't recommend anyone not buy it (as a cheap knife) is because it is made in "CHINA!!" Yes, the pummel eventually came off, but I fabricated a metal one, and welded it on. It's still there. I noticed after you drug them behind a golf cart (I can't believe you got a battery powered golf cart to go a mile and a half) that the guard on the real KA BAR was badly bent, while the "CHINESE!!" one wasn't. I was a bit disappointed by that. So is a real KA BAR knife (a brand new one, not an original from WWII) worth seven times as much AS A KNIFE? Probably not. Again I bought mine as a collector's item. Several years later I am still using the fake one. Semper Fi.
Thanks for watching man! Glad you bought both!
You shouldn’t have welded the pommel to the knife. It lost its hardness now and has two dissimilar hardnesses. That’s why they drill and digit them in the factories.
@@93Tillinfini what do you mean by " drill & digit"?
good info 👍 im gonna snag the real one ....probably wont use it ...just stare at it 😃
But would you take that fake one into a life or death situation and expect it to get you home in one piece?
I am Japanese.
I am replying using Google Translate.
I love Ka-Bar However, I was still a minor and couldn't buy the real thing, so I was looking for a video introducing Ka-Bar. The comparison video with your Chinese fake was very interesting, and I realized again the genuine durability and sharpness.
Subscribe to the channel.
You are awesome! The translation came through clear and understandable. Thank you for subscribing to the channel!
The real Ka-bar is the way to go. And I'm a 77 year old woman
Had a Gerber myself while in the Army, got a real K-Bar my uncle had in the Marines, and you best believe they the best BEST knife I ever had. Could shave with it if I had to.
Enjoyed the video and appreciate the time you put in to it. One thing to note when batoning is that knots are a real wildcard. If you hit a knot, regardless of knife or knife steel, it is going to be a bad time for your blade. When 1095 Cro-Van was selected for this knife it was in part due to its "bend before break" qualities as a broken blade in a war zone is useless, but a slightly bent blade can still be used if needed.
Oh wow! I’m honored that you would watch and comment. Thanks for the feedback!
Absolutely agree, unless we are talking about CPM3V. An authentic USMC KBAR in 3V is a dream of mine😂
My grandfather was a Marine and I’ve always wanted a Ka-Bar and I found one in a pawn shop for $40. I almost made it into the Corp. made it to MEPS and got sent home because I’m blind on one eye. Love this weapon.
I love my Vietnam Era USMC Kabar, I have had it for 50 years & it has been to 16 countries with me.
Got my grandfathers one from WW2, still sharp, still going strong. One of the best ever made
Appreciate the video..awesome stuff. Attention to detail is king in the craft, and you took time to prove it and hit the nail on the head.
The KA-BAR knife does not have a "rat tail" tang, it has a reduced tang. A rat tail tang is just a thin round stick of metal or at most, a square piece that is no wider than it is thick. The handle is usually held on by peening the end of the rat tail flat. The real KA-BAR has a much more significant tang than a rat tail, it's just not as full width as the blade is. The Pommel is held on by a pin through the pommel and the end of the tang.
Exactly so!
I enjoyed the video. Thought I might give some history on the knife you presented.
I own a late war Pacific theater WWII KaBar USN MkII with the NORD fiberglass sheath, 1/4" pinned pommel, and there is no markings on the blade, just the ricasso. Many companies made the MkII during the war with Camillus being the largest manufacturer followed by others such as Union Cutlery (Kabar) and Roberson and all had either marked the blades or didn't depending on the contract and time of manufacture.. Camillus was the first to make them and first run was shipped on 27, January 1943.
Working with Union Cutlery (Kabar), Marine Col. John M. Davis and Capt. Howard E. America (the real Capt. America) helped develop the 1219C2 which was to be come the MkII and the design was adopted on 23, November 1942.
Union Cutlery Co stamped "KA-BAR" on the ricasso of its knives even before WWII and the 1219C2 for marketing of the "kill a bear" story. This was carried on to the MkII and the Marines adopted the name.
The name Kabar became famous in America during WWII with the Marines in the Pacific during hand to hand combat with the Japanese, and to capitalize on the popularity after the war, Union Cutlery changed its name to Ka-Bar Cutlery Inc in 1952 and began making reproductions of the MkII. The new knives that were sold , even up to this day, are not the same as the ones from WWII. the new ones have plastic spacers on the stack, they have blind pins that only go half way through a 3/8" pommel, and are painted. the Original knifes were 3/8" peened or threaded pommels (early) and 1/4" through pinned pommels. they were either blued or parkerized, the drop point of the blade was sharp, and the shape of the handle was different depending on who manufactured it.
Oh wow, that is some great info! I wish I knew all this before making the video haha! Thanks for watching and providing some additional insight!
@@oursimplestorychannel next time do your research dweeb. Your friend Bryan Kohberger used this knife a few weeks ago after watching your video! Stop propagating violence!
I bought the real kbar at cabelas around 15 years ago for $50. Glad I did!
I loved the video, I'm glad you showed the difference, looks like the fake one would be better for displaying not for actual use.
LOL! I'm not laughing at your very well put together vid, Gabe, but at the " China" insertions. 🤣🤣 Every single one, I busted out laughing. And you know it's time to break character when your wife says supper is ready. lol Y'all are too funny. Awesome vid. Taking a short lil trip for a few days soon enough to Jekyll Island, might have to get the K Bar, never know if I may run across or run up on some bears or coyotes when walking some trails or a gator on a guided kayak tour. 😂 lol Thank you for the vid, informative and much appreciated. I hope y'all have a fantastic weekend! Thank you mucho for the shout out. Keep on keepin' it real. 😊👍🙏✌️
Btw, all your fault, haha, I went to the Influencer page and got the Ka-Bar ( the company really should send you a new one, I agree), and the Rule The Wasteland fishing kit that I forgot to get last time when I said I was going to. Hope it helps. Take care and again, thank you for the informative vids.
Hi Sherry! You’re hilarious. Yes, the China clips were my wife’s idea :) thanks for watching and enjoy your time on the island!!
@@oursimplestorychannel
I love her sense of humor! lol And thanks, I plan on enjoying it! 😊
@@sherryg3634 I hope you are okay! I haven’t heard from you in a while. Hope everything is alright and you are well :)
@@oursimplestorychannel
Oh my goodness, Gabe! You have tons of new uploads! I have gotten NO notifications and they are turned on! 😔 I'm sooo glad you sent a comment or I would not have known. I am going to watch them now, not all at the same time. lol I'm doing okay. 😊 I hope you and the family are as well! We're gonna get a smidgen of this storm I think. Late tonight and tomorrow. Not too bad I don't think for us. Fingers crossed. Again, glad you commented, I had no idea of the new stuff. Y'all take care. 😊🙏
Excellent job Sir !!! Keep up the great work !!!👍🏻
I appreciate that!
My son bought me a KA-BAR from Olean NY this past Christmas. When i opened the box that's the first thing i looked fir - USA. Not made in CHINA. Glad to see it has the quality you'd expect and the rat tail design. I don't think I could drag it down a dirt road. Thanks for the sacrifice.
Nice! Enjoy the knife and thanks for watching.
i picked up a kabar short in boot camp on graduation day. glad they hold up so well
When you said lets do it on my arm at 4:42 I got worried lol. Just got this knife and the sharpener and I can't wait!
😂 let me know how you like it. It’s my fav.
Awesome! I have not got a ka bar, they are excellent knives, I just haven’t bought one. The first knife I bought was a Condor Hudson Bay, than a British army MoD Survival knife. Svord Von Tempsky Bowie, a Gerber strong arm, and finally, an 81 and 78 Glock Feild knife. I settled on the Glock knives, Strongarm, and Hudson Bay. All the other knives were amazing, and tough as nails, just had too many lol. The British army MOD knife was 60£ at the time, paid 120 CAD. But still cheap and goodquality. By the time I found the so call ‘bargain cheap knives, like the Strongarm husdson bay and Glock knives, they were higher priced lol. The Svord was my only knife over 200$. Keep up the great work man!
What about doing a charpy or brinnel hardness test on the blades? on the spine then the cutting edge and comparing both results?
Rat tail is a welded on very thin rod. A full tang is a continuing length of the same metal as the blade to the hilt...
Watched several KA-Bar vids as of late. It’s funny to see the comparisons but, truthfully it’s a utility tool…NOT A FIGHTING KNIFE. It’ll do most anything and can be a fighting knife.
Thanks great vid.
For anyone who recently ordered a ka-bar and the other side which usually says "USA (model number)" is missing, there's no need to worry it's a change in ka-bar blades that they never announced publicly to my knowledge. Hope this helps anyone questioning the authenticity of a new blade
The only real issue (the "sharp out of the box" thing might be but from the video it just seems to be that the copy isn't equally sharpened) that's apparent from this video is the handle? To be more precise, it's how the pommel is attached making the handle eventuellt fall apart. So how would you deal with that after the fact? Considering you're still left with an otherwise usable blade
Just bought the real one. Can't believe it took me so long.
Nice! Good for you :)
I've had an ARMY, USMC, USN, and Space bar.
I have the real Ka-bar and the Case XX. The Case is made in Bradford, Pa and is also very well made.
the more important question is
when you buy one, and get it how can you tell you got the Actual real one, and not the fake one ?
unless your going to do all this tests to it and hope for the best ?
Ka-Bars are mostly bought for their aesthetic looks and historical background. But i read many older owners, even vietnam veterans saying they weren't that durable. if you want a knife to do all the things you better off with a Glock 78 or 81. Because even if the Ka-Bar survived these tests, it won't hold up that long if you keep torturing it. Chinese or other knockoff Ka-Bars are fine, they are half as good for the 1/4 or even less price. And if you use it for feathering, cutting up meat and stuff, you will have it for long.
Not mentioned much, but the chinese copy usually sells for 20 bucks and the USA made knife is +/- $100. For the $20 chinese copy to hold up at all to being abused seems pretty good.
Your idea of 'almost identical' when comparing the sheaths is a lot different from mine, they're not even similar. I have two KA-BARs, an old one in excellent condition and a modern release (10+ yrs. old) and the only thing I don't like about the newer one is the coating rather than the parkerizing or oxide treatment on the metal, otherwise it was and is RAZOR-SHARP.
Im thinking about ordering Ka-bar's 5.25 inch Tanto style blade as i dont have a sturdy fixed blade knife to wear under my jacket this winter, now i know what to look for to spot the fakes
Thanks for watching!!
Sadly, not even the real Kabars are 100% made in the USA anymore as of this year. Here's a recent comment/review from a buyer on Amazon - "I noticed that my blade was only stamped on one side (Ka-Bar - Olean Ny) and was missing the product ID on the other. I reached out to Ka-Bar and this was their answer:
"One side of the blade will have KA-BAR Olean, NY stamped. There is nothing on the other side. It used to have 1211 and USA stamped; however, KA-BAR is no longer stamping USA on the blade. This is a running change on all products. This item is manufactured in the USA with German steel."
I do not see a problem here. It is still made in the U.S.A.
@@BaptistJoshua It's not made in the USA if it's using foreign made steel. That's why Kabar had to legally remove the "USA" from the knife. Are you really that dense?
@@JohnB-dr8sk No. German steel is better quality than American. It is still made in America. And they fabricate from German steel. Der.
At least its german steel.. you know those people who almost took over the world , not chink ass garbage
@JohnB-dr8sk
Camellias actually made more that style then did Ka-Bar for the military
I just bought a Ka-bar today at Cabelas. $90 bucks for the full size 7" all black version. Looks badass. And yup it's a real Ka-bar, 1095 steel made in NY.
Gonna keep it forever.
Nice! Good for you :)
1095 hc?
@@oursimplestorychannel congrats for you, I just picked one up brand new at my local sportsman's warehouse
@@mattarchey9062 awesome, have fun!
@@oursimplestorychannel I bought it for defensive carry. Since I don't carry a gun anymore, just don't want to risk shooting an innocent bystander. All the training in the world can't bring a bullet back.
Yes I bought the real usmc KABAR Knife for self Defense and it almost cost a $100.00 but the real price is a $120.00 it’s a very good combat knife it will save your life thank you Brian Newton
I just got the Ka Bar extreme D2 straight edge, they make beautiful knives.
What people don't realize is that the kbar is no longer apart of your official gear issue. If you want one you have to go to the base PX to go and by one. You can buy one with a straight edge or a serrated edge. Either black or brown handle. So as I said before they are no longer apart of the official issue. If you want a real one get a visitors pass and go on base to buy one. Plain and simple. Thanks
Thanks for the tip.
I got a KA-BAR 1256 from bass pro and I noticed mine doesnt have the usa imprint on the bottom of blade but others do. Is this just something they forgot to do or is it a fake?
I’m not sure. I wish you could post a photo.
Drag it behind a golf cart, baton some wood then throw it at a tree stump. If it survives your good.
I saw in other comments that KABAR started using steel sourced outside the U.S in some cases hence the reason they don't imprint it on those particular ones. It's likely not a fake just not 100% product of the U.S but the quality should be the same
@@SnowPiercer1975 I asked them; "Our records indicate we are no longer engraving USA on the blade. This is a running change on all products. This item is manufactured in the USA with German steel. It appears you have one blade from an older production and one newer one."
I use my real kabar for hunting. It cuts clean through tulies and palm fromds use to brush up my blind and does a good job cleaning the ducks. I did put some resin on the handle out of the box bc that new leather handle is slick. I never lend it to anyone...ever
Why not sharpen them to the exact same edge type before the test to see how the edges hold up?
That would have been good to do. Maybe my next one!
Have you seen my bayonet battle video yet? It is newer.
I like the "cutting oak" bit. It's good to remember the Ka-Bar was designed to be a "work knife" as well as a "weapon knife." In all likelihood most of the issued knives were used as a tool more than as a weapon. I never got a true knife in Vietnam. It was late in the war (69) and Ka-Bars weren't issued. A corporal showed up one day with a WP bag full of M6 bayonets designed for the M-14...it didn't fit the M-16, weren't that sharp and were uncomfortable to hold. I know my company CO had his own real Ka-Bar that he had been issued 20 years before when he had served in Korea. He had had to replace the sheath, but his knife was still superior to the "make do" bayonet they gave me...which is still rusting on a hillside somewhere west of Danang.
He was probably just ball-parking the 20 yr thing. He likely is not FOS.
Sorry you feel that way, but I'll explain. My CO's name was Wesley L. Fox and the company was Alpha 1/9. I said 20 years because Colonel Fox had enlisted in the Corps in 1950...which is pretty close to 20 years before I served. He was a mustang, a Gunnery Sgt. who got commissioned in '66, promoted to Captain in April "69 and received the Medal of Honor. Retired in 1993 at the age of 62. He passed away in Nov. 2017. Look him up...he had a life.
"Late in the War." That's my perspective. I was 0311, in from 68 to 69 before I got shot up in the AShau in February '69. (Same action Col. Fox won his MoH.) So for me, '69 was late in "my war." I was separated after getting out of the hospital in August, 1969. But by the time I was released, the 9th Marines were out of Vietnam, having redeployed to Okinawa in July, '69. That was 54 years ago...I can cut myself some slack memory-wise. So I know I'm not "FOS." I'll stack my 2 Purple Hearts, CAR and two bad knees up against your assumptions. I don't really give a sh*t about what you think. You might consider pausing before jumping to conclusions. Semper Fi.@DougCaletta-tg4ll
ANY THOUGHTS ON THE BLACK 5 1/4 KABAR SMALL SIZE ,IMO VERY NICE AND CAPABLE...
Great video. How about a comparison between an Army KABAR and a USMC KABAR. I own one of each and other than a few cosmetic differences, I think they are both alike. Who knows, it may be another good comparison video.
I still have my Marine issue from 1965 . It is my friend and will only leave me in death.
I wouldn't necessarily say buying the most expensive knife or gear in general is the best idea. KA-BAR is a legend and it still lives up to its name, but there are more expensive knives out there that might be just as good or worse than the KA-BAR. I recenetly bought a Jarosz Beartooth from KA-BAR. It's 25$ (40$ where I bought it due to me living in Europe) and it's an amazing EDC flip-knife. Buying a piece of equipment from a good manufacturer is what you should be aiming for, not the price.
Agreed
American classic and its all American. Every collector should have one in there collection. And have a place for the Buck 119 and 110.
Lol I have all 3 in mine as well least I know I'm going in the right direction in my new collection
Buck 120 is also a very impressive knife.
@@renato3 I need to add that to my collection
@brokensteel640
It's a killer. And it cuts well also. Very cool knife. Bears will stay away from you just knowing you carry it.😉
@renato3 good to know, I have a ka-bar as well so they for sure will stay away 🤣😂
Have you reviewed the Cutco K-Bar ?
Thanks for the video I just got a ka bar just like that one
That’s awesome! Let me know whether or not you like it once it arrives.
Why does United Cutlery even sell this garbage? They must know that most people even half-way knowledgeable about knives know the difference between a Chinese ripoff and a genuine Ka-Bar. Was it a full-forged tang, or was it welded to the blade?
I have a Ka-Bar model 1245 8" tanto, and I love it. It mainly collects dust on the shelf, which really makes that black Kraton handle look like shit, but the blade is sharp, sturdy, and the tip is like a needle. It's definitely my SHTF knife. Can't ask for more!
for those of you who are looking for a reel KA-BAR just remember that it will have KA-BAR stamped into it.
Absolutely correct , no fake stuff please
Having own both a real Ka Bar from ( the Vietnam war) and one from China, I can say yes the real Ka Bar is the better of the two. However starting at 9:27 in the video I notice that you only chop through the wood block once with the real Ka Bar and then three times with the China Ka Bar making the wood shaving test invalid in my opinion of-course. May have influenced the chopping test as well. I do agree that if you want a knife to that will last and you can pass down through your family get the real Ka Bar it will last longer and keep its edge. Other then the chopping test, Great Video
Bought mine in the late 80s still in great shape mink oil that handle and sheath
This test showed me nothing but the pommel being the difference maker. The edge test means nothing to me when considering the price points for both knives
Hey man I just found out about your Chanel and I'm loving your videos there entertaining I'm subscribing and one question where can I buy a real Ka bar knife?
Hey Diego! Thanks for the sub and I’m glad you’re enjoying the videos. You can find the real k-bar here: amzn.to/3UVNHF4
@@oursimplestorychannel thank you man this helped alot
Notice on your first test; the genuine Kabar hilt is massively damaged?
Why is that?
You failed to even mention this...why?
It's obvious that the reason the fake Kabar did not do as well with the paper cutting
was the young man wielding the blade did not use as much tongue biting to assist in his concentration
as he did with the real Kabar.
Just got my KA-Bar from Bill a veteran in Goldfield NV, glad to have one. Bought a Bowie knife, thought I was getting US made, nope China made not a bad knife but not union made.
in all honestly you can't expect a 20 dollar knife to perform as well as a knife costing 100 dollars more. I have one of the China made copies for about a year and had no problems other than the sheath being pretty crummy lol. but between the $120.00 Ka-Bar and the $28.00 copy which are you going to take camping and run the risk of messing up? Cheers
Amazon a.k.a. Chinamart.
I still go camping with my father's WW2 KaBar M3 Trench Knife, still going strong!
That’s awesome!! I bet that thing is worth a ton to you. Thanks for sharing.
Aliexpress, Wish, Best Buy, Home Depot are China marts also😂
Can't forget the mother of all China-Marts: Harbor Freight! 😂
But honestly, as tools, these knives (and other made in Chynuh metal products) are of "adequate" quality, at a far, far, far lower price than "Made in the USA" stuff. If I were to damage a $100 knife I bought because it was made by fellow Americans, I'd be pretty upset. If I damage or break some $15 Chinese copy, I shrug and order another from Amazon.
I was active duty for 8.5 years in the USMC. Loved my Ka-Bar. Ate a lot of MREs with it 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Some ka bars were made with different shapes of hand guards. I don't think the real usa ka bar got bent during this test. It was made that way.
I don't need comedy when you're trying to present a serious documentary about a legend. You need to grow up.
The ka bar usmc is a nice classic but it’s really not that strong. If you want the best ka bar style knife get the cold steel leather neck
Man is out in the rain for the intro respect
great torture test, the real thing held up amazing
Any knife can be sharpened correctly,you can’t go by that!
it being sold on amazon makes me feel like its from china. I was expecting it to be sold by a company that solely takes pride in this blade over the decades
You can find a real Ka-bar on amazon not just copies. Look for the one with the highest number of ratings and that’s how you know if its the real deal. I got an official Ka-Bar USMC knife from amazon and it was sent in the official box and it said Olean NY on it beneath the Ka-Bar name which is how you can also identify a real one.
Also the knife and sheath came with an official Ka-Bar manual and company history paper thing
I got mine from a surplus military store. Was kinda worried since jj buddy had a few and was upset they were all Chinese made but the ones we found there were real absolutely love the thing it’s a beast
Here's a great test:
From a seated position, one hand on each end of the knife (taped blade of course) flat side facing down, SHARPLY bring down the knife across your knee with the hilt being in the center of your knee.
Count how many times you can do this with each knife before it is broken in two. Video THAT!
The leather had no cap to hold it in place.... hence it falling apart
“Dave, dinners ready” back to reality
i have only praise for the China 420... it reminds me of an higher stain resistant version of my Fav knife steel, "1095."
Excellent review you proved a point, good knife throwing by the way, did you say China 😮just subscribed 👌
Olean is properly pronounced “Oh Lee Ann”
I found a K-Bar still in it's sheath in my wife's home backyard {which is lightly wooded but on a downhill slope and was rarely used at that time) in the mountains of Western North Carolina.. No idea why it was there, for how long, or what it had been used for. This happened some 30 + years ago. It's been run through the hoops of activity well before I found it. I actually use it to dig targets my metal detector selects. It serves me well as I can dig but not ruin someones property as it cleans up/ hides holes very well.
Even then, though, I knew it was a major implement of death in WWII. Upon inspection I was shocked to read on the blade that it had been made in JAPAN! For those as old as I you know that Japan, after the war, started making lots of junk, such as Matchbox--type metal toys and other small (junk) things they could on the road back from the Hell they created for themselves. We of course thought we were being gracious and put them back into the steel making business to the point
WE couldn't compete with them! Thanks MacArthur! It shows no date, big surprise. As for it's blade, I'm unsure it could cut through cold butter. I was just struck by the irony. FYI,
Proper pronunciation of Olean- Oh-Lee-Anne
Who else was holding their genuine article American made KA BAR during the video? I have two of them!
WOAH! TRUMP IS RESPONDING TO THIS VIDEO DUDE!!!!!!!! TRUMP!!!!!!
Not me
@@AntoinMhicArtain sucks to be you...
@@rightwing3940 Maybe
Thats my baby the real kabar ever since I saw you at my first gun show ive loved you since
I want a authentic kabar but their really expensive
Far worth it.
They are worth the price as long as you use it as a knife and not an axe!
I've done some pretty stupid things with mine and have yet to break or even bend one. You have to REALLY be smashing on it hard through a large, thick piece of knotty hardwood to really end up bending or snapping it. But wouldn't recommend it for batoning unless it's reasonably sized smaller stuff.
If you need to chop or split wood...bring long the axe or hatchet which is what they were made for!
If you plan on using it for woods purposes, get the plain edge. The serrations, as on most knives, are a waste of useful blade space unless you plan on cutting lots of thick rope or something.
Yeah, I agree. But it's nice to own a piece of history and it is really a terrific, well-made combat knife.
Its a investment! It will last a couple of lifetimes! I use mine constantly as a carving knife and a survival knife and even done some extreme batoning with a rock and a hammer chipped part of the spine and its still going strong! Now I use it only for cutting and the occasional moderate batoning. Its a Beast of a knife that will be there when you need it! Treat the handle and sheath once in a while and its going to hold up for a long time!
Learn how to strop and put a convex edge on the Kabar (which is really easy to do once you get it), and it becomes an amazing cutting and carving blade...contrary to what many say is "just a combat knife"....
I make finer curls and hold a better edge with my convexed Kabar than I do with my scandi grind Moras. That was an unexpected result for me.
I bought a KaBar knife because I thought it was just so iconic. It came in a box which had a diagram or schematic of it's proportions which I thought was so beautiful. I will NEVER use it & it will just be a work of knife art for me forever. I have lots of other knives which I use regularly. I probably have a 100 knives or more, some I modify, lots of them I use and the rest are just cabinet Queens. Mostly I carry folders.
Anything on DOWN-UNDER knives?
No, what are those? Send me a few.
I have both knives. I brought it to a pro knife sharpener and he put a razor sharp edge on the Chinese one.
Reminds me of Napolean Dynamite throwing his action figure out the window and dragging it down the street. The one boy looked sorta like him too
Nice! Maybe that movie was my inspiration. It is my one of favorites after all. I make a ton of references to the movie in my backyard to the ocean series.
I have a normal American k bar, and it bent after two days of on and off throwing
I'll take an OKC 498 over a Kabar any day. I'm not saying the Kabar sucks I own a few. But for field work the Ontario is slightly superior
Maybe we need to put them against each other? What are some things we could do to stress test each of them?
@@oursimplestorychannel I’m not exactly sure. I’ve just noticed a few differences. Both are made in the USA using 1095 steel. The OKC has a better grip. The space between the leather wraps is bigger allowing a bit more stable grip. The tang is wider on the OKC. The hand guard is thicker and stronger. The pin goes right through the pommel as opposed to just into one side. The sheath is a thicker more durable leather as well. The handle is also coated in a waterproof paint that looks ugly but makes it more durable. Also the price. It’s a lot cheaper.
The Kabar has much better finish; looks way better. Also the Kabar comes sharp out of the box. The OKC not so much so you’ll need to give it some wet stone and strop work.
Personally I use my knives a lot. They aren’t just to look at. So I prefer the OKC
I own both as well. The OKC is smaller and more practical in my opinion.
@@oursimplestorychannel I didn’t even notice it was bigger. The swedge is a bit of a different shape. All in all, both great knives. I don’t mind beating up the OKC a bit more though. Actually in all honesty I’ve been using my Tops HOG more than anything else these days. Only 4.5” but it gets the most use. Great for skinning rabbits and all general usage.
Anyways, keep up the good work !
BRUH....the Kabar over the OKC all day.
OKC, even still today, has terribly inconsistent heat treatment and edges.
We were issued the OKC3s bayonets in the Marines and chucked them for the traditional Kabar USMC. (It would take paragraphs to explain why)
Don't get me wrong, I have lots of Ontarios and they have knives with great designs but it's always hit or miss with them. Never had that problem with Kabar.
I purchased the real deal a few days ago, I will be doing a review, but it will remain nice, shiny, smelling great, sharp, etc, when the review is completed. 🤣
SEMPER FI
DO OR DIE-
GUNG HO!
GUNG HO!
I am new to your channel so maybe you have already done it but I would love to see a hatchet torture test.
That’s a great idea! Do you have any in mind?
Did I see the shadow of a drone fly over at 6:31? Whoa!!!!
Yes
Nice pet caterpillar. lol
To be totally fair though.....On the oak cutting you did make the POS China one cut through 3 times, while Ka-Bar you only did once.
My Japanese Kbar has endured abuse that would destroy most blades, and still sharp(but the tip is rounded off).
Well it seems I started watching these KABAR videos a week too late. I ordered what I thought was a steal in a KABAR ($25 plus $11 shipping and yes I am a newbe collector with a lot to learn) on ebay a week ago. When I received it 3 days ago I realized it was a Chiiiiiiiiiina fake. I ordered the real one yesterday and now I have both versions and I am not out much cash on the fake one.
Can you imagine how many American soldiers were saved by this knife in WWII, Korea and Vietnam.
I would assume about the same damage to both.