America's MOST Iconic Knife has Fallen... Ka-bar USMC...

[@n-signia1087]

First proper knife I ever bought (or rather I badgered my mom into buying me at 13) was a Cold Steel GI Tanto. Modified the guard and choil so I could fit two fingers into the space, and took off the back guard. Also stripped the coating. Still have it, still use it for the dirty tasks after hundreds of dollars of knives. You never forget your first.

[@pirig-gal]

Mine was a Mora Companion, when I was 13 as well. I still carry it in my backpack.

[@ForestG]

I have the cold steel GI Tanto too! Got it 10 years ago at 13yo as well. Still going strong after splitting my buddy's thumb clean in half! Nick-named it the thumb splitter.

[@bradfarrahgerwing154]

The gi tanto is a great budget knife to use or mod

[@ForestG]

@@bradfarrahgerwing154 agreed. Underrated af as far as buget knives go. Not the comfiest but it's a straight slab of steel. Always use mine for medium-thick splitting--nice alternative to a hatchet when weight counts.

[@brianfischer5609]

My first real knife I bought for myself was a buck 119 when I was 24. I don't really care for it, and I honestly forget that I even own it sometimes, until I see one in a KZbin video😂😂

[@andresgamba1478]

Got a Ka-Bar as a brand new marine infantryman, it was my first “nice” knife, I eventually gave it to my father as a gift and he treasures that thing, honestly I kind of miss it at times in my collection. Even though I now carry a bark river whenever I’m doing anything military related, the Ka-Bar USMC will always hold a special place in my heart.

[@SJ_Jordan]

What bark river model do you use? I’m curious as to which knife a marine infantryman would prefer

[@vagabond4576]

@@SJ_Jordan The elite Marine Force Recon chose the Bark River Bravo during trials.

[@andresgamba1478]

@@SJ_Jordan Bark River bravo-1, nice and thick so I know I’ll never break it (other than the tip but that was out of sheer stupidity and will be fixed), so I’m not afraid to be prying open crates and shit with it. It’s also small and light enough to fit in my pocket (just barely, i don’t like having my knife on my plate carrier or belt), 3V is good stuff, strops super easy to a good edge, and doesn’t rust like crazy if it’s pissing rain out in the field for days on end and I forget or am unable to oil it, and it won’t chip unless I smack it on rock or concrete at full force (which is how I lost the tip). Something about the convex grind makes that thick blade stock slicier than I feel it would otherwise be, it slices and even chops through wood real nice too which is appreciated when I’m building a little tarp shelter to keep my pack and sleeping bag dry. Also, that handle is probably the most comfortable handle I’ve ever had the pleasure of getting my hands on, it just fills my hand in a way that maybe only the BRK Bushcraft Scout has been able to replicate. Speaking of the handle, having a little swell near the blade is nice so that in the 0.00001% chance i end up having to use my knife for defense rather than utility, I don’t have to worry about my hand sliding onto the blade, honestly the only downside to the knife is that those beautiful polished micarta handles get very slippery when wet, which really isn’t a huge deal because there is something preventing your hand from sliding onto the blade but could pose a problem if you’re trying to chop something like a branch or sapling down in the rain. tl;dr it’s a fucking excellent knife that I’d trust my life to, would recommend, it’s also worthwhile getting a custom kydex sheath because most of Bark River’s leather sheaths kind of suck or aren’t really secure enough to be confident in

[@Mote.]

I was already impressed by Mikkie's carving skills. That baseball bat looks really cool

[@thealarmclock9307]

It's literally a shaved down stick

[@Mr_Santo5]

Just because the military uses something does not always mean it's great quality. Many times it's about who can meet the contract at the best possible budget.

[@mdeamicis]

Given that it was designed as part of the allied surge in WWII, at the dawn of the cheap crap mass production trend, it never had a chance to be a good knife. The really amazing thing, is how long a ride it had. Almost as bad as the 1911.

[@Danielson1818]

That's basically how everything works. I was in the construction/ laser scanning business for about 12 years. Our company was hired as independent contractors for Architects, Engineers, Surveyors, Government transportation agencies, and basically anyone that had to do with construction, both private and public. I did planning/CAD/3D modeling work all over the U.S. I say all that to tell you that I don't have a college degree. Never spent one day in a University (other than the ones I scanned, and helped plan). My company had so many high profile projects in my hands in my mid-20's, without any qualifications (bridges, subways, industrial buildings, public parks all mapped to my specs). So yes, the government gets the cheapest contractors to do everything possible. Anyone who claims to get the job done for X price. I don't think I was ever urine tested for government jobs either.

[@JackTorrance333]

@@Danielson1818 I too have worked many government projects. I can attest to every word you wrote. I’ll not bore everyone with a repeat. Cheers

[@mdeamicis]

@@Danielson1818 First job out of high school. Seahawk helicopter poertrain mechanic.

[@Danielson1818]

@@mdeamicis And it wasn't military?

[@mason3vze740]

I got a USMC kabar when I was like 11 and I have beat the absolute shit out of it and honestly only thing that I managed to break the guard on both sides but it still holds up amazing and holds a great edge

[@asherael]

i hear such mixed reviews it makes me wonder if the market's just flooded with fakes?

[@audreyazwell]

@@asherael I think that's what's happening. I've heard it's one of THE most counterfeited knives out there. I have one otw and was crazy about making sure it came from a reputable source. It's the only thing I can think of that explains why some have it snap from barely using it and others have stuck it into a tree and jumped on the handle without breakage. The dramatic difference in reviews is otherwise mind boggling lol

[@acid6urns]

@@audreyazwellit’s not fakes lmfao it’s literally just the design being weak as shit. it has a stick tang that’s stupid thin and has a 90 degree angle where the blade meets the tang. it will literally break from the slightest bends.

[@acid6urns]

1095 at 58 hrc does not hold an edge lol…

[@guycalgary7800]

I have a USMC kabar just to have it. The history behind it makes it a legend.

[@pennsyltuckyreb9800]

Had mine with me 2nd Marine Division 2005-2009. This knife will last a lifetime....as long as you treat it like a hard use knife, not a hard use AXE. 😉

[@sergeantdef.3572]

@@pennsyltuckyreb9800 True..mine is from 1985. Use at as a knife and it Will be your best friend.. And it can takes a beating. I never saw a ka bar broke in the way as in this video. Strange..

[@jamesalexander6417]

I've got a Ka-Bar. It's my go-to knife in environments that make steel rust quickly. I've never had to baby my Ka-Bar and I've never had an issue with it.

[@KABARKnives1898]

Though I am not crazy about your title I agree that you have pointed out many longstanding truths on the 1219C2 "K-Bar". We wouldn't recommend it for extreme use as you so eloquently demonstrated with the bat (very well done on making the bat). This knife was created to replace the dagger-style trench knives of WWI that were purely for fighting. It does a lot of things ok to good and that was the intended purpose - jack of all trades, master of none. You pointed out at the end of the video that many of the Becker Knives would be more suitable for such extreme usage and I couldn't agree more. One of the reasons 1095 was originally selected as the steel for this knife is that it bends before it breaks. To the military a slightly bent knife is still usable. This knife, at least from KA-BAR, hasn't been issued since the end of WWII. In fact, so many were made during WWII that surplus knives made in the 1940s were used in the Korean and Vietnam Wars as well.

[@tybriner3138]

Agreed, this video is not a true representation of KA-BAR. I own over 40 of them. My USMC would NEVER be used for the tests shown on this video. My BK-7 would be more suitable, or better luck hurting my BK-2. This video should be labeled as an advertisement for other knives. Every knife has it's purpose, these authors clearly do not understand the purpose of the USMC fighting knife, or the fact the United States Marine Corps is not the ARMY.... If you're going to take a baseball bat to a knife, try my KA-BAR BK-2 or BK-7. Much love KA-BAR, these authors are having fun and that's ok. But a legend is a legend, period.

[@eclipsez0r]

​@@tybriner3138 Don't take it so personally

[@daletan6177]

Why not update the design so that's it's stronger and in-line with similarly-priced modern competitors (e.g. Gerber Strongarm, Cold Steel SRK, etc)? the weak point is clearly where the blade passes through the cross-guard into the smaller rat tail tang, a similar design fault that I notice in other US military knives from that period -- Ontario's Air Force Survival Knife also snaps easily at the hilt for the same reason. I love the history behind your brand and how iconic a ka-bar is. However this issue has been keeping me from pulling the trigger and buying one since I started collecting knives a decade ago.

[@robrabil995]

I am no expert, but it seems like changing the 90 degree corners where the blade transitions to tang to rounded "corners" and making the tang a bit wider would give a noticeable increase in hard-use durability without affecting the iconic profile of the knife.

[@Fender1031]

I remember as a kid my uncle who was a USMC tanker in Vietnam telling me how much he hated the Kabar... he said "there are burn pits filled with diesel cans with kabar blades broken in them." He told me the tanker crews sought out pilots knives and bayonets because they pried way better and stabbed way better. Thr KABAR is not a great utility knife and its definitely not a knife designed for combat like any other dagger style MK2 type knives are. I get a lot of crap from veterans when I mention this but the reality is military issue is usually the cheapest contractor who was willing to fulfill to the lowest standard...

[@donjuanmckenzie4897]

British MOD survival knife is the opposite problem. Grossly overbuilt and you have to put on the secondary grind yourself. However with some tlc it is actually a very nice robust knife.

[@bmflmf]

Agreed, take a look at the Ontario pilot knife. That’s why we buy our own.

[@JerryLoffelbein]

"Military grade" is a fancy way of saying it's made by the cheapest contractor. They were designed for ease of manufacture, not to be amazing. I have my father's old one (made by Camillus) and I've jacked it up a bit over the years. Loose cross-guard & the blade's bent.

[@jjw5165]

The company that made the better ones became popular fast

[@asherael]

it's a balance. military grade to me usually also implies "durable but heavy" sort of a strong, cheap, light, pick two! scenario. not something i'd associate with fine-ness though

[@danielsaxon2206]

When I bought my Ka- Bar back in the day I thought it was the coolest thing ever. Even after I joined the Army I bought a mini Ka-Bar that went with me to any and every field problem. I love those knives, even with all the other options out there.

[@brianjohnson6053]

Just purchased a mini about a hour ago. Steel and leather awesome stuff

[@abstractapproach634]

I have an old mini (don't think the leather survived some war, as it was replaced with paracord) and a chinesium M7. I like them both but the KA-BAR ends up on my hip more.

[@FranktheTank319]

This was actually the first knife I ever bought. I don't use it, but it's so cool on a shelf.

[@Daniel.Liddicoat]

My first knife too. I don't use it either.

[@timb8970]

The Ka-bar was my first knife too! Got mine when I was around 10 years old. 39 years later my son has it.

[@MrJakedog104]

The Ka-Bar wasn't my first knife, but I did get one fairly early in my knife collecting hobby. I've batoned countless logs and sticks with it. The guard has bent and been bent back. The blade now has a slight downward cant relative to the handle. It's retired from use now, but I'd bet it could handle more use. Definitely a cool knife, although outdated and not tough enough for survival/bushcraft.

[@wargriffin5]

"The blade is at a slight downward cant relative to the handle." - Introducing the Ka-Bar Combat Kukri. 🤣

[@gratonuemetrix6702]

Glad I bought a Glock FM-81 as my utility knife for camping now. People have proven it can take a beating and still keep kicking.

[@factshistory3193]

Even I bought Glock FM78 as my first fixed blade knife.

[@ThomasFMoser]

Hey guys, thanks so much! There's so much folk out there, whose first "knife" was the KaBar - so did I more than 40 yrs ago. Still own it, it has seen lots of can openings, batoning and camp weekends and still is a nice knife. But since I came over the "British M.O.D. jungle knife" - it went into retirement... and I do agree: there's better knives out there. The M.O.D. jungle knife is a beast...

[@dombridges01]

yes they should definitely try the MOD survival knife!!

[@legendarysupersaiyanlegend7828]

This title is misleading, "Buck" is by far the most iconic American knife. Its so well known almost every north American knows buck is the most American knife , never met one person with this one, Buck is a good knife too.

[@scoobydoodoo7562]

They clearly forgot about Buck, not just for Americans but all north Americans , this knife is cool but if we talk about America's knife its Buck

[@StevanOutdoor]

The M.O.D. knife is a beast indeed but has a different purpose all together. It is for survival indeed but not for combat.

[@QueenLiliTheRed]

@@StevanOutdoor they should have used Buck instead

[@rpc717]

I got a Space Bar as a collector's item. There's no way I'd ever consider using it as a knife, but I love it.

[@adamjames1375]

Dude, I'm American and I didn't know we had a Space Force until I saw the cool blue Kabar.

[@jbbolts]

@@adamjames1375 you don't lol... all smoke and mirrors....

[@fv7594]

@@adamjames1375 its designed for killing aliens

[@PTSDexplosion]

@@jbbolts they need taxes for the millenniun falcon and space fleet building plan, trust the government

[@ordinarynonplayercharacter2142]

It was designed as a consumable product during wartime shortages for hand to hand combat - it was never intended to be a survival or bushcraft knife. It was not designed for prying, batoning, hammering, nor cutting anything except flesh and soft bones. Not saying it can’t do all of that, it can - just don’t be surprised when it fails.

[@MozambiqueEnjoyer6097]

Yep, Fighting Knife is literally in the name. If you want to chop wood use a fucking axe. I don't know when people started believing you can use a knife as a claw hammer/do everything tool. If that was the case everyone would've stopped using every other tool already. It's not a lightsaber either.

[@bilbobaggins6513]

Buck knives are super American

[@deej9367]

Lots of american soldier's starting in ww2 ditched the kbar and carried german hunting knives and Randell made knives.

[@rickjohnson4009]

I'm glad you're showing just how bad the Ka-Bar is. Retired 1stsgt U.S.M.C 30 years. I have broken well over a dozen of them. Most of us in the military carry blades we purchased. Thanks guys for another great video. Keep up the good work.

[@bena3341]

Yea for sure. Bought a Gerber Strongarm ages ago because I wanted an upgrade and didn't have a lot of cash at the time. Thought I would use it for while and then get something nicer. Years later the Strongarm has taken a beating and looks basically new.

[@larrymc4373]

You got that right 1Sgt. The Ka-Bar and M7 bayonet were issued and I had to carry them on me but I also carried a Buck 110 folder in a nylon pouch. I used that whenever I actually needed a knife for something. Semper Fi.

[@rickjohnson4009]

@@bena3341 you know how it goes. The always take the cheapest bid and produce junk. Then say here ya go guy's!now go defend your country ! Can't count how much gear I bought out of my own pockets.

[@fraserihle4847]

I'd blame the user not the tool

[@dannyguijt8571]

I'm not surprised the knife bended, same thing happened to my ka-bar (some 20 years ago). In my opinion it is just a weapon, not a tool at all!

[@craigrj232323]

As a kid, I wanted a K-Bar. Joined the Army instead of the Marines, got a Benchmade Nimravus tanto and never looked back. Got a Benchmade Autostryker my first deployment fresh out of boot camp and that knife will retire with me next year. Still have both knives, abused both, they lasted. Glad you guys put this video out because I was beginning to look at finally getting a K-Bar. Now I definitely will not be getting one.

[@abstractapproach634]

I hope you have sone cool guns if your dropping that much on your knife!

[@csarebel8657]

You guys should do this with the OKC bayonet… M9 I believe… I would be very interested to see how it holds up, considering it’s intended purpose is to be mounted on a bayonet lug and used in a combat scenario.

[@brianjohnson6053]

Its a piss poor bayonet, to wide for effective penetration and the saw back hangs up on withdrawal. Old triangle is the best.

[@legendarysupersaiyanlegend7828]

Not trying to ruin the party but every north American is aware Buck is the most iconic American knife and universal

[@erichklett4847]

Yep, and it’s not even close. Not to mention, most areas of the military don’t issue knives. Servicemen buy their own for the most part.

[@knine8154]

Yet they suck

[@eraldo1938]

At least for us non Americans...the ka bar is what we've seen in movies so ...

[@donjuanmckenzie4897]

Yup buck 110 is all over media when you start looking

[@DDDYLN]

Comparing a 1095 Cro-Van steel knife to a Buck 420HC is apples to oranges. That said, I agree Ka-Bar quality isn't very good anymore. I tried to offload mine, because my Cold Steel Recon Tanto is far better. No one would offer anything close to what I bought it for. All that said, it's not a "rat tang". It's a full length stick tang that's pinned at the pommel. Ka-Bar's mistake was making the stick tang too thin. The Ontario version was a thicker stick tang, and the Cold Steel Leathernecks have stick tangs that are twice as wide and thicker. All that said, Nutnfancy did pull-ups with the current Ka-Bar, and the stick tang held up just fine. Ka-Bars aren't really combat knives. They're mult purpose knives. They're meant for survival, fighting, and opening cans.

[@johnbarron4843]

It’s true power only activates if you’re a action movie star ⭐️

[@MrReconmanone]

Used my Ka-Bar in many combat deployments. I don't think it was ever necessary to hit it with a baseball bat. It served me through 23 years in the military and for the past 10 years. As I said in another of your reviews it is a combat knife, not an expensive survival knfe..

[@brianjohnson6053]

Most of these clowns would be better off with a eastwing hatchet. Proper tool for what the want to use a knife for. As i said proper tool for the job

[@stepbro4978]

It does basic knife functions.I hate having a round handle tho.

[@dyduz7040]

​@@rickyspanish1173 because this knife is engineerd to cut flesh not wood and you have to do it fast. Less weight faster moves. Which point you do not understand?

[@charlesr718]

​@dyduz it's funny how they are confusing a fighting/utility knife for a survival knife. It says right on the care instructions "NOT TO BE USED FOR BATONING"

[@Sturmischer]

@@rickyspanish1173 the Mk 2 Fighting Utility knife replaced knives which had full metal hilts/handles before, and was designed with leather washers instead of those to both increase grip and reduce cost. If you want a KA-BAR with a full tang, KA-BAR has a couple options that are not the Mk 2

[@AB-qc6pf]

you could do a comparison between the Ka-bar and a German army knife such as the Km 2000 etc. It would be interesting to see the differences as one is basically a 100 year old design and the other quite modern, but yet quite cheap.

[@reikyfoxxe1847]

Glock knife too

[@sweetdrahthaar7951]

And throw in the Glock knife just for the heck of it.👍🏻

[@scoobydoodoo7562]

Buck is the most American knife

[@nirfz]

The Ka-Bar i can get for around 100€ while the KM2000 costs around 160€ so how is the KM2000 cheap? The Glock FM78 counts as cheap in my book for a little over 30€ it's at least quite sturdy and stabby enough for the intention it was made.

[@huejanus5505]

@@scoobydoodoo7562 Kabar started making knives in 1898 and buck in 1902. So it has more history in the US.

[@blbmonster64pfc]

When I deployed to Iraq well over a decade ago, I had a Gerber LMF on my vest and a Gerber 06 Auto (I think that’s what it was called) in my pocket. I never had the chance to carry the Kabar but my faith in the Gerber knives is unrivaled. You guys are absolutely right… I needed to feel like what I had with me would hold up to anything that may come my way. I’m grateful I never had to consider using my knife for anything but opening MRE’s but if I had to, I would have trusted them. I put those knives through hell and back. I’ve pried doors open with that Gerber and no issues. Edge retention was shit and I didn’t know shit about knives then but even now, I would feel safe with those knives. If I were to deploy tomorrow, Fallkniven S1X hands down. That and a Worksharp field sharpener. Great video guys. If anything, it shows what happens when you buy for aesthetics instead of putting in the research and money.

[@Cutecumball]

get yourself a trc millie cuori. That thing will never breaks.

[@kevinAuman1]

If I was to deploy again I'd personally take my Bark river bravo tope recon in 3v and I do agree a worksharp field sharpener I have one sitting next to me now and I've sharpened everything on this thing from maxamet to S110V and even magnacut it surprisingly is able to get hair whittling edges if you truly put in the time and just using what is on the tool no other strops or anything!

[@bena3341]

Yea never been a fan of the Kabar. My Gerber Strongarm has taken an absolute beating for years and it's pretty much indestructible.

[@howardvarley8795]

@@Cutecumball that thing is never available to buy!

[@Cutecumball]

@@howardvarley8795 you just have to be lucky lol

[@jhtsurvival]

I had a ka bar I used for everything for a while. Carried it fishing used it to cut and clean my fish every time. I know it's not the best but I loved it

[@Ajaxykins]

Never forget the USMC are a great fighting force not because they have the best gear, but because they make the best of what they get. They are a value force, that is massively effective even when given their small budget. The KA-BAR is revered nowadays not because it is good, but because it's a symbol of the deeds that have been done with it and what it's capable of when its use is maximized. That said, have some sense and don't buy USMC gear for personal use lol

[@samnottheotherone4363]

The Marines do not have a small budget

[@The_PotionSeller]

@@samnottheotherone4363 compared to the army? Yeah they do, they get hand me down equipment too. They are the younger sibling that has to wear their big bros clothes and occasionally get bought a new pair of shoes

[@samnottheotherone4363]

@@The_PotionSeller you're comparing them to the most highly funded fighting force in the world. The Marines alone have more funding than the entirety of almost any other nation's entire defense budget. Only like 7 countries spend more.

[@The_PotionSeller]

@@samnottheotherone4363 well yeah, America spends a retard amount of money on the defense budget. It only makes sense to compare inside the country, I'm not gonna compare the US marine budget to the British navy, or the Serbian military. Im gonna compare them across equivalents

[@samnottheotherone4363]

@@The_PotionSeller out of the more than 150 militaries in the world the Marines are in the top 10 most well funded, every military has a small budget compared to the US army

[@jenningsrozzell7557]

My 2nd tour in Korea, somehow I impressed the armorer (HHC 1/31[M]) and he gave me an issued Ka-Bar that had been left behind by the previous owner. Carried it for the remainder of my career, use today when camping. Best free knife I ever recieved.

[@candou4857]

I cannot believe that the kabar is so fragile. Thanks for the video.

[@TheOfficialDB72]

It's not.

[@brianjohnson6053]

You beat on something with a hammer long enough it will break. Its a knife not a club or a hatchet

[@acid6urns]

@@TheOfficialDB72it most certainly is. it literally bends from the slightest sideways pressure.

[@acid6urns]

@@brianjohnson6053plenty of knives that can handle what this knife took and not break.

[@danjohnson1809]

Glad to see you boys having fun. Makes me smile. We all have fun replaying our youth.

[@Mr-James2023]

This is one of my favorite channels to watch on KZbin. I bought my first bark River knife because of DBK. Great video guys! Keep up the good work.

[@Dougfrilled]

Idk, When I’m researching a knife, I try to ask “Does it do what it’s *supposed* to do within reason?” Just my opinion.

[@matthewdancik5515]

I completely agree with your thoughts on this knife. It's allure for me is it's storied past with many documentaries publishing it's fame, but the one thing that has kept me from adding it to my cart is its weak point, where the blade meets the rat-tail tang at the guard/handle. It has always appeared to me that that area is lacking and you guys just confirmed that and regardless of whether you Babe Ruth-ed it across the forest with a baseball bat or not it still shouldn't snap like that. While I may never actually add one of these knives to my collection, I will tell you what I just did add to it.... my 5th Bark River knife. lol

[@1mataleo1]

What model Bark River did you just buy? Just curious

[@matthewdancik5515]

@@1mataleo1 The 1909 Michigan Bowie w/ stacked leather handle... and that sucker is SHARP! ( in looks and blade edge 😎)

[@abstractapproach634]

Personally, I don't think they are worth the asking price. I get all my knives used. I love my short KA-BAR (got it from a buddy who got it from an army buddy, guessing it saw Vietnam or a hard job in the middle east because the leather was replaced with paracord, I love that little thing) But my chinesium M7 bayonet works quite well too. The point on KA-BAR is stronger but you can't beat the control the M7 gives you. I used to be very hard on knives and saw no correlation between price and durability (was using folders back then, and some generic "USA" brand made in china went through sod, cleaned up saw cuts in wood and concrete board siding, ect. where many more expensive ones failed me. With fixed blades it's easier to judge quality (like the 90° cut to the tang you mention in the KA-BAR is clearly a weak point.) however I would still never put alot if money into a blade again. It's just so hit and miss I feel like once you get a good one that works for you, go with it.

[@anthonyschutz7201]

"it would not survive because it has a rat tang" Morakniv companion: *death stare*

[@VeganHippy70]

Ka-Bar is a fighting knife and it is the contemporary popular name for the combat knife first adopted by the United States Marine Corps in November 1942 as the 1219C2 combat knife (later designated the USMC Mark 2 combat knife or Knife, Fighting Utility), and subsequently adopted by the United States Navy as the U.S. Navy utility knife, Mark 2.

[@daysofnoah1748]

Designed in the late 1930's with parts available at that time. It was designed to be easily mass produced for a very affordable price to provide emergency service to millions of soldiers in WWII. Produced by many companies, it has served well all over the planet. It was my first fixed blade knife back in the 60's. It is not the greatest knife in the world, but is easy to sharpen, and it certainly helped to free the Netherlands from the Nazis !

[@abstractapproach634]

And it opens up cans. Probably the most common use of knives in the great Wars and why the boys hated the brass knuckle stilleto before it.

[@stephenmackey4571]

It’s a fighting knife not a throwing knife, not a axe, not a survival knife, just simply a fighting knife.

[@landanmorgan1563]

While I was with the 82nd Airborne I mastered throwing my K-Bar...The K-Bar is sometimes difficult to pull out of a rib cage. To get around that rounding off the tip edge a little works wonders..Lol..

[@Darkice77]

I was in the Marines and have used and broke several Kbar knives. They look really cool. But if you try to use the bottom to hammer something, it will break right off.

[@johnbarron4843]

Best Knife channel!

[@woodworkerroyer8497]

6:45 is EXACTLY what happened to my first Kabar. Bought it, sharpened it, carried it "camping" but never got to really use it for anything but whittling. Got it home and sliced ONE water bottle and the blade snapped just like that when it hit the wooden workbench under the bottle. I wasn't even swinging that hard! Happily Cabelas was great and replaced it. They said that was almost unheard of. The new one I have now I've batonned and it's fine other than the coating has come off, but that's normal

[@Montblanc1986]

I have managed to break a KA-BAR Extreme D2 fighting knife with a serrated blade. It broke right at the high point on a serration. I still have a older KA-BAR with a phosphate coated blade, mint condition leather handle that isn't the modern rounded kind, it has a better shape like a Randall model 1 handle. I am using my 1990s Camillus branded kabar and that thing is a tank, the Camillus handles are big and round, with a lacquer coat. It actually makes shavings like a mora and batons like a beast its crazy how good the old 1095 Crovan is. EDIT: you broke that one easy, I do not think the modern ones are at the same level as the old ones.

[@Ajaxykins]

The best ones were never the ones made by KABAR. If you look at the good fighting knives out of Vietnam or WW2 era (such as the USMC fighting knife or pilots survival knife), they were ground with a better edge, had a better shaped handle, and made by Camillius, Case, or Ontario.

[@thymii]

D2 isn't very tough. It's meant for above average edge retention and wear resistance for a cheaper price. A knife designed for fighting just isn't gonna be that heavy duty.

[@ajherring92]

I recently replaced my Ka-bar that I had for two deployments in the Marines and then lost. It was great for the stuff an infantryman uses a knife for from opening stuff, digging holes, cutting 550 cord and occasionally I made tent stakes for a poncho shelter, but I can think of two or three better knives I own. I've used it to skin animals and stuff too but my Ka-bar will always hold a special place in my heart.

[@johnmutton799]

The knife was not originally designed as a combat knife, it was a utility design. that's why the guard faces backwards into the hand. Now their combat versions have straight guards, like their new tanto design. They are made just for utility. No one says how many of thes knives did break in combat. The second knife you hit, you hit the blade!

[@brianjohnson6053]

Blade length is perfect for a shoulder to heart hit

[@natwolf687]

​@@brianjohnson6053Astonishing!

[@bmflmf]

Bought the Kabar fighting knife over 5 years ago only because of the history. Decided to use it a few years ago around the camp fire. Batonned a SMALL piece of wood 🪵 The blade snapped off from the handle very easily.

[@bmflmf]

Great to open cans of food and maybe making feather sticks.

[@brianjohnson6053]

Buy a hatchet

[@justing1810]

Our fathers and grandfathers taught us to use the right tool for the job. I think if you just use it as a knife it will probably perform just fine. A shovel is for digging holes a hatchet is for splitting logs, a pry bar is for leverage etc. A combat utility knife is good for combat and basic utility knife functions.

[@DutchBushcraftKnives]

True but that said! A car is for driving yet sometimes it crashes, slips or things happen you don't intend to. It's nice to know if your car is safe in those situations. For me this is why we do these tests with the knives. You'd use it 90% of the time for knife tasks but what if the need arises to use it otherwise? Can it do it or not. This knife can't survive things a lot of knives in its price range can while still functioning as a knife the same or better. This is our point of view on this. So you're completely right you should use the right tool for the right job when you can

[@brianjohnson6053]

@@DutchBushcraftKnives so be prepared buy a hatchet. Have one in my pickup just in case

[@jspaceemperor420]

Thanks for the heads up, The Ka-Bar USMC is off my wish list now

[@JT-cloverbottomt]

Gentlemen, Three things: 1) The USMC isn’t the Army! USMC means Marines. Army personnel are “soldiers”. Second, we always carried two blades. Semper Fi! Third, The USMC is the least well funded of all American Military branches. We get paid the worst, treated the worst, and have the worst gear supplied to us.

[@acid6urns]

the marines getting the worst gear is literally the corps own fault. they refuse to change for shit.

[@ChungisD]

I bought my first and only Kabar at Camp Eggers in Kabul. Carried it all over CENTCOM but barely used it. Got it home, used it in the woods a little bit, and quickly turned it into a boomerang. I'd never buy another. My survival knife is now a Brit MOD and my pig sticker is a Kizlyar Phoenix. I'd love to see these Dutch boys test those knives out.

[@magnus6091]

I've got a beautiful linder Bowie knife, which could be cool to see tested by these lads. It's only 440C but the heat treat is great and it's a thick old slab of steel, so i feel it could stand up to martins ways haha.

[@fathersonsurvival]

So glad you guys did this. Cause yeah I was so sad when you didn’t do any tip test and there are so many videos of ppl abusing these.

[@QueenLiliTheRed]

Buck knives are the most iconic American knife , especially the 119 and 121

[@francissobotka8725]

120 is more iconic

[@Leddy2013]

I'd like to see them test out Buck's new pro series

[@tordenvaer480]

Agreed i own a buck 119 special and it's a amazing knife

[@ericsierra-franco7802]

Buck knives suck today!

[@legendarysupersaiyanlegend7828]

Exactly

[@stevepuckey9034]

Mickey's laugh and Martin's "Hello?" was worth the price of admission

[@IanTheScott]

Mors Kochanski once told me that he tried out a couple of ka-bars, since people always raved about them. With his typical bushcraft tasks, they both broke where the blade met the handle.

[@thymii]

That's a rat tail -tang for you.

[@pennsyltuckyreb9800]

I love Mors and all but he was inconsistent in his knife choices and advise. He advised in his book to carry a knife, preferably full tang, that you could jam into the side of a tree and stand on with your full weight. Yet, the guy carried Moras most of the time which are stick tangs as well and nowhere near as tough as a Kabar USMC. You are NOT going to break a Kabar with "typical bushcraft tasks". If you think what you watched above is typical bushcraft tasks for a knife then you got warped by these yahoo $300+ knife peddlers. I carry my pack axe with me along with whatever belt knife I have.

[@pennsyltuckyreb9800]

@@thymii Tons of "rat-tail" tangs out there that have been going strong for centuries. Also, the Kabar doesn't have a "rat-tail" tang. It's a full length stick tang that is pinned at the bottom in the pommel.

[@thymii]

@@pennsyltuckyreb9800 I suppose leukus have been through a lot of hard use without them failing like this ka-bar did, yeah. They traditionally have quite a narrow tang inside the handle too.

[@pennsyltuckyreb9800]

@@thymii It just comes down to the KZbin knife generation today expect their knives to be axes....without being axes.

[@rodrigo73094]

Hey guys, I'm pretty new to your channel but I love the videos y'all post and it has made me rethink how I look at knives. I've been in the army for 7 years now the Ka-bar usmc and ka-bar short were my first knives and I quickly realized that I needed something else. I carry an Esee izula 2 as my edc, an Esee 4 as my field knife and a benchmade leuku (because of y'all) as my all rounder now. I know y'all aren't big fans of Esee knives but if y'all could whisper in their ears to breath into existence an Esee knife in CPM-3V that would be awesome. I feel like 3V would just work better with their style.

[@randlemcmurphy3293]

How dare you slaughter my sacred cows!?!?!?

[@wearandtear6692]

I love my Gerber Strongarm which is as "just OK"-knife but a very good prybar ;-)

[@bena3341]

Yea my Strongarm is my cheapest fixed blade. But it's also the one I would grab first if shtf. It might not be the best but it will never let you down.

[@wearandtear6692]

@@bena3341 Yes! I have done so much with mine it just feels like a natural extension of my hand. Even the Gerber Prodigy and LMF 2 are not the same despite very similar overall shape and performance. If I really need to do a finer job there is still a folder or multitool around ;-)

[@wearandtear6692]

@Douglas Pantera they are so light and compact you may carry 3x at the same time ;-)

[@margaretadler6162]

I always thought the K-bar was an overrated knife and I would never depend on it in a survival situation! And yes I've owned a couple of them and gave them away for that reason!

[@brianjohnson6053]

And you live in survival situations daily lol. My eastwing hatchet will out perform all you Gucci blades

[@eatsleepplayrepeat]

My favorite version of the KaBar is the short version. It still got plenty of room for a big hand. The blade is nice and practical since the rat tang is strong enough for anything a 5" blade is expected to do.

[@jonslife3533]

The marine corps in Vietnam actually greatly preferred the western W49 or the case 1836 bowies, but the W49 has long been out of production and the case 1836 is now only in stainless and more wall hanger status to me

[@joshuakeltz7025]

It's a piece of history, but times have changed. Great video!

[@NinjaHikage]

I know a bat is much larger and gets more leverage in the swing than a baton would, but you didnt even hit it hard, alot of batoning tasks would require harder hits, so that was really quite terrible of the knife to break from that. Thats why full tangs are much better knives i guess :))

[@MrZombiecorpse]

ka bar is full tang though...

[@NinjaHikage]

@@MrZombiecorpse Nah brother, thats a stick tang or "through" tang.

[@MrZombiecorpse]

@@NinjaHikage ...A full tang extends the full length of the grip-portion of a handle, versus a partial tang which does not. A full tang may or may not be as wide as the handle itself, but will still run the full length of the handle..." I always still considered it a full tang, but stick tang is a more accurate description i suppose.

[@thechugdude]

Y'all should do a Combat/Survival knife tournament. USMC Ka-Bar vs Tops US Combat knife vs Medford USMC Fighter vs Extrema Ratio Desert Warfare vs etc etc... Just to see who makes it through your tests the farthest and best.

[@pain4332]

The most American knife is buck, they've been around for a long time...

[@CertifiedSunset]

It's a good knife for what is was created to do, but otherwise it falls short in many categories. For $80 is a cool collectors piece that you can still use, but maybe not as hard as many modern designs that have improved on the issues that knives like this had. It's a combat knife first and foremost, and when it comes to killing people in combat, it's a solid option for the time period is was mainly used in.

[@scoobydoodoo7562]

You guys know Buck is basically the most American knife there is right not this one ?

[@maydaverave]

Buck kinda sucks these days. I got my dad a buck pro skinner in s35vn because he likes buck but build quality is bad and it feels like crap. That is their flagship line and it not impressive at all.

[@Juiceboxdan72]

I recently was gifted the "USSF (US Space Force)" version. I had a laugh thinking about how much it would cost to get the thing into orbit. It's a fun knife - I would absolutely trust it as a fighting knife or for light use, but it's just too weak for hard bushcraft/survival stuff (or spacecraft tasks?). I was planning on buying a second knife to test myself, but you guys have done my work for me :)

[@bryanmarsh9886]

I'd only give the Kabar a 4 out of 10. I had one, and a pilot survival knife, and gave them away. They don't cut worth a damn, they are weak at the handle, the guards are stupid. Maybe it's a good fighting knife, but I will never do that. At the current price of a Kabar, there are literally hundreds of knives I'd rather have. My grandfather carried a Marbles knife in WW2.

[@DamionJR4923]

The pilot survival knife really sucks

[@darylshaw2879]

Personally I would go with the gerber strongarm or cold steel SRK and the Ka-bar as a sticker

[@rmpj13]

Bravo guys!!!!!! Thank you for SHOWING us the real limitations of an iconic combat knife. Keep up the good work, you’re nailing it. Your talent will be getting you many, many more subs. You certainly deserve it.

[@1858remmie]

Real limitations? How many infantry men stabbed their knife into wood and tried to hit a home run with it with a fucking baseball bat? Answer: 0 Clowns from the word go.

[@rmpj13]

@@1858remmie , yup, they don’t take themselves too seriously and use humor in their videos. They test the shit out of the knives and tools on their videos. They have plenty of subs and many more coming. Piss off!!!

[@brianjohnson6053]

You know in Vietnam they broke open steel bands on supplies with a m16 barrel and wondered why they wouldn't shoot straight. Use the right tool for the job

[@auditorskiller6383]

Ka Bar short is nice self defence knife, but is absolutely useless for bushcraft or survival. I was actually suprised that it handeled even a little bit of batoning.

[@benewgillian6823]

Lots of snobbery when it comes to knives these days .. The Ka-Bar is a wonderful knife who saved the lives of more than one soldier in Vietnam , WW2 ....plenty of stories out there .. Just don't use it as a pry bar or as an axe , it's not meant for that , and it will last you a lifetime ...

[@johnnyeas1431]

The ka-bar is a great knife & company. The "blessed DBK boys" are not ment to be taken seriously. Just look at the way they act. The only reason they have fans is because there are lots of like minded clowns out there just like them.

[@MozambiqueEnjoyer6097]

@@johnnyeas1431 Amen. The Ka-Bar had one purpose and it was to be sticking out of someone else's chest. Every story I've heard from old salty Marines is that they had complete confidence in that knife in CQB.

[@andrewmcgibbon9785]

I'm surprised it broke so easily. Ontario is the most recent military contractor for this knife. I wonder if their knife would fair any better.

[@Mike-ul1xn]

Kabar is a case of successful marketing. They got one of their knives shipped with every wooden crate of ammo and rifles to be used as an opening tool. That's how it got into the hands of Marines and became ubiquitous.

[@blueeyeswhitedragon9839]

Whenever l take a young family member camping, Spam is a required part of at least one meal, thinly sliced and roasted over a fire, it makes a great bacon substitute for breakfast. Everything tastes better when camping, and introducing my family and friends to the wonders of Spam is a very special part of the camp experience.

[@gnomersy1087]

I dunno if I'd say the knife has fallen exactly. When you use the knife to do all the ordinary stuff you'd do with a knife and when you use the knife to fight with the knife will hold up it's a tool designed for the job it's meant to do. In the past when firearms were less consistent the knife might be pressed into service as a weapon but also might do some light utility stuff. But I agree it's really not the knife to choose for someone who is doing bushcraft or "survival" stuff. Nowadays the chances of you using a knife in a fight are really low and the chance that you might use one to dig a hole or break/hammer something or make a fire are much higher.

[@kayman1049]

For simple knife tasks the grinding angle is too low. I have to regrind it so it can actually cut

[@Rooster-fo7lg]

No words, just tears…,

[@mikeogden5256]

Well I’m not buying one of those

[@pounceonyou1958]

Great channel, thanks, been wanting a fixed blade that's not in production yet, but with a little help from the knife community, we could get it into production, the knife is the Bark River Bravo 1 Hunter LT in Magnacut blade steel, they have made this previously in 3V. With enough requests sent in they will put this knife in Magnacut blade steel into production, do request it for Pre-Order so we get options on handle material and color, pins and liners, this knife is arguably one of the BEST bushcraft-survival-hunting knives money can buy. Thanks.

[@ericsierra-franco7802]

Totally overrated blade living on its legacy from WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Decent for its era but today there are far superior combat utility blades in production....even superior versions of the Kabar such as the TOPS American Combat Knife.

[@ogearbox6132]

As a former Marine I’m going to go there. The US Marine Ka-bar knife was made to quickly and effortlessly cut through combatants flesh. Which it has done for many decades. There were many Marines who made good use of it at Khe Sanh in ‘68 when ammo ran out, it’s good enough for me. I still own one for self defense and need no other.

[@cfltitan]

The problem is you guys test it for stuff it was never meant to do. That wasn’t a bushcraft or survival knife. It was and is a fighting knife. That knife was made for personal protection and to kill. That’s it. Yeah it’ll do other knife things but that’s not what it was made for. Your test is the equivalent of testing a Ferrari for daily life chores and then bitching because it’s loud, uncomfortable and can’t haul a week’s worth of groceries. You guys are so far off into bushcraft that you forget not all knives are bushcraft knives.

[@jps4737]

Yes but it also shows the cheap knives as opposed to a better knife. Not a problem to me

[@cthulawha]

dont forget the fact a k bar cost the military like 4$ in the Nam era so its a great knife for a fiver lol heavens sake they are still like 20$ and if all you do with it is stab people or cut throats or paracord its a great knife lol. Also GIs are issued folding shovels for the other tasks all the clowns use their combat knives for

[@donjuanmckenzie4897]

It would be more like if the ferrari BROKE on the way to the store

[@matthewvelo]

Gerber Strongarm is probably a better choice, but who doesn't love a Ka-Bar?

[@TheMikeMcCaffrey]

“Well maybe you shouldn’t be such a goddamn pussy” is such an accurate depiction of Americans. I know because I am one lol. I love the Kabar exposure. It’s a classic knife but it’s too engrained into people’s “idea” of a knife for people to move from the design

[@timothynaquin8899]

The Kabar is a fighting knife. Not a bushcraft knife

[@kevinAuman1]

Okay fellas, you know that I love you two crazy bastards and all that you do for the knife community but I am actually from Olean NY born and raised (yes it says OLEAN NY on the side of your KABAR) and the thing that you need to understand is that this knife was not designed as a survival or a fighting knife at all... What they did was they saw a need for the military to have knives and this was during a time of war when materials were hard to get so folks tended to appreciate what rhey did have a bit more and they would use it to the best of its abilities and not try to break the damn thing! Also the design was originally a hunting knife and Kabar just slightly modified it so that th3 soldiers could use them and they could be made fast and cheap with little materials and the knife is still made today because it is iconic and many people have memories of their grandfather or father having one so they want one themselves but if you were to take a modern designed kabar like the BK2 and do whatever the hell you want to it you are not going to be able to break it and some people do prefer a high carbon steel that is easy to sharpen because if you're out in the wilderness and your 3v knife goes completely dull then what are you going to do? Nothing, but with a properly heat treated 1095 blade you could sharpen it on a rock or simply strop it on your pants and get it to cut again... So before you go and bash a knife please know the full history and facts behind it, I mean how do you think anything was made in during the world wars, it was completely different than where we are today... Now if you want to buy knives and break them just for fun hell have at it but try and break a BK2 and see how far you get....

[@DutchBushcraftKnives]

Great comment man and absolutely no hate for the usmc of course. It is a legend but is does not stand the test of time (even though it still looks great). Of course if you look after the knife it serves you well! We have made a video about it earlier where we showed that. Thanks for the history info!! The knife is a legend, but we stand by the fact that there are better knives for the price which just have a better design! Cheers man!

[@cobyhowarth4290]

Also they have done vids on the Becker bk2 as they love it.

[@BushidoDevilDog]

“...the thing you need to understand is that this knife was not designed as a survival or a fighting knife at all..” Although the basic specifications were inspired by existing blades, such as the Western States L77 and prior-issued Mark 1, it was quite literally designed from the outset as a dual purpose knife, which is why its official description in the USMC supply system was “Knife, Fighting Utility”. Sources: My time in the USMC looking up the NSN’s, official designations, and cost of various weapons in the SASSY microfiche files, and knife-depot . com/pages/all-about-ka-bar-knives “USMC Colonel John M. Davis and Major Howard E. America 🇺🇸 worked with Union Cutlery Company to design a knife that could fill the [combat utility knife] void left by the lack of an officially issued knife.”

[@bena3341]

You bring up some interesting points but that doesn't excuse the absolutely garbage heat treat the steel has. There are plenty of knives with similar steels and tangs that would never bend or break like that.

[@That_dude_who_knows_some_stuff]

Real Marines know Ontario is the the company infantry rifleman carry. Kabar is just for wall hangers and shadowboxes. Ontario is the real DOD contract blade

[@jnzupka]

I respectfully disagree that it’s a bad knife. When you’re not trying to beat the shit out of it with a baseball bat Finding FatWood is like finding gold Poor Maarten in this one Honestly you guys are better at food prepping with a Ka Bar than me, I never had good luck doing that Plus it is really just A modified hunting knife design So really it’s not a fighting knife. I would call it a generalist

[@DutchBushcraftKnives]

Yea man i get you. Maybe the classic “jack of all trades, master at none” But yea its just a cool knife. It can do basic knife jobs and keep up but i would not like to depend my life on this one! Cheers mate! Have a good day!

[@jnzupka]

@@DutchBushcraftKnives I understand that you wouldn’t want to depend your life on it. Like I mentioned it’s not a survival knife

[@jnzupka]

If I was forced to give it a label? I’d say maybe Camp Knife

[@bena3341]

@@jnzupka A military knife should be a survival knife. Most other military knives are designed as such.

[@jnzupka]

@@bena3341 again it’s a modified hunting knife design. If I had to put it in a specific category. Camp Knife

[@sherlockbatmanholmes892]

Another iconic American knife design that I think would be interesting to test would be the buck 119 and 120

[@ETAisNOW]

Literally what I was looking for

[@brianjohnson6053]

119 needs sharpened on a bench grinder. Ive set for hours with all kinds of stones and magic sharpeners butter knife at best without grinders

[@beentheredonethat5908]

I know many people will disagree, but a tacticak knife should be a survival knife, it should be able to do bushcraft and be tough as nails. A soldier is more likely to need to survive in the wilderness for a few days then have a knufe fight lol.

[@k.b.8912]

I broke a Kabar in the same place. It did hold up alright considering it’s width and the amount of wood I batoned while camping .. but I actually bent the handle in the direction of the blade and when I attempted to straighten it out it immediately snapped. I think if it had a full tang it would be tougher 🤷‍♂️

[@duybear4023]

That was also an icon and grail knife for me as a kid. I know better now but it will always have fond memories.

[@jeroenkerstens4139]

Ka-bar saves lives. Best knive ever...met je China meuk

[@1mataleo1]

If you want a military version of the jaakaripuukko, get the JP Peltonen M95 Sissipuukko. Great knife, amazing sheath, and only around $78.00

[@sergeantdef.3572]

A friend of mine has one..he said the same as you. I must be a very good knife.

[@StevanOutdoor]

Model USN MK2 was a US military design contract knife for combat/utility and they needed a lot of them in a short time and of course cheap. Camillus, Ontario, Ka-Bar, Western etc. made these knives and I have several of them in my collection. I like them because of their history but never even thought about bringing them for survival or military use. They were also famous for snapping of the tip when prying open (ammo) crates. So I knew they would bend and break but how easy they do in this video even surprised me. If you like this style of knife but actually want to use it have a look at the Ontario SP1. It's 1 mm thicker (1095) steel and has a comfortable rubber handle. I tested one in Sweden and it did hold up and is a pretty good knife for this style.

[@Richard-nb4iv]

Years ago when my older brother (who was in the army) was getting ready for deployment and had all his kit laid out all over the TV room. I plopped my ass down on then couch, heard a snap and it was his K-bar. I could believe how easily it broke. His was pissed, but deployed. I was safe for the time being.

[@o0FranklySpeaking0o]

*increase the tang thickness/ width and to compensate make the grip thinner..... NOW a winner