Hard Testing the Classic KaBar Knife // Can the Handle Take It?
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- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
- In this video, I want to do a reasonably hard test for the classic Kabar Knife. It has a lot of fans and a lot of critics. I want to see how well it holds up under a beating. #kabarknife #kabar #knifetest
I'm a Vietnam Vet and had one issued to me in 1965. I still have it and it go's on camping trips with me. I like it as a general purpose knife plus it holds an edge really well , nice and sharp. The old adage , A dull knife will cut you but a sharp one won't , in that case I'm really safe with it. I consider it an old friend and they are always nice to have along.
Thanks for sharing and thank you for your service!
Hello from Oklahoma! My uncle is a Vietnam Vet. When I was a young man, I'm 65 now. Every time we went fishing, hunting, or camping my uncle was wearing his Kabar. We spent alot of time outside together. He said it was part of him since his time in the military. I always envied that knife. He did so much with it. I carried an Imperial clip point, kind of a mini-Kabar. Thanks for the post and jarring my old memory bank!
Another fantastic no-nonse video. I have 2 Kabars. The one my Uncle Bert, RIP, carried in Nam and the one given to me by Marines I trained with. My Uncle's is a beat up MK2, non-coated blade. Still holding up. It goes camping with me and has never failed me. Yes, God Bless America. Thank You as always for Your realistic videos. We love them!
Awesome! Thank you
I got stuck in my car up in the mountains and had to cut a small tree down,(6-7"). All I had was my Kbar, bought when in the military, worked very well. Unded up giving it to my dad for his birthday with a new sheath.
I've only seen maybe 8 or 10 of your vids but they never go on for too long a time. You are always on point. It's a real pleasure to sit in with you for 5 mins or so at a time. Everything we need and nothin' we don't. I hope your channel grows and grows. You provide info, and to we slightly older folks, you continue to remind us it ain't over. Cheers.
Edit: Oh, and the second reason for my comment is that I have always considered the KA BAR classic a must-have knife. It is an ICON of the U.S Marine Corp and the U.S. Army. I have one and I even have it's little Navy brother. Since those were acquired years ago I have discovered the Beckers and own the BK-9 Combat Bowie, the BK 16, the BK 19 Nessmuk and the Necker BK 11 in addition to some Horsewright custom blades. Cheers.
Great to know the old Kabar holds up well to being thrown, that is a decent test for any knife.
I love the kabar
When I joined the miltiary I was given a Kabar by my father. Had no idea how handy it would be or how much I'd come to rely on it. I've opened C-rats with it (did I just date myself??). Probed with it (if you know, you know). I did all the chopping, cutting, splitting of firewood with it. Whittled with it. Made traps with it. I honestly can't think of anything "fieldcrafty" that I didn't do with it. Then I got stupid and loaned it to a "friend".
I like mine, mostly for tinder processing these days, I used to throw it and it worked out good. I just broke a Cold Steel Kukri plus in 52100 during a extreme 2 month long baton splitting firewood test. I'm rewelding it this week. Some models will break more easily, but they are still good knives if you can stay within the working limit. Thanks for your excellent instruction 💯👍
I bought the Camillus model back in 82. Still going strong and the handle is just as tight as the day I got it.
Been using my KBar since the 80’s. This is a great knife, also have 40’s 50’s issue KBar knifes, they are a gem
As a Marine Corps veteran, I LOVE the Ka-Bar. I've never seen a Ka-Bar fail in real life but, here on themtube I've seen several break off at the handle during heavy batoning, including the Spartan Blades (exact replica) made from magnacut steel. This is due to a design flaw necessitated by the stacked leather disk pommel. A full tang handle would fix this flaw but then it would require a alternate pommel from the original stacked leather disk method.
Overall, the Ka-Bar is a very good looking (IMO) classic that will probably serve you a lifetime as long as you don't go batoning hardwoods with it. Carry a hatchet or camp axe for wood splitting duties if you're just camping out with the family. If you're an operator on actual missions where weight & carrying capacity matter, you may wish to carry a much more expensive & versatile blade.
Great review! Carried one in the Marines for 20 years.
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They are still popular around here for any jobs in the woods. At one time our choices were limited. Now we live a paradice of knife designs. The KaBar still does a lot of the real work !
Man I love kabars, as a guy in the woods all the time it's my most frequent fixed blade belt knife by far.
I carry a stacked leather us space force model smkw sold for fifty bucks a few years back.
Last year I broke down and got the cool blue / gray one lol one of my favorites!
I love the big brother too. First kabar was marine corps for father's day 2014. It's special and stays mint.
The kabars are LIGHT for their size. They're versatile. Strong. Not the best choppers they are slicers and fighters but can be pressed into almost any role while riding light on my belt.
They've always held up for me and this video lines up with my real world experiences.
Juat something about a kabar...
I got a stacked leather big bro for 112 bucks from smoky mountain.
Real tempted by tobars kabars blacked out big bro for 99...talk me down...lol
Nice one..
Great video as always! Much love and respect
Much appreciated!
Those young Soldiers in WW2 staked their lives on these blades....and they all attest to the quality
💯👍👍
Not Just Soldiers,,,,,,,
Marines Too !!
Semper Fi
They didnt have a choice .....both of my grandpas fought there. The government refused to issue one of them the right sized boots...he had to seek out and procure his own boots otherwise he'd have fought for years in boots 2 sizes too small.
I say that to say, that govt issue isnt necessarily always high quality, but lowest bidder that makes something good enough.
Use what they give you and break it and they might give you another
Good content, thank you.
The only complaint I have for the KaBar, is that the handle isn’t even with the blade…..drives my OCD crazy 😂 Seriously though, great real review!
I appreciate these tests. I did not know how vulnerable the SRK was until your review. I am impressed by the Kabar. Bravo.
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Good Job & Excellent that you mentioned the coating staying in tact. that is something that is missed, I actually recently made a whole Video about coatings on blades, it's very important...well done...for the record big fan of KaBar here
Great video brother 👍 👌 👏
Thanks my friend!
Thanks, LLC. I can personally attest to the sharpness of the edge in the bow of the blade in my original KBar. Being young and stupid at the time I accidentally cut 1/3 of the way through my index finger, part way through the bone. I got feeling back in the tip some twenty years later. I used my Camilus KBar to butcher game. Cheers 🍻
Nice! I love Ka-Bar / 1219C2 but I still was surprised at how well it did. I carried one for years in the Army but honestly I never used it for anything I couldn’t have done with a pocketknife. I didn’t know anything about bushcraft back then, and they didn’t let us have fires anyway. I never had to stab anyone.
Great review. Treat it like a knife and it won’t let you down. I would take mine anywhere.
Kabar is good enough for me through the tests you just put it through awesome brother. 😄👍
Thank you!
GREAT REVIEW AS ALWAYS!!! Thanks my brother Virginian!😊
My pleasure!! Thank you bro!
Great vid Sir. Good to keep it real and put a practical spin on the blade 🇺🇸 🇳🇿
Thanks my friend!
One of the best-looking knives ever made even the sheath is awesome.
Man I’ve always loved the Kabar. Great video as always brother
Thank you!
Thanks Daniel for the review. I did break a Kabar USMC, but only after I threw it probably several thousand times. Also broke several other knives including a Cold Steel Bushman, and a Case Bowie. Eventually they all will break if thrown enough... still sick about breaking the Case.
Excellent review. I was really impressed with the chopping capabilities. It’s really not that big of a blade for that. mediocre but darn it went through it quick. Mines about 48 years old and keep it in with one of my rifle bags
👍🏻👍🏻
I had the Camilus from 1979.......gave it to my friend 2 years ago. Camilus got a cut and slash tip on the blade so a bit different.....
40 years ago, fixed blade fighting knives had substantially fewer offerings in the market place. At that time, I put aside a few classics in the event that shtf and I needed a couple of fighting knives for a group situation.
There are so many variations on the original KaBar that your head could spin. Different materials/blade lengths/metal/handles/sheathes. Unless you are going to be a Marine in combat, may be you choose a 5 1/4 inch blade, or a tanto blade, or decide that you want a plain blade instead of a combo blade. Do you want "the best"? Then maybe the Spartan-KaBar collaboration.
I own one , i consider it primarily a self defense knife that can double for survival if need be . All and all a hatchet is better than a knife anyhow out in the woods . Great to see it passed the test though . Now if I could just get better at sharpening knives in general mine might be able to actually cut something!
Hello! I would say you threw that knife through a thorough battery of tests! I would never imagine smacking a tree down with my knife and yet afterwards it's still ready to rock, AND look great? That's a knife!
Thanks to this review (and Tomar's unfortunate closing,) I just bought this knife!
Thank you! Keep on being your bad self! Lol
Thank you my friend!
Excellent 💀
I have a MK1 USN as EDC. I love it and trust it with my life!
After watching this functioning test review I am more confident about my KaBar knife.
I loved the "6 Million Dollar Man" fast chop!! That is dang impressive!😂
😂😂😂
I've had mine 22 years. Handle's a bit curved from wearing it overseas. The guard loosened a bit, a little judicious tapping tightened it back p so it no longer rattles. My youngest has expressed an interest in following my footsteps into the corps. I promised her if she earns her EGA, then it's hers. I bought a replacement at an estate sale just in case. I mean, it's not like I don't want to have a kabar handy.
I got my Kabar in '89. carried it overseas and everywhere else since. Last year I was dinkin around in the woods and threw it at a tree and it hit just "wrong" and now she has a little rattle to the guard.. But it would still go anywhere do anything this old Marine would need.
Dan being a lover of kabars thanks you and chiorboyz cutlery gave them a great respect thanks
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I remember I stuck a knife in a stump and broke the tip when I was about 7. My dad saw and yelled at me to never use a knife like that. It has always stuck with me, and since then, I've never done that again or even had a reason where I needed to use a knife that way. I'm 44 now and not saying that I'll never need to prie with a knife, but only if I had no other option. So I find that personally one of the least important type tests.
Yeah I would be chopping with it,maybe batoning. I'm a big fan of the tanto style blades. I'll have to check them out. I would love to be able to throw like you.
I just bought a brand new one, made in '99, by Case. Its for to collect tho. My first was a plain Kabar made in Olean, NY. it was like $89 bucks back in 1989.
The marines in the South Pacific have told me all I need to know about this KaBar, I love mine.
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Hi Daniel, thanks for the excellent test! Please wear safety glasses when you do chopping tests! I agree with you regarding the SRK and so Idecide to buy the Apo 1S from Survival Lilly, which is an improved version of the SRK, with a much better ergonomic handle, hand finished!Made of AUS8 , like the original SRK, has enough elasticity not to break easily, can be sharpened with a flat stone, and it survived long enough in the strength tests of Joe X, try it!
Thank you!
My man!!
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Excellent!! ■ M
I like them. I wish they would improve the sheath. Maybe make something between the leather and FRN sheath 🤔 a kydex sheath possibly with less snaps and locks.
Thanks.
Marine Corps Combat/Utility Knife. A lot of us in the Army swore by them, too.
growing up in the 80's the Kbar was given magickal excalibur level powers. Like pounding it into a tree and standing on it without it bending. Like that.
I love mine a lot
WW2 K-Bar knives. In 1946 I was 9 years old. My friends and I would buy K-Bar knifes from WW2 for $1.50 and throw at huge elm tree in my front yard. One day my buddies and I were practicing and just as I throw my knife my buddy reached out to get his knife out of the tree. My knife hit him in the left wrist hitting the artery in his left wrist. Blood came squirting out and he grabbed his wrist with his other hand. He ran home and his mom rushed him to the hospital. I was terrified I killed him but he recovered with no problem . We are both still alive and he still has the scar on his wrist. We laugh about it now but it wasn't funny back then. My next encounter with K-Bar knifes was in the US Navy, We had unit of Navy Seals (UDT AT THE TIME) on board and they carried Navy issue K-Bar knifes. I managed to acquire one and brought it home with me. It was one of my most cherished items from my Navy days. Many years later some bastard or bastards broke into my office one night and stole it.
🍀⚡Hey Daniel⚡🍀
Great presentation as always, Sir🍀
Terrific Expertise🍀Fascinating Information
🍀Greetings from Siôn in North Wales UK🍀
🍀 🍀
🍀
Thank you! Cheers!
USMC Kabar is my favorite knife. And its not even close.
It holds up alright
I cut a piece of plywood wall out
And replaced the wall
But then I started throwing it and and general work
The blade bends
But it don't break
I want the D2 extreme full tang I have no doubt that I'll be pleased
Nice one Daniel, I've thought about getting one for a while, this might have persuaded me to buy 👍.
All best,
AL.
That edge retention looked pretty damn nice after all that chopping. Are you sure you didn’t sharpen it at least once… lol just kiddin, maybe 🤔
I dropped my Gerber StrongArm from about waist height on a wood grain Tile floor and man did it chew up that curved edge.
God bless.
You as well! I sure didn’t🙂👍. It has one heck of an edge.
I love the Hinderer KA-BAR.
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1940 technology but it is still relevant,i was issued one in 1965 USMC, still have and use it.
I Love The K Bar Good knife
Great common sense video Brother, well done
Much appreciated!
It's a GO TO WAR KNIFE. Good video.
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I wonder if the steel composition has changed over the years.
cool
I like the ka bar classic but yet to own one. I don’t like rat tail tangs even though I’ll never baton wood as I have silky saws for that. Every knife has its place and purpose and this blade is no different
I am a bigger fan of the older Camillus branded kabars. Steel seemed much heavier. The 'ka bar' branded kabars are the newer versions.
Who would ever criticize a K-Bar; only a person who doesn't know anything about Knives.🗡⚔
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Dad carried one 67-71
Lil brother 03-08
I left one in Africa and one in Azerbaijan because they're heavy and I had a 2.5" Opinel
I like the Kabar but I had to bend the upper quillon forward. I guess if I’m ever in a sword fight with it I’ll be regretting that decision. ( :
My go to for if the SHTF. I like a "contract model". Mine stays stored, reserved for special duty. It's not for Bushcraft.
Good enough for US Marines to do their job in WW2 Pacific island war and beyond, good enough for me.
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my a-team brother would have had one in is first few visits in vietnam, laos
Is it true that it is the military's favorite?
It is 👍
Yesh the Ka-Bar handle is fine. Historically speaking 99% of swords etc all had iron tangs scarf welded to a steel blade. I am a blade maker who specializes in historical reproductions & I have studied the real deal for a couple decades. Including handling the real swords, sabers, daggers & knives that defended this country, won its independence, etc.
Ka-bar is the best for me.
I've split 6 foot logs right down the middle with this knife, it's near indestructible except if used as a pry-bar.....
The KaBar would not have survived this many years if it were a bad design, poorly constructed knife. I really like the knife especially with the leather stack handle. Presently they are running about $130.00 in my area which is a little steep for what it is.
Geez, I feel bad for your hand!
🤡- "I had me one o' them K-Bars, once. But, when I used it as a jack stand for my pickup truck, the blade snapped! That knife is junk!"
😒- They never quit, Daniel.
So true haha
Question, do you sharpen your knives? Ive been trying to figure out how to effectively belt sharpen an american style tanto without ruining the secondary point or the yakote, i think its called?
I typically use a wet stone for hard sharpening and I just do equal swipes on both sides making sure that I’m laying the blade at the right angle. For day-to-day use I just use a leather belt to strop it.
How did you know I was looking up information on Ka-bar last night? And I tried to find out how much damage can a Ka-bar inflict on a human body, but the search results were minimal. And for educational purposes, can you please share with me this information if you know anything about it.? Thank you.
Thank you.
If this was meant to be sarcastic….
*whisper.. “ I actually believe you” 🧐 🕵️♂️
@ No sarcasm. I’m a true crime investigator, and I wanted to know how much blood and carnage would a KaBar produce on a human body.
Ok but can you bend it … ???
Oh yeah if you got absolutely crazy with it I’m sure it would be a little bit. I have found that if we really want to intentionally destroy something we can for sure.
I've seen seen broken Kabar knock offs destroyed in far less then you did to the real Kabar notice I said knock offs
It is up to the owner to prevent rust on a KA-Bar. That's just high carbon steel, no stainless. anything from light machine oil to beeswax on the blade and sheath. Sheath? yes, leather can get damp and rust the blade. And leather deserves treatment.
All knives have their strengths and weaknesses. The SRK may have a weak handle. But it can be easily fixed by glueing/epoxying it to the tang. The leather handle of the Ka Bar is not very tolerable to moisture, and when damaged due to exposure in the field, it’s very hard to repair. So saying that the leather washer handle of ka bar is superior is objectively incorrect.
P.S. Someone here supports same censorship policies as UA-cam itself, deleting comments that do not agree with the video, despite the comments being respectful and constructive. It is rather disappointing that there are people in self defense/ survival community that have such a hard time taking criticism that they forget what America stands for, and embrace socialist policies.
P.P.S. Feel free to ban me, I have no interest commenting/supporting a channel, knowing that anything besides “you are awesome” and “ka bar rocks” is going to be deleted. Why bother typing?
When somebody trolls me with the same garbage on every video and every knife review. I don’t have no time for that. I don’t know if you were referring to what I was talking about regarding the guy who trolled my every video and every knife review with the same statement. But his was not constructive. Again, I don’t know if you were referring to me or not. I’m not like a lot of other UA-camrs. I interact with my audience and I’m not going to allow foolishness on my channel no more than I would allow it in my own home or circle before I eventually part ways, but that doesn’t have anything to do with free speech in my opinion. Free speech never means freedom from consequence.
@@411Outdoors I thought you deleted my previous comment, that was about leather handle susceptibility to water. If you did not, and it just somehow did not get posted, I do apologize. In case you did delete it, I did not mean to troll you in any way, I just wanted to bring up an important aspect of choosing which handle is better. Sorry if I touched some sensitive topic that might have already been beaten to death.
@@drklop oh no my friend I didn’t delete your comment there. Sometimes people’s comments don’t show up and I will get asked a lot about the deleting of comments and I typically don’t do that unless it’s a definitive troller. That somebody I consider to just be consistently malicious in the comments without any productive conversation but no, I didn’t delete that comment.
@@411Outdoors In this case, I'm sorry for bringing up the drama. It was a long comment too, with three paragraphs. Oh well...
@ I wish I knew what happened. I have seen where comments get deleted. Some of my own replies have been deleted.
It’s a really terrible knife.
I love it
I like your channel because you're testing the product fairly. Joe X is a horses patoot.
You🫵🏻 ALWAYS give honest ,fair, unbiased reviews. Thank you for that!👍🏻🇺🇸
Thank you!
Expected of a KBAR. Well done! Of course Cold Steel now uses different handle and sheath materials than they did on my older model knives... SRK, TM, RS and GK, so I'm not going to argue with you. The new sheathes SUCK and dull the blades and the handle attachment is weaker than it was in 1987 to 2000. Thats how old mine are and after beating the crap out of the SRK and TM for decades I finally sent the TM back to CS for a handle replacement because I literally wore the checkering off the surface. They evidently used a very hard Vulcanized tire type rubber back then, and the SRK was accepted for USN Seals BUDS training. The knives I wish to God I had bought BITD were the Ontario SP53 and some of its breathren. I have a stainless KBAR 2000, and I'm gonna get another one.
K bar is junk
I loved the "6 Million Dollar Man" fast chop!! That is dang impressive!😂