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.
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.
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!
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!
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 ....
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'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
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.
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 .
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.
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’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 :)
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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.
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
FINALLY a proper kabar review. Very annoying watching a kid baton a log with it and break it and say the knife is shit.
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.
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!
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!
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
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 ....
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.
The compass / navigation trick was interesting.
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
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.
Those are some great tips. I hadn't considered the navigational aids that were possible with that knife. Thank you.
Most instructive. I appreciate this video and I thank you.
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 .
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.
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’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 :)