The Ka-Bar proved easy to manufacture; the first production run was shipped by Camillus Cutlery Company on January 27, 1943.[2] After the U.S. Navy became disenchanted with blade failures on the USN Mark 1 utility knife, the latter service adopted the Ka-Bar as the US Navy Utility Knife, Mark 2.[22] The Marine Corps in turn re-designated the Ka-Bar as either the USMC Mark 2 Combat Knife, or simply the Knife, Fighting Utility. In naval service, the knife was used as a diving and utility knife from late 1943 onward, though the stacked leather handle tended to rot and disintegrate rapidly in saltwater.
Battening is a Yourtube thing. I camped for years and instead of battoning I chose smaller pieces of wood. Never needed to baton. I don’t know why it has become so important on UA-cam. Felix Immler batons with pieces of wood using a Swiss Army knife and pieces of wood in case you need to baton. You don’t beat your knife with pieces of wood. You don’t need to.
@@OnTheRiver66 Same with full tang, obviously its stronger than other handles but something like a rat tail is still perfectly strong for pretty much any knife related tasks. But its still instantly dismissed as weak and worthless by keyboard warriors who don't even use their own knives outside of their backyard.
@Nathan Hale totally agree with you. I'm tired of all these idiots trying to destroy functional knives using them as not they're supposed to be used just to be cool.
I found this channel in the truck this morning while drinking my coffee before going into work, absolutely loving it! I have a KaBar that I got in the Marines in '89, had never thought of those type of improvements. Thanks!
five plus years later, had to watch this again! I Did modify mine: files, sandpaper and lots of sandpaper, lots of cigars, sweet tea, coffee, and patience. Great Video!
You can greatly improve the grip by sliding five #15 O rings onto it, one for each cut-out notch. They'll fit very tightly & will noticeably enhance your Ka-bar's knife grip.
I love my Kabar, very useful and multi function blade. I did slightly bend the tang where it meets the blade from being too aggressive when batoning some wood, that was completely my fault. Imo if you need to split fire wood, make some wedges and carry a small, decent hatchet. It will always out perform a knife when doing that task. I find the guard useful and wouldn't consider grinding it off, I've used in making a spear from a hollowed out thick diameter branch, and those tabs come in handy when lashing it to the pole. It can be difficult to sharpen but once you do it holds the edge well and touches up nicely. Arkansas stones work the best. I have the kind with a semi serrated blade towards the handle, and I find that useful for rough work, debarking sticks, notching, and light batoning kindling, so I can keep the main blade in good shape and to avoid dings and I find it has plenty of length even with the serrations. I hate hearing people bad mouth this knife cause I know it's a really great blade and also it has a long history in the U.S armed services, and is also a very capable self defense and combat knife in the right hands. Very customizable and very practical and functional . Also alot less money than many overhyped, overpriced survival blades. I think I've said enough.
I have my father's K-bar knife ....2 tours in Korea ...3 tours Viet Nam . I leave it as is . A anti personal tool I use bush craft knives for bush craft .....instead of hacking up a great knife for what it is intended for . thanks for the video 👍 good info and story ....
I got my Kabar Mk2 in 1973 when I was stationed in Guam, in the Pacific. We would take an empty bean can, fill it with neats foot oil, turn the knives handle down, and soak the handles in the oil for a few weeks. The oil completely saturated the leather washers, making them water proof. We had a LOT of humidity over there that would rot leather , so this is how we fixed that problem. We did the same with the sheaths. I still have my Kabar, still love her.
my uncle did a thing like that..when he got his and went on board ship he sealed his in can with oil..by the time they got to the combat zone the handle was good and sealed
I've had a K_Bar for close to 44 years it's never failed I love it. Great tips. Never gave a thought to putting watch points on the pommel have to try it out. Thanks Blackie. atb Opal
Carried a USN Mk II Ka Bar for 20 years in the Marine Corps. I ground down the tip as you described so that the point of thrust was centered on the handle. Semper Fi.
I wanted to buy another okc 498 combat knife buy Ontario did it again, they changed the steel from 1095 to 1075. So I went with the KaBar 1211 single mark and I love this knife. The huge USA 1211 mark has been removed and this strengthening the blade at the Tang. It's a great and I'm so glad this video is still up. Thank you Blackie.
When cameras got cheaper hundreds of snotnosed teenagers bought one and started making youtube videos, everything from survival to firearm reviews to lawnmower repair and underwater basket weaving, many are junk, a waste of time to watch, I watched a few of your videos and am happy to say thanks for not being like those, your videos have good audio, lighting , informative , everything , thanks for making them .
When computers got cheaper a ton of salty old boomers came along to see what the fuss was about, and they make very stupid and bizarre youtube comments
They gotta start somewhere, i bet you're the kind of person who also complains that teenagers are not doing enough of those very same things you mentioned.
ALRIGHT -ALRIGHT - ALRIGHTY! Been carrying my K-Bar since Vietnam. Was gifted it by a Marine Corporal. He didn’t want to go to his Corpsman with a Socially acquired disease because it would go into his medical records and hurt his chances before the promotion board! I took care of his medical needs, was able to keep it out of his records and he gave me his K-Bar after I admired it and said I wish the Army issued them to us as well. It has served me well throughout the years so I can’t see making the mods on it so I just acquired another one slightly younger than mine(but not by much) and making mods on it and retiring my original one of 50 years use and carry! Thanks Brother for the knowledge! Never too old to learn !
You had me worried when you said you had Mods for the KA-Bar ..BUT all that you have done and all that you have mentioned make perfect sense for the conditions you find yourself in .It is an honest and practical vid and I thank you for your time and effort .
I carried Kabars during eight years of active duty. They were $22.50 at the PX. A new sheath was $15.00. So I just bought a new knife every time the sheath wore out, which was ridiculously often. The point of the knife pokes through the sheath. You wrap it with 100mph tape and when the blade cuts through that you wrap it again until the cut is too big to be wrapped in tape. Get the plastic sheath model. Spring for a kydex sheath. You'll be glad that you did. Other than the sheath, the Kabar is a great wilderness/combat/survival knife, maybe the very best for the money. paired with a good multiblade or multitool, you'll have al the blade that you need.
My Ka-Bar ($6.00 in 1970, $113.00 in 2023) leather sheath rotted away within a month in Vietnam. I replaced it with a M-7 bayonet sheath back in 1970. Sheath is made of fiberglass. Still is serviceable today. Today's sheath cost $18.95.
I’m a massive fan of KABAR’s. All three of the KABAR knives I own, the standard straight blade, standard serrated, and the USMC 120th anniversary, none of them have the issues you speak of. The swedge is not sharpened, nor does it curve back. It may be due to the different companies producing the blade, but mine lack the only gripe you have with the blade. Buy from the KABAR website :)
Out standing tips sir you are very knowledgeable ! Thank you for a great video!!! If I am not mistaken what you have there is a Ontario 498 combat knife , KA-BAR is a separate company , once a division of union cutlery who was one of several company's manufacturing the usmc2 during WW2 and argued to have done it best . hence the reason all knives of that style are commonly referred to as KA- BAR
I have actually come back to this video quite a few times. You are talking about everything I did to my Kabar Marine years ago, I also trimmed down the leather grip to fit my hand, the filing down the tip you end up with profile reminiscent of the SP6. Love mine, love mine so much that I rarely use it now! Kinda like 'this is my baby, I am going to take care of you, I cared for you for almost 20 years' , LOL, but true ! Thanks for the channel!
Most of those same mods can be made to the USAF survival knife. I don't own a Kabar. I did the tip mod a while back. also I ground the hex pommel round, shortened the top guard and rounded both upper and lower. I filed flats on the sides of the handle making it easier to control. The saw back makes good jimping if you round off the sharp corners. I will grind half of the saw teeth off to create the sharp 90 degree spine you mentioned. I also like the idea of the clock face in the pommel. It would have been very easy to lay that out before I rounded off the pommel, oh well. Thanks so much for taking the time to always pass on your wisdom. God Bless.
Thank you for sharing these useful tips, I have an original that my father’s cousin brought back from the Second World War they are both now in heaven bless them but I have the knife which I shall pass it on to my son. Great knife 👌
Great vid! Awesome info. I never thought about it before. I carried both camilus and ka-bar brand knives during desert shield/storm 90-91, through 2 minefields (combat engineer, USMC). I broke my armory issue one from throwing it too much. The pommel worked its way back and forth too many times and broke. It’s a great fighting blade. I’m gonna mod one of mine. Thanks!
Great video Blackie. I've been looking for a video just like this on the Ka Bar. Excellent tips from your uncle too, from a practical use sense to historical sense. We can still learn a lot from the old timers.
I've used my kabar exclusively for kindling in my house woodstove tools. I also use it as a throwing knife for fun. If it bends, I bend it back. Thanks for the upgrade tips. I originally bought it because there was a YT channel that extreme tested knives. He was beating on the kabar with an 8 pound sledge and it never broke, it wasn't pretty anymore. He also would put them in a vice and bend them until they broke, well the kabar just bent. He bent it back and it was fine. I think i paid 25 bucks for mine. You can pay more for junk knives. Thanks for your channel, I love it.
@@r.b.rozier9692 he was probably referring to the modifications that changed the features of a knife that was fashioned with one purpose, combat, and repurpose the thing to function well for a woodsman.
I enjoyed your video and how well your information is. I just want to say two things, First the rear guard is useful in carving holes if you hold the knife like a pencil backwards with the original tip. Second that watch face idea is the coolest thing I have ever heard. I'm gonna put that on mine since I'm from Nevada and used to 20 mile flats.
I love the Ka-Bar knife. It was the tool of choice for my Grandfather who fought in WWII. I also removed the cross-bar on mine that I use in the wilderness. Gread advice for batoning!!
Hey Blackie- Ive been catching up on older vids. I have a very similar knife made by Ontario and I have never been a fan of the clip point design, so what I did to mine is took a file and shaved down the clip point to more resemble a drop point which I like and works better for me. I also have a genuine issue USN WW2 combat issue knife that is basically the knife that the KA-BAR was born from. Believe it or not, that WW2 issue knife is razor sharp and cuts like a razor, however I only show it off to friends. With all that said, the absolute best knife in my opinion that I used while in the service is the Gerber Prodigy. I cant tell you how much abuse I have put that knife thru and it keeps asking for more. Thanks for your tips on stuff like this- Be safe out there-
Long experience has taught me NEVER dull an original sharp edge (particularly on an $75-$100 knife). I've always had to re-sharpen it back to the initial edge. Interesting review. Ty.
+blackoracle69 BK-7, or BK-9 ,or bushman, k-bar navy, or morakniv or......I actually own knives with the features you want but I'm not going to mess up the ones that don't.
Brilliant! Great job Blackie. I have the Case version of the Ka-Bar. I love it`s weight and how it feels in my hand. I have always doubted that rat tail tang. You make excellent points and I learned more than one new thing. Thank you.
First i enjoyed your Alabama accent.Hell yeah!!! Second i liked your video especially the part that you said how to navigate and how to use knife for chopping if it is necessary.Greetings from Greece!!!
Interesting tips, good point about what the knife is for. I am happy owner of KA-BAR 1217 and I like it as it comes out of the box. For skinning, drilling and so on I prefer to use a different type of knife. Thank you for your video and waiting for more of them.
Howdy from a new subscriber. You first really good knife was the Mk2 Ka-Bar? That's an amazing coincidence. My first "good" knife was a Ka-Bar, bought it at an Army-Navy Surplus joint out in Huntington Beach, CA., back in the later 1970's. I was driving delivery and it was lunch time. Seeing a place to park I grabbed it, and the surplus joint was a few doors down. The proprietor wanted to sell me something and showed me the Ka-Bar and then the Ontario version. I had to think as at the time there was a $10 difference, about two hours pay at the time. I left with the Ka-Bar. Just found the original box and the price sticker was still quite legible; $29.95. That's been quite a while. It's been a great companion over the decades and while I never have abused it, still remains quite serviceable. I'm really enjoying your content, I like your downhome style and the straight forward presentations you are giving; very well done. Heck, even I can understand most of it, so you are a good instructor. Thanks and be well.
Interesting lecture... I never realised about the compass readings on the pommel, learned something new. Oh, I like yer hat.. Lost my VN-era KaBar (chrome-bladed) but recently picked up a lightly used 1st Gulf War Camillus that looks like your KaBar. My own bush knife is a (not like I don't have choices) Cold Steel bowie I mounted an elk-antler grip on and made a saddle-leather sheath for.. a lot bulkier than the KaBar for sure but it will take abuse that would snap a KaBar/Camillus USMC knife. The point about seawater eating the leather is right on- Ive replaced the rotting leather grips of seawater-exposed USMC knives. Just as an observational somewhat tongue in cheek aside, watching and listening to you- being a Northern man, I'm glad that late war was over long before either of us were born... ;)... Ronald Dunne..
Thanks for the great tips! You see the knife and think: oh, a great utility knife that doubles as a combat knife; what I see is a great combat knife that doubles as a utility knife. The backslash edge and the guard stay on. Great video! I have a “Camillus” made in NY.
That is exactly like the one I have. It was my dad's from Navy. He was UDT Korea war era. Knew to use analog watch that way, newinfo to use knife.Thanks for the video
I liked the OL guy comment, I'm right there with ya, yep the knife peep ain't gonna work in the swamps of fla either. I have the same knife had for 40 yrs an Never mod it, but I will now, thx for the vid.
Very Cool info! I was not a Marine I was in the Navy but I love knives and I thought I knew all the functions of the KaBar but I did not know about the Compass or the Sight! Cold Steel Leatherneck knife which is somewhat of a copy of the USMC KaBar but it has some of the Improvement that you suggest like the 90 degree spine of the blade, doing away with the Rat Tail Tang, Removing the Upswing on the tip of the blade and making it drop point, Thicker false edge toward the tip to protect the meat when skinning. I have a Classic KaBar model Stamped USN, KaBar 2000 D2, Ontario KaBar Clone that I cannot remember which model it is and the Leatherneck as part of my knife collection. They are all GREAT Knives and the USN which was a gift from my friends from my last Command which had my Name Rate and years of Service Laser Engraved on the blade.
I carried one in Iraq 03'. I lost mine due to the sheath snap as you mentioned. I have since then bought a couple. Dont want to modify them for camp use. However, the info here is interesting as I have never heard of the old military mods. Thanks for posting.
@Splatterviz You're welcome sir. No need to thank me though. I joined in August 01' at the age of 17 (had my mother sign) thinking I could get some college money while learning survival techniques and shooting awesome weapons (playing Rambo). Towers fell 1 month later while in basic training, went to Benning, shipped to Kuwait for 8 months, returned with a 30 day leave to see family,, shipped back to Kuwait, waited a some weeks on Bush, then rolled into Iraq March 03', returned January 04. Got back, did drugs, got in trouble and out I went. Joined with greed in mind, got out with a General under honorable conditions discharge. Not deserving of the thanks but I appreciate it none the less.
Glad I ran across your show, good to see a fellow Alabamian. I am originally from Andalusia, in south central LA lo "lower Alabama". How about yourself. An thank you for sharing that on the K-bar great knife!
I just bought a Kabar at my local Cabela's and I love it. Great video and very cool tricks!! I will be watching it again so I can learn what you said. Thanks, and more Kabar vids would be appreciated too!!!
very good , nice good horse sense and the guys that carried them in the field and in real action knew how to get the best out of them . Thanks for sharing
Great knifes for sure. I use to carry one until I baught the cold steel leatherneck. The copied the K bar. It's a k bar on steroids. I keep beside my ruger 357mag. I'd rather loose my pistol than my blade. Good video thanks for posting 🙏 ✝ 👪 🇺🇸 🔪 🔫 ✌👍
That is why I use the Ka-Bar 1277 Heavy Bowie. I've never owned a knife (other than my machete) that I can beat and beat and easily keep it razor sharp.
Tradition very important. Thank you for saying that. I am German and for us Tradition is so important. I know for many Countries it ìs important then who wants to loose the identity of you country. Good video about the Ka - Bar , German Bundeswehr doesn't has a good knife they can't make up there mind. 👍
I like the tips some of them might actually come in handy. The thing to remember though, is that the k KABAR knife isn't a woodsman knife or a skinning knife. It's a combat knife...a fighting knife.
I bought a new US Ontario MK2 back in the early 1990's and carried it for many years for hunting as well as cutting up sow belly for lard and sausage meat every December when we butchered hogs . It has split many a whitetail breast bone without any problems so the rat tail tang is fine as long as you don't expect it to be a prybar . I think the Kbar Tanto would be good for what you are describing .
Blackie that is all good advice and I am looking forward to trying the navigation stuff out, good work. I have used rubber o-rings on my leather handle finger grooves for better grip. they are cheap and no worries about slipping even with wet hands. keep up the good work. best wishes.
Say Heah Blackie, It's OK if you ignore me, But something I learned from a friend at Blade Forum, He suggested to sharpen my Ka-Bar U.S.M.C. Knife from higher than the Fuller it changed the angle and it made my knife sharper than it ever was, A while back I teamed it with my military issue MK-1 and I don't understand why more don't use it as a Bushcraft knife. Infact I just added my Estwings Double Bit Hatchet and my Corona Folding Saw, and Blip, Blap, Blam I had myself a good Bush Craft Set.
I would love it if you would take a look at the Cold Steel Leatherneck SF knife. Full, wide tang, modern handle grip, straight tip for drilling. No sharp edge on top. I really like this knife! It's like a modernized Ka-Bar.
Hi! Thanks a lot for the compas tip. I never realized that. I do actually own an Ontario Ka-bar knife, and; now it comes to me; why it's called a utility knife! Thanks a lot. -Hans
Good modifications. What is the spelling of the line that you put in the loop? There are many times when it would be very good to be able to hang a knife within its sheath on a hook. As for the rat tail design - I read comments by a former air force survival instructor who witnessed military Ontario 499 survival knives issued over and over again and used 1000s of times. The rat tail design did not fail in batoning.
I have a smaller companion skinning knife, also made by Ka-Bar, that I do not use for utility use. I also have a compass with a sighting tool on it, which only helps me when I reach a mountaintop up here in NH. You do what you want with yours, but I'm keeping mine as is. Thanks for the info though. It is a great knife.
I used a K-Bar as a field knife for 30 years. I recently retired it and replaced it with a Puma White Hunter. I never once had a problem with the K-Bar, I can just afford a White Hunter now.
Fully agree with this video and advice. The compass thing is new to me but makes sense. I like to keep them as they are for my collection but I do have the Ontario SP1 I have used in the field for years and I did change the sharp swedge and tip point. Also lost the top part of the hand guard. I prefer the Ontario SP1 because it's thicker stock and more weather resistant, but of course you miss the pommel that acts like a field hammer. But I would have no problem with the USMC Mark 2 as my only field knife. It's a classic.
Yours looks just like mine but mine was made in Camulus NY. I got it at 14 yo at a Dallas Army Navy in 1974. We all had big knives in the Boy Scouts then. It really didn’t stand out much. I didn’t even know what it was until a Marine Corps sergeant fraternity brother at Texas A&M told me what it was.
I have the 1209, a viet nam era knife, bought it for $16 new in 1968 in Richmond Virginia. You can find them in good condition for between $250-300 now. So I think I’ll keep mine. I was 13 when I got it.
I still use my KA-BAR that I was issued in the MARINE CORPS n I am definitely gonna use a lot of these mods, especially the clock n sight picture mods. Filing down the tip, now that’s gonna take me some time to argue with myself about. Great video OOOORAHH!!!
Have you ever contacted Ka-Bar and asked them to think about doing a special sportsman's modification line on this classic. It may be a seller. Thanks for the video
Thanks for this one Blackie! I really enjoyed it and got some good ideas from it. Myself, I`m not a fan of the round handle on most Ka-bars. So the first mod I do is filing or grinding a couple of flats on the sides of the handle.
I think Cold Steel took note of lots of suggestions. I just bought the Leatherneck SF. It has those flats on both sides of the handle, waterproof grip, straight tip, no edge on top, full (wide) tang, and a sheath that allows you to mount it upside down and no snap is needed. I'm not trying to be a a fanboy, but I love my new knife.
One of the criticisms of the KA-BAR (especially by foreign military) is the leather handle of the originals. They claimed when wet the leather either became loose or shrunk. It is why most foreign military knives either had metal or wood handles. Snow Seal or other preservatives might make the handle slick. Of course most of their knives were not also used as survival knives and mostly as offensive weapons with few exceptions. What are your thoughts? Just get a synthetic handled one? That would be some very close in drill work to place a hole in the guard but a great idea for sure.
Problem is it only works on rising sun. The sun moves constantly, and if you dont have good bearings of directions at all times of day you just end up walking in circles most of the day. You can use the method he explained for estimation of direction, and also the time of day so that you can actually use the sun as navigation tool.
I love my Ka-bar, it's a dependable pice of kit used properly. i am not that worryed of getting lost in the woods, virtualy inpossible here in Holland:).
Nice tips, but my Dad's Ka-bar was my first sheath knife when I joined the Scouts in the 70s. I got it along with an old two blade pocket knife. I carried it in the first Gulf War as a fighting knife and I've left it that way.
Good vid. Thanks for sharing. BTW Neets Foot Oil will soften leather. Saddle soap will preserve without softening. Also I disagree and would say that it works fine as a chopper. It is long enough to cut saplings but not too heavy for keeping your pack weight down. Smaller knives don't have the heft to chop. Others are too heavy to carry.
Blackie, thanks for the tips! I don't have a Kabar, but I have an Ontario Pilots knife. I am going to make those same mods to it. Also, I'd like to mention the tip mod you spoke of would make the tip much stronger.
Good tips for using U.S. Combat Knife for bushcraft use. K-Bar is kind of a misnomer. Camillus made most of the issue knives mistakenly called K-Bars. They were actually a co-developer and the original contractor. The United Cutlery models were produced later and in lower numbers, but were generally considered more desirable. Lots of stories from guys who served in the South Pacific, ranging from the genuine “Ka-Bar” being easier to sharpen, to it just having a catchier name.
Own 3 Kabars. First is regulation USMC issue. 2'nd is a cheap copy from China with a plastic sheath, and 3rd is a Short Model. I carry the Short Model everywhere as my shirt tail easily covers it. Great camper and hunting partner. Leather sheath has gotten oiled a bit. No rust for owning it for 30 years. Original is kept in OEM shipped box. Mint shape. The Cheapie Marine stamped Model is beat to death, but still sharpens, cuts a forest of trees, wire, opens crates, has like a kydex sheath. It came from a knife sale on TV, and thought the first use would kill it. Nope. China steel is tough. Going on 10 years now, and would buy another just to kill one. I dont cut car fenders, but yard use and chopper cant beat it. I bought an import jungle knife machete that rivals the cheapie knife. Glad i dont grind those up on blades. Use a stone and file and they are sharp. Good luck on yours. Good thread Blackie!
![The LEGENDARY KABAR WW2 Fighting Knife [What You NEED to Know!]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/6kEYm61ChJg/mqdefault.jpg)
The Ka-Bar proved easy to manufacture; the first production run was shipped by Camillus Cutlery Company on January 27, 1943.[2] After the U.S. Navy became disenchanted with blade failures on the USN Mark 1 utility knife, the latter service adopted the Ka-Bar as the US Navy Utility Knife, Mark 2.[22] The Marine Corps in turn re-designated the Ka-Bar as either the USMC Mark 2 Combat Knife, or simply the Knife, Fighting Utility. In naval service, the knife was used as a diving and utility knife from late 1943 onward, though the stacked leather handle tended to rot and disintegrate rapidly in saltwater.
I have a Camillus knife in mint condition. Was there no moore knifes made by them after1943?
yes the did make more i have a issue one from the 90's
Ahh thank you. I have sharpend it,so i was afraid i had ruined the value. But now i can use it innstead:-) thanks for the answer
THANK YOU FOR THE LESSON.WE WILL BE WATCHING.
I've a camillus acquired in 1985,with the fibre type sheath.
FINALLY a proper kabar review. Very annoying watching a kid baton a log with it and break it and say the knife is shit.
Trent Armstrong i agree
Ive camped for years and buttoning is a
Battening is a Yourtube thing. I camped for years and instead of battoning I chose smaller pieces of wood. Never needed to baton. I don’t know why it has become so important on UA-cam. Felix Immler batons with pieces of wood using a Swiss Army knife and pieces of wood in case you need to baton. You don’t beat your knife with pieces of wood. You don’t need to.
@@OnTheRiver66 Same with full tang, obviously its stronger than other handles but something like a rat tail is still perfectly strong for pretty much any knife related tasks. But its still instantly dismissed as weak and worthless by keyboard warriors who don't even use their own knives outside of their backyard.
@Nathan Hale totally agree with you. I'm tired of all these idiots trying to destroy functional knives using them as not they're supposed to be used just to be cool.
I found this channel in the truck this morning while drinking my coffee before going into work, absolutely loving it! I have a KaBar that I got in the Marines in '89, had never thought of those type of improvements. Thanks!
five plus years later, had to watch this again! I Did modify mine: files, sandpaper and lots of sandpaper, lots of cigars, sweet tea, coffee, and patience. Great Video!
You can greatly improve the grip by sliding five #15 O rings onto it, one for each cut-out notch. They'll fit very tightly & will noticeably enhance your Ka-bar's knife grip.
Use a heat gun to shrnk wrap a piece of bike tubing around the handle
Having served in the U.S. Marine Corps I was issued a Camillus Ka-Bar for one thing and one thing only and it worked very well I made it home
thank you for your service..and welcome home
Camilus is a Ka-Bar clone and well made.
How did y'all use it? Did you get your "field" uniform dirty? (get an article 15?).
@@paulroselle5868 Camillus is one of several makers who produced the knife for the US military during WW2. I wouldnt exactly call them clones.
@@paulroselle5868 they are sorta the original
Like how well educated you sound and how a good teacher you are
I love my Kabar, very useful and multi function blade. I did slightly bend the tang where it meets the blade from being too aggressive when batoning some wood, that was completely my fault. Imo if you need to split fire wood, make some wedges and carry a small, decent hatchet. It will always out perform a knife when doing that task. I find the guard useful and wouldn't consider grinding it off, I've used in making a spear from a hollowed out thick diameter branch, and those tabs come in handy when lashing it to the pole. It can be difficult to sharpen but once you do it holds the edge well and touches up nicely. Arkansas stones work the best. I have the kind with a semi serrated blade towards the handle, and I find that useful for rough work, debarking sticks, notching, and light batoning kindling, so I can keep the main blade in good shape and to avoid dings and I find it has plenty of length even with the serrations. I hate hearing people bad mouth this knife cause I know it's a really great blade and also it has a long history in the U.S armed services, and is also a very capable self defense and combat knife in the right hands. Very customizable and very practical and functional . Also alot less money than many overhyped, overpriced survival blades. I think I've said enough.
I've had a Ka-Bar for 45 years and it has held up well. I like the part about using the knife as a compass pretty clever. Thanks Blackie. atb
the same KaBar?
@Green Giant That you could.
I have my father's K-bar knife ....2 tours in Korea ...3 tours Viet Nam . I leave it as is . A anti personal tool I use bush craft knives for bush craft .....instead of hacking up a great knife for what it is intended for . thanks for the video 👍 good info and story ....
Personnel
seppuku
@@r.b.rozier9692 wrong
@@eliot1970 he is 100% correct. It is Anti-Personnel.
I got my Kabar Mk2 in 1973 when I was stationed in Guam, in the Pacific. We would take an empty bean can, fill it with neats foot oil, turn the knives handle down, and soak the handles in the oil for a few weeks. The oil completely saturated the leather washers, making them water proof. We had a LOT of humidity over there that would rot leather , so this is how we fixed that problem. We did the same with the sheaths. I still have my Kabar, still love her.
my uncle did a thing like that..when he got his and went on board ship he sealed his in can with oil..by the time they got to the combat zone the handle was good and sealed
I've had a K_Bar for close to 44 years it's never failed I love it. Great tips. Never gave a thought to putting watch points on the pommel have to try it out. Thanks Blackie. atb Opal
Hi Blackie, your field jacket is just like the ones we were issued during my service in 1988-1989. Long time since I have seen one. Thumbs up.
Carried a USN Mk II Ka Bar for 20 years in the Marine Corps. I ground down the tip as you described so that the point of thrust was centered on the handle. Semper Fi.
I wanted to buy another okc 498 combat knife buy Ontario did it again, they changed the steel from 1095 to 1075. So I went with the KaBar 1211 single mark and I love this knife. The huge USA 1211 mark has been removed and this strengthening the blade at the Tang. It's a great and I'm so glad this video is still up. Thank you Blackie.
When cameras got cheaper hundreds of snotnosed teenagers bought one and started making youtube videos, everything from survival to firearm reviews to lawnmower repair and underwater basket weaving, many are junk, a waste of time to watch, I watched a few of your videos and am happy to say thanks for not being like those, your videos have good audio, lighting , informative , everything , thanks for making them .
When computers got cheaper a ton of salty old boomers came along to see what the fuss was about, and they make very stupid and bizarre youtube comments
ok boomer
Submarines!
Okay Boomer
They gotta start somewhere, i bet you're the kind of person who also complains that teenagers are not doing enough of those very same things you mentioned.
ALRIGHT -ALRIGHT - ALRIGHTY! Been carrying my K-Bar since Vietnam. Was gifted it by a Marine Corporal. He didn’t want to go to his Corpsman with a Socially acquired disease because it would go into his medical records and hurt his chances before the promotion board! I took care of his medical needs, was able to keep it out of his records and he gave me his K-Bar after I admired it and said I wish the Army issued them to us as well. It has served me well throughout the years so I can’t see making the mods on it so I just acquired another one slightly younger than mine(but not by much) and making mods on it and retiring my original one of 50 years use and carry! Thanks Brother for the knowledge! Never too old to learn !
"Socially acquired", eh?
The way I remember it those lines were long
You had me worried when you said you had Mods for the KA-Bar ..BUT all that you have done and all that you have mentioned make perfect sense for the conditions you find yourself in .It is an honest and practical vid and I thank you for your time and effort .
I carried Kabars during eight years of active duty. They were $22.50 at the PX. A new sheath was $15.00. So I just bought a new knife every time the sheath wore out, which was ridiculously often. The point of the knife pokes through the sheath. You wrap it with 100mph tape and when the blade cuts through that you wrap it again until the cut is too big to be wrapped in tape. Get the plastic sheath model. Spring for a kydex sheath. You'll be glad that you did. Other than the sheath, the Kabar is a great wilderness/combat/survival knife, maybe the very best for the money. paired with a good multiblade or multitool, you'll have al the blade that you need.
My Ka-Bar ($6.00 in 1970, $113.00 in 2023) leather sheath rotted away within a month in Vietnam. I replaced it with a M-7 bayonet sheath back in 1970. Sheath is made of fiberglass. Still is serviceable today. Today's sheath cost $18.95.
I’m a massive fan of KABAR’s. All three of the KABAR knives I own, the standard straight blade, standard serrated, and the USMC 120th anniversary, none of them have the issues you speak of. The swedge is not sharpened, nor does it curve back. It may be due to the different companies producing the blade, but mine lack the only gripe you have with the blade. Buy from the KABAR website :)
top tips, I used (and abused) a ka-bar for 15 years or so,
maybe not everybody's preference but i'd take a ka-bar over most commercial knives,
How's the ka bar holding up?
Out standing tips sir you are very knowledgeable ! Thank you for a great video!!! If I am not mistaken what you have there is a Ontario 498 combat knife , KA-BAR is a separate company , once a division of union cutlery who was one of several company's manufacturing the usmc2 during WW2 and argued to have done it best . hence the reason all knives of that style are commonly referred to as KA- BAR
I have actually come back to this video quite a few times. You are talking about everything I did to my Kabar Marine years ago, I also trimmed down the leather grip to fit my hand, the filing down the tip you end up with profile reminiscent of the SP6. Love mine, love mine so much that I rarely use it now! Kinda like 'this is my baby, I am going to take care of you, I cared for you for almost 20 years' , LOL, but true ! Thanks for the channel!
glad you enjoyed it..safe journeys
Most of those same mods can be made to the USAF survival knife. I don't own a Kabar. I did the tip mod a while back. also I ground the hex pommel round, shortened the top guard and rounded both upper and lower. I filed flats on the sides of the handle making it easier to control. The saw back makes good jimping if you round off the sharp corners. I will grind half of the saw teeth off to create the sharp 90 degree spine you mentioned. I also like the idea of the clock face in the pommel. It would have been very easy to lay that out before I rounded off the pommel, oh well. Thanks so much for taking the time to always pass on your wisdom. God Bless.
This was waaaaay more informative AND engaging than I thought it would be, I'll definitely be recommending this channel to my friends
@Teddy Machette enlightened me then
Teddy Machette Lol. You know nothing.
Thank you for sharing these useful tips, I have an original that my father’s cousin brought back from the Second World War they are both now in heaven bless them but I have the knife which I shall pass it on to my son. Great knife 👌
The compass / navigation trick was interesting.
"That boulder, that cliff, that tree, that Japanese soldier".................. WAIT, WHAT?
I love your suggestions! I am absolutely going to make these modifications!
Btw, she's got an awesome channel folks if you haven't checked it out! Great resource for traditional folk living skills.
I just got a Ka-Bar for my best friend on Christmas. Thanks for this video. Great non biased review. 👍
Great vid! Awesome info. I never thought about it before. I carried both camilus and ka-bar brand knives during desert shield/storm 90-91, through 2 minefields (combat engineer, USMC). I broke my armory issue one from throwing it too much. The pommel worked its way back and forth too many times and broke. It’s a great fighting blade. I’m gonna mod one of mine. Thanks!
Great video Blackie. I've been looking for a video just like this on the Ka Bar. Excellent tips from your uncle too, from a practical use sense to historical sense. We can still learn a lot from the old timers.
Those are some great tips. I hadn't considered the navigational aids that were possible with that knife. Thank you.
I've used my kabar exclusively for kindling in my house woodstove tools. I also use it as a throwing knife for fun. If it bends, I bend it back. Thanks for the upgrade tips. I originally bought it because there was a YT channel that extreme tested knives. He was beating on the kabar with an 8 pound sledge and it never broke, it wasn't pretty anymore. He also would put them in a vice and bend them until they broke, well the kabar just bent. He bent it back and it was fine. I think i paid 25 bucks for mine. You can pay more for junk knives. Thanks for your channel, I love it.
You don't even realized how much this helped me
Buy the D-2 steel version. Worth every extra penny, it's my experience.......
Helped you with ideas on how to ruin an amazing knife?
@@r.b.rozier9692 he was probably referring to the modifications that changed the features of a knife that was fashioned with one purpose, combat, and repurpose the thing to function well for a woodsman.
@@vampanexe the Kabar is a combat *utility* knife. I have used mine for all sorts of interesting task in the woods and various other utility purposes
I enjoyed your video and how well your information is. I just want to say two things,
First the rear guard is useful in carving holes if you hold the knife like a pencil backwards with the original tip.
Second that watch face idea is the coolest thing I have ever heard. I'm gonna put that on mine since I'm from Nevada and used to 20 mile flats.
Grew up in Nevada. Miss seeing the mountains.
Very knowledgable man. Thankyou for your effort in making this video sir.
Ive sucked up every word like a sponge.
Cheers
glad you enjoyed the channel safe journeys
Only a roid head would think this clown was "knowledgeable"
Most instructive. I appreciate this video and I thank you.
I was considering getting a KA-BAR for field work in the woods. Now I'm not so much. Thanks for your input. It helped me make my decision.
I love the Ka-Bar knife. It was the tool of choice for my Grandfather who fought in WWII. I also removed the cross-bar on mine that I use in the wilderness. Gread advice for batoning!!
mine is in the mail coming! im pretty excited ive heard a lot of good things about ka bar
Hey Blackie- Ive been catching up on older vids. I have a very similar knife made by Ontario and I have never been a fan of the clip point design, so what I did to mine is took a file and shaved down the clip point to more resemble a drop point which I like and works better for me. I also have a genuine issue USN WW2 combat issue knife that is basically the knife that the KA-BAR was born from. Believe it or not, that WW2 issue knife is razor sharp and cuts like a razor, however I only show it off to friends. With all that said, the absolute best knife in my opinion that I used while in the service is the Gerber Prodigy. I cant tell you how much abuse I have put that knife thru and it keeps asking for more. Thanks for your tips on stuff like this- Be safe out there-
Very good video! Lots of useful things to add the classic KA-BAR
THANK YOU
Long experience has taught me NEVER dull an original sharp edge (particularly on an $75-$100 knife). I've always had to re-sharpen it back to the initial edge. Interesting review. Ty.
Sounds like you want a different knife
+marcuskim76 nope..just being honest and pointing out how i feel the knife could be better..thanks for the comment..safe journeys
+blackoracle69 BK-7, or BK-9 ,or bushman, k-bar navy, or morakniv or......I actually own knives with the features you want but I'm not going to mess up the ones that don't.
Good mentions. Ka-Bar 1317 also looks like more of what he's looking for.
Being a kid in the sixes the kabar was a knife i could afford that held up to abouse i would give it.
Totally thumbs downed this video. They make knives that fill all of this yahoos needs
Brilliant! Great job Blackie. I have the Case version of the Ka-Bar. I love it`s weight and how it feels in my hand. I have always doubted that rat tail tang. You make excellent points and I learned more than one new thing. Thank you.
First i enjoyed your Alabama accent.Hell yeah!!! Second i liked your video especially the part that you said how to navigate and how to use knife for chopping if it is necessary.Greetings from Greece!!!
Interesting tips, good point about what the knife is for. I am happy owner of KA-BAR 1217 and I like it as it comes out of the box. For skinning, drilling and so on I prefer to use a different type of knife.
Thank you for your video and waiting for more of them.
Howdy from a new subscriber. You first really good knife was the Mk2 Ka-Bar? That's an amazing coincidence. My first "good" knife was a Ka-Bar, bought it at an Army-Navy Surplus joint out in Huntington Beach, CA., back in the later 1970's. I was driving delivery and it was lunch time. Seeing a place to park I grabbed it, and the surplus joint was a few doors down. The proprietor wanted to sell me something and showed me the Ka-Bar and then the Ontario version. I had to think as at the time there was a $10 difference, about two hours pay at the time. I left with the Ka-Bar. Just found the original box and the price sticker was still quite legible; $29.95. That's been quite a while. It's been a great companion over the decades and while I never have abused it, still remains quite serviceable.
I'm really enjoying your content, I like your downhome style and the straight forward presentations you are giving; very well done. Heck, even I can understand most of it, so you are a good instructor. Thanks and be well.
welcome to the channel and thanks for watching
Interesting lecture... I never realised about the compass readings on the pommel, learned something new. Oh, I like yer hat.. Lost my VN-era KaBar (chrome-bladed) but recently picked up a lightly used 1st Gulf War Camillus that looks like your KaBar. My own bush knife is a (not like I don't have choices) Cold Steel bowie I mounted an elk-antler grip on and made a saddle-leather sheath for.. a lot bulkier than the KaBar for sure but it will take abuse that would snap a KaBar/Camillus USMC knife. The point about seawater eating the leather is right on- Ive replaced the rotting leather grips of seawater-exposed USMC knives.
Just as an observational somewhat tongue in cheek aside, watching and listening to you- being a Northern man, I'm glad that late war was over long before either of us were born... ;)... Ronald Dunne..
Thanks for the great tips! You see the knife and think: oh, a great utility knife that doubles as a combat knife; what I see is a great combat knife that doubles as a utility knife. The backslash edge and the guard stay on. Great video! I have a “Camillus” made in NY.
Incredible video will watch this several times and mod my Kabars!!
That is exactly like the one I have. It was my dad's from Navy. He was UDT Korea war era. Knew to use analog watch that way, newinfo to use knife.Thanks for the video
I liked the OL guy comment, I'm right there with ya, yep the knife peep ain't gonna work in the swamps of fla either. I have the same knife had for 40 yrs an Never mod it, but I will now, thx for the vid.
Very Cool info! I was not a Marine I was in the Navy but I love knives and I thought I knew all the functions of the KaBar but I did not know about the Compass or the Sight! Cold Steel Leatherneck knife which is somewhat of a copy of the USMC KaBar but it has some of the Improvement that you suggest like the 90 degree spine of the blade, doing away with the Rat Tail Tang, Removing the Upswing on the tip of the blade and making it drop point, Thicker false edge toward the tip to protect the meat when skinning.
I have a Classic KaBar model Stamped USN, KaBar 2000 D2, Ontario KaBar Clone that I cannot remember which model it is and the Leatherneck as part of my knife collection. They are all GREAT Knives and the USN which was a gift from my friends from my last Command which had my Name Rate and years of Service Laser Engraved on the blade.
If thousands of marine's have used the knife successfully I'd call it a good knife and no modification needed .
But you wouldn't be using it for the same purpose as marines do.
nearly anything can be improved or adapted
I carried one in Iraq 03'. I lost mine due to the sheath snap as you mentioned. I have since then bought a couple. Dont want to modify them for camp use. However, the info here is interesting as I have never heard of the old military mods. Thanks for posting.
@Splatterviz You're welcome sir. No need to thank me though. I joined in August 01' at the age of 17 (had my mother sign) thinking I could get some college money while learning survival techniques and shooting awesome weapons (playing Rambo). Towers fell 1 month later while in basic training, went to Benning, shipped to Kuwait for 8 months, returned with a 30 day leave to see family,, shipped back to Kuwait, waited a some weeks on Bush, then rolled into Iraq March 03', returned January 04. Got back, did drugs, got in trouble and out I went. Joined with greed in mind, got out with a General under honorable conditions discharge. Not deserving of the thanks but I appreciate it none the less.
@@thomasclayon9143 "I got lost on the way to college, Sir/Sergeant"
Glad I ran across your show, good to see a fellow Alabamian. I am originally from Andalusia, in south central LA lo "lower Alabama". How about yourself. An thank you for sharing that on the K-bar great knife!
I just bought a Kabar at my local Cabela's and I love it. Great video and very cool tricks!! I will be watching it again so I can learn what you said. Thanks, and more Kabar vids would be appreciated too!!!
Blackie is a really knowledgeable guy , I really like his modifications also.
Thanks so much for sharing the navigation technique, I've mentally added it to the list. Really appreciate it! Peace.
very good , nice good horse sense and the guys that carried them in the field and in real action knew how to get the best out of them . Thanks for sharing
Great knifes for sure. I use to carry one until I baught the cold steel leatherneck. The copied the K bar. It's a k bar on steroids. I keep beside my ruger 357mag. I'd rather loose my pistol than my blade. Good video thanks for posting 🙏 ✝ 👪 🇺🇸 🔪 🔫 ✌👍
That is why I use the Ka-Bar 1277 Heavy Bowie. I've never owned a knife (other than my machete) that I can beat and beat and easily keep it razor sharp.
I have never heard of using the Ka-Bar as a compass and sighting tool. Thanks for the suggestions.
Tradition very important. Thank you for saying that. I am German and for us Tradition is so important. I know for many Countries it ìs important then who wants to loose the identity of you country. Good video about the Ka - Bar , German Bundeswehr doesn't has a good knife they can't make up there mind. 👍
I like the tips some of them might actually come in handy. The thing to remember though, is that the k KABAR knife isn't a woodsman knife or a skinning knife. It's a combat knife...a fighting knife.
Yep. I keep mine on my plate carrier. I have a bush craft knife for...... bush craft. Use each tool as it was intended to be used.
I've always wondered how celestial navigation worked, thanks for explaining how that is used and applied!
Thanks, I really enjoy your videos and especially enjoy hearing English spoken as it was ment to be.
lol..why thank you...safe journeys
I bought a new US Ontario MK2 back in the early 1990's and carried it for many years for hunting as well as cutting up sow belly for lard and sausage meat every December when we butchered hogs . It has split many a whitetail breast bone without any problems so the rat tail tang is fine as long as you don't expect it to be a prybar . I think the Kbar Tanto would be good for what you are describing .
As built, great fighting knife.
You really need to own, at very least, 3 ka-bars. Definitely going to mod one. Thanks, great info.
Nice video, I've ordered the new kabar 1266 modified tanto it has a 8 inch blade. I'm Very excited.
Blackie that is all good advice and I am looking forward to trying the navigation stuff out, good work.
I have used rubber o-rings on my leather handle finger grooves for better grip. they are cheap and no worries about slipping even with wet hands. keep up the good work.
best wishes.
Say Heah Blackie, It's OK if you ignore me, But something I learned from a friend at Blade Forum, He suggested to sharpen my Ka-Bar U.S.M.C. Knife from higher than the Fuller it changed the angle and it made my knife sharper than it ever was, A while back I teamed it with my military issue MK-1 and I don't understand why more don't use it as a Bushcraft knife. Infact I just added my Estwings Double Bit Hatchet and my Corona Folding Saw, and Blip, Blap, Blam I had myself a good Bush Craft Set.
I would love it if you would take a look at the Cold Steel Leatherneck SF knife. Full, wide tang, modern handle grip, straight tip for drilling. No sharp edge on top. I really like this knife! It's like a modernized Ka-Bar.
Hi! Thanks a lot for the compas tip. I never realized that. I do actually own an Ontario Ka-bar knife, and; now it comes to me; why it's called a utility knife!
Thanks a lot.
-Hans
Greatest knife ever. I buffed the varnish off of the handle, won't slip in your hand when wet.
Good modifications. What is the spelling of the line that you put in the loop? There are many times when it would be very good to be able to hang a knife within its sheath on a hook.
As for the rat tail design - I read comments by a former air force survival instructor who witnessed military Ontario 499 survival knives issued over and over again and used 1000s of times. The rat tail design did not fail in batoning.
I have a smaller companion skinning knife, also made by Ka-Bar, that I do not use for utility use. I also have a compass with a sighting tool on it, which only helps me when I reach a mountaintop up here in NH.
You do what you want with yours, but I'm keeping mine as is.
Thanks for the info though.
It is a great knife.
this was a better video than I thought it would be.
I used a K-Bar as a field knife for 30 years. I recently retired it and replaced it with a Puma White Hunter. I never once had a problem with the K-Bar, I can just afford a White Hunter now.
my ka bar served me well for many yrs
Nice video. That compass idea is great. I never thought of that. Thanks for sharing.
Fully agree with this video and advice. The compass thing is new to me but makes sense. I like to keep them as they are for my collection but I do have the Ontario SP1 I have used in the field for years and I did change the sharp swedge and tip point. Also lost the top part of the hand guard. I prefer the Ontario SP1 because it's thicker stock and more weather resistant, but of course you miss the pommel that acts like a field hammer.
But I would have no problem with the USMC Mark 2 as my only field knife. It's a classic.
Hey Blackie. Great video. Id like to see saw teeth on the spine fur cutting notches. It would still leave room for the 90° area for ferro rod use.
Yours looks just like mine but mine was made in Camulus NY. I got it at 14 yo at a Dallas Army Navy in 1974. We all had big knives in the Boy Scouts then. It really didn’t stand out much. I didn’t even know what it was until a Marine Corps sergeant fraternity brother at Texas A&M told me what it was.
I have the 1209, a viet nam era knife, bought it for $16 new in 1968 in Richmond Virginia. You can find them in good condition for between $250-300 now. So I think I’ll keep mine. I was 13 when I got it.
I still use my KA-BAR that I was issued in the MARINE CORPS n I am definitely gonna use a lot of these mods, especially the clock n sight picture mods. Filing down the tip, now that’s gonna take me some time to argue with myself about. Great video OOOORAHH!!!
Right on
Thanks buddy I love your channel, and I have to say I learn all kinds of good stuff
Have you ever contacted Ka-Bar and asked them to think about doing a special sportsman's modification line on this classic. It may be a seller. Thanks for the video
Thanks for this one Blackie! I really enjoyed it and got some good ideas from it. Myself, I`m not a fan of the round handle on most Ka-bars. So the first mod I do is filing or grinding a couple of flats on the sides of the handle.
I think Cold Steel took note of lots of suggestions. I just bought the Leatherneck SF. It has those flats on both sides of the handle, waterproof grip, straight tip, no edge on top, full (wide) tang, and a sheath that allows you to mount it upside down and no snap is needed. I'm not trying to be a a fanboy, but I love my new knife.
One of the criticisms of the KA-BAR (especially by foreign military) is the leather handle of the originals. They claimed when wet the leather either became loose or shrunk. It is why most foreign military knives either had metal or wood handles. Snow Seal or other preservatives might make the handle slick. Of course most of their knives were not also used as survival knives and mostly as offensive weapons with few exceptions. What are your thoughts? Just get a synthetic handled one? That would be some very close in drill work to place a hole in the guard but a great idea for sure.
a modern handle would be a big improve on it..back in the day leather was quick cheap and common for knives of the day..today we have better
If your looking at the sun rising that’s east just look east and you should be able to find the others
Fucking thank you!
but its inaccurate
Green Giant east is still east
@Green Giant the sun still rises in the east in china...
Problem is it only works on rising sun. The sun moves constantly, and if you dont have good bearings of directions at all times of day you just end up walking in circles most of the day. You can use the method he explained for estimation of direction, and also the time of day so that you can actually use the sun as navigation tool.
I love my Ka-bar, it's a dependable pice of kit used properly. i am not that worryed of getting lost in the woods, virtualy inpossible here in Holland:).
Nice tips, but my Dad's Ka-bar was my first sheath knife when I joined the Scouts in the 70s. I got it along with an old two blade pocket knife. I carried it in the first Gulf War as a fighting knife and I've left it that way.
Good vid. Thanks for sharing. BTW Neets Foot Oil will soften leather. Saddle soap will preserve without softening. Also I disagree and would say that it works fine as a chopper. It is long enough to cut saplings but not too heavy for keeping your pack weight down. Smaller knives don't have the heft to chop. Others are too heavy to carry.
Blackie, thanks for the tips! I don't have a Kabar, but I have an Ontario Pilots knife. I am going to make those same mods to it. Also, I'd like to mention the tip mod you spoke of would make the tip much stronger.
Good tips for using U.S. Combat Knife for bushcraft use. K-Bar is kind of a misnomer. Camillus made most of the issue knives mistakenly called K-Bars. They were actually a co-developer and the original contractor. The United Cutlery models were produced later and in lower numbers, but were generally considered more desirable. Lots of stories from guys who served in the South Pacific, ranging from the genuine “Ka-Bar” being easier to sharpen, to it just having a catchier name.
I have a Camillus New York and I love it
Thank you Blackie for sharing those very helpful tips. I really appreciate it. The very best to you.
🤗
Great video Blacky,great very informative.
I liked your mods. I'm a little queasy about filing down the point though.
It'll actually strengthen the tip, too.
Own 3 Kabars. First is regulation USMC issue. 2'nd is a cheap copy from China with a plastic sheath, and 3rd is a Short Model. I carry the Short Model everywhere as my shirt tail easily covers it. Great camper and hunting partner. Leather sheath has gotten oiled a bit. No rust for owning it for 30 years. Original is kept in OEM shipped box. Mint shape. The Cheapie Marine stamped Model is beat to death, but still sharpens, cuts a forest of trees, wire, opens crates, has like a kydex sheath. It came from a knife sale on TV, and thought the first use would kill it. Nope. China steel is tough. Going on 10 years now, and would buy another just to kill one. I dont cut car fenders, but yard use and chopper cant beat it. I bought an import jungle knife machete that rivals the cheapie knife. Glad i dont grind those up on blades. Use a stone and file and they are sharp. Good luck on yours. Good thread Blackie!