Battle of the RECURVE BLADES. No Failures!

In this video I compare and test 3 popular recurve style knives.
Kabar Cutlass:www.amazon.com/KA-BAR-KA1248-...
Kershaw Camp 10:www.amazon.com/Kershaw-Camp-1...
Ontario SP53 Bolo:www.amazon.com/Ontario-Knife-...

[@fit4knives882]

Need to clarify some mistakes I noticed in this video about the weight of each blade and I forgot to mention what grind each knife has. Which can determine the performance of each blade. Kabar Cutlass = 1.12 lbs Hollow grind Kershaw Camp 10 = 1.14 lbs Saber grind Ontario SP 53 = 1.75 lbs Saber grind

[@AirstripBum]

SP-53 is a chopping beast! I take it on every outing. Thanks for a great video John.

[@ped832]

My go to, for sure.

[@cubancigarman2687]

Kershaw all the way and up to the camp 18. With the price of the camp 10 with the shock resistance you can add a morakniv with it as a combo or any camp hatch or 30$ axe. The kershaw camp 18 was $64 I paid at Amazon and the extra length was exceptional at de-limbing branches off pine trees. There’s one caveat with kershaw camp tools and that the edge should be inspected out of the box as with all cutting tools. As long as you have multiple tools your chances of field survival or camp tasks will be greatly increased. All 3 tools passed the heavy batonning test without breaking of the blades or severe blade deformation so it’s in your pockets which you will choose. The best knives are the ones that you have to use in any scenario, unless you’re a beaver that can chew on wood! Good day everyone, god bless those prepared, and stay safe!

[@fsdfmsbcxx]

I wish we had the US prices for the same stuff here in Germany :) Everything that is imported is SO expensive...

[@lckgilmo43]

I love my Keshaw Camp 10. I have it secured with 550 paracord to my bug out bag. 20 degree edge from middle to tip. 15 degree edge near guard for fine cutting. Hair popping sharp after honed on ceramic rod.

[@nobodyatall7039]

This is the most efficient chopping design you can possibly achieve while staying within the form factor of a knife. You have the highest possible point of balance without sacrificing point geometry, and pronounced belly curve to penetrate wood. So many popular survival knife manufacturers put no thought or effort into getting the weight distribution as high as possible and this has irritated and confused me for years, it's like they literally don't have a basic grasp of physics.

[@mistersmith3986]

That Bolo sure can split the Red Sea!!! Thanx for the video my Bladed Brother 👍 ⚔️ ✝️ 🇺🇲

[@cavittscustoms]

Ontario for me. 5160 is so tough and holds a crazy sharp edge. You can always thin the saber grind to your liking. I’m curious how the Kabar and Ontario with their chunky kraton rubber handles had so much shock over the Kershaw. My only guess would be the Kershaw had more of a stick tang internal of the mold.

[@jorgefernandez6407]

Tough call. Great review!

[@canderoussnurd4265]

I own the Kabar Cutless. She cuts through anything I put to her and she fits like a glove in my hand. I’d take her into Armageddon with me without a second thought. The Ontario version looks like a damn close second. I’ve always been a Bolo machete guy so these two appealed to me in that regard. A kukri blade is cool but I feel like the simpler the blade is the better it is for most people. One simple method of sharpening without having to change the angle of the stone too crazily cuts down on time and just makes sense to have in a blade in general. But that’s just me. I like the video and I like that you gave these three a fair exhibition of their strengths. No wasted time at all. Keep it up.

[@therichie9916]

I used the camp 10 for work and have absolute love for it. On thing I did do was change the edge geometry a bit though.

[@nobodyatall7039]

The Ontario Spec Plus series comes with a "courtesy grind" like a hatchet or a machete, and not really a true factory edge. Sharpening is skilled hand labor that is very expensive, so this is a critical cost saving measure that is passed on to the end user, and it's his responsibility to put a proper edge on the tool using a file, belt sander, etc before using it. That's how they give you great steel with a great heat treatment for a low price. That's why you were having trouble chopping with it, not because it is "thick". If you actually look at the edge, you will see that it is clearly unfinished, it's really quite obvious. It has frustrated me for years to see this series spoken ill of by KZbinrs who have no sharpening knowledge and have never used cutlery professionally and don't realize that serious working tools frequently don't come sharpened, just as rifles frequently don't come with optics.

[@WildBlueYonderDay]

I reprofiled my SP53 edge and it is now diabolically destructive.

[@razorrook218]

Camp series is my all time Fav

[@danhold1]

Great review, nicely done

[@BrewCityRider]

Another great versus John! OMG that Ontario looks to be head and shoulders above the others for batoning! Would have liked to see one or two more attempts just to make sure it didn't get an easier piece of wood. 51 bucks for the SP53 right now on MidwayUSA...CRAZY!

[@uncletomscabin2073]

That cat showed some faith in your knife throwing, didn't even flinch.🐱 What made the rattle sound in I think it was the Kabar when it bounced out or off the board.

[@fit4knives882]

She is used to all of the knife antics I do by now.😄 The tang inside the kraton handle seems to be what is rattling. There is no play in the handle but maybe there is a void in the mold that is vibrating. It is odd.

[@Backwoodsandblades]

I just liked watching you throw those big boys. I have all three, I use the Kershaw the most, find it the most versatile. Cheers.

[@fit4knives882]

😁 I will be honest that is one of my favorite tests to do. Is it practical? No. Is it fun? Oh yeah! Thanks for commenting.

[@adammcguinness9950]

Kershaw for me. I like my big knives but don’t have that one yet.

[@fit4knives882]

I think you will like it. Enjoy and thanks for commenting Adam.

[@hubertrobinson8825]

Ontario for me hands down

[@davidgiles9751]

I have the Kershaw and the Ontario. I prefer the Kershaw, but then again, I don't do much batoning with knives. I'm an axe/hatchet guy for that task. Having said that, I'm thinking I'll have to try out using the Ontario for that this summer.

[@lonewolf-gl6bc]

Nice vid!

[@LilKorea18]

Great video 👍 I only own the camp 10, never had experience with the other 2 but I know kabar is a solid blade in general. What do you think about the crkt kukri?

[@razorrook218]

I have the Ontario Bolo and I have never felt shock through the handle. And I batoned my way through about 20 logs

[@richardhenry1969]

I’m a big fan of the kabar cutless. I think I might have to get a sp53 . I personally like Ontario they give you your money’s worth. I don’t believe the cutless is a batoning knife I think of it has a chopper and clearing tool. The 53 I see more as a splitter or a hand ax. All 3 are great knives just useful for different tasks.

[@donavantew8278]

Awesome match up John, the cutless is epic 😎, Ontario is a wicked piece

[@fit4knives882]

Thank you brother. Enjoyed doing this video. Stay safe my friend.

[@donavantew8278]

@@fit4knives882 you as well my friend, always enjoy your video, very professional 👍 stay strong brother

[@marcink9073]

kershaw handle is awesome, very ergonomical.

[@cal1776]

IMO Ontario needs the edge thinned, my sp 49 did. The Kershaw is OK the Kabar is a safe bet. Kabar BK4 is my favorite do all blade

[@joevincer8337]

Just ordered a cutlass!

[@Hepta.Asteras]

Good comparison....Where to get the SP53???

[@stacywilliams1710]

Good Job

[@randybaker9265]

The Ontario probably needed to be sharpen some for some reason from factory they don't come very sharp but still love my Ontario's

[@brr8888]

I have the camp 10 and like it.

[@tomritter493]

I'd run with the Ontario good vrs vid john

[@hectorlopez7328]

Nice vs video, one sugestion could be getting the sharpness after use, edge retention says a lot about heat treatment,steel and grind, I have the sp53 now want the other two

[@fit4knives882]

Great point! I will do that on the next vs video.

[@loyalegroup3929]

Love me a deep/thick saber for batoning! For my uses, here with the HARD and TWISTED woods of South Texas (*Mesquite, Oak, Ligustrum, etc.), I think I'll just stick with my Ontario SP-53 outta' the three. Hell, when it comes to batoning, my TOPS 107E is a friggin' wood bomb, and would probably make all three look inferior.

[@fit4knives882]

Never tried out the Tops 107E but they do make some great blades. And the Ontario SP-53 is a solid choice for sure. Thanks for sharing

[@michaelmeyers4950]

Great video! I thing all of those knives are well made and serve their purpose but I wouldn't buy either one. The shock in the handles of the SP53 and the Cutlass dq it for me and the finger guard on the backside of the Camp10 dq it for me. But I was curious to hear your opinion on the handle of the Cutlass. That's what brought me here ;-)

[@carlrobinson8177]

Camp 10 , is the best purpose camp knife just like the name implies in my opinion, I have all 3. The Bolo is great with a different purpose than the other 2, cutting through the bushes the bolo is far better.

[@LegionTacticoolCutlery]

All three would be great for anyone to own!!!! Fantastic video just shared it!!!

[@fit4knives882]

Thank you for sharing. Means a lot brother.

[@fsdfmsbcxx]

Am I right that batoning with a Machete or Knife is quite "harmful" to the blade? They tend to break specifically on that test, but phisically I don't understand why. Maybe someone can explain it to me.

[@fredherring4403]

You don't know shock until you've repeatedly pulled the parking brake knob on an airbrake CMV in one day...

[@Adaptedcaptive]

I thought the sp53 was the heaviest from the sp line at 2 lbs

[@richardhenry1969]

I'm not sure how much benefit being a batoning beast is. I mean 35-40years in the woods. I don't believe I ever batoned anything. I see some use batoning for a small stove. The kabar cutless is a amazing knife I don't have any experience with the others but my favorite youtu.be guy says the sp53 is his favorite. I personally like the kershaw camp14.

[@brianf9619]

In freshly cut softer woods , that Ontario SP53 is a Absolutele Monster , but with any type of old hard wood , the knife sucks at chopping , it Is a Beast when it comes to any type of Batoning though ....My pick of the 3 blades is definitely the Kershaw Camp 10 , the down side of that thou is the Cheap Chinese steal (65MN) , I put a Big Crack in my Kershaw Camp 14 , that Camp 14 was the Best Chopper I ever Used , it was Unbelievable , it just buried itself into the wood , But it Cracked ...😪😫😭

[@fit4knives882]

Oh no! That sucks about the camp 14. I have yet to see a failure in the camp 10 and I have had it for years and now my son owns it and punishes it all the time. I think as a mass produced blade you get good ones and bad ones. Which sucks when you think about it. Just goes to show how companies feel about the consumer. At the end of the day its all about the money right. Thanks Brian

[@brianf9619]

@@fit4knives882 I think the problem with the Camp 14 is its a FFG and its really thin behind the edge , were as the Camp 10 is a Flat Saber Grind and it's thicker behind the edge , so it can take more heavy chopping and buttoning , I have a 10 its great ...👍🖖

[@fit4knives882]

@@brianf9619 Good points. I agree 100%.

[@oops2208]

Different wood makes for different results

[@llamawizard]

Why did Kershw d/c the Camp 14 and 18???

[@jvalentine8376]

And the winner is Ka-Bar !

[@randycisneros4111]

Nice informative and great camera recording your review. Two things I would do wear gloves to help protect your hands and I would show each sheath that comes with each knives, sometimes the sheath is a great selling point when carrying your in the outdoors. A wise man once told me you can never own to many knives a guns stay safe.

[@LegionTacticoolCutlery]

Its a right O paassage when you get bit bro!!! Right O Passage!!!!!

[@fit4knives882]

So I'm part of the club now?😁

[@patricegarnierlobo25111967]

AND WHEREIS THE OUTCAST BY KERSHAW

[@slowdancer5563]

Kershaw.

[@hughjorgan4952]

Hey man rake your yard.

[@nobodyatall7039]

Every single weight you listed was grossly incorrect. Maybe you should purchase a scale.