Picking Ka-Bar Knives

There are many different Ka-bar knives to choose from. However, choosing a knife is not hard, though, if you know what you're looking at. When preparing to buy a knife, the first question to ask yourself is: what you are going to use it for?

• Is this going to be a blade you'll use to cut open packages, to cut through string or rope, and other normal daily uses such as these?
  
• Are you going to use your knife for basic survival or in a situation involving the armed forces? A high grade knife might be in order, as it could save your life in certain situations such as these!
  
• Will the knife you purchase be used for cutting your catch after fishing or hunting? Some knives are made specifically for this usage.
  
• Is your application more related to basic outdoor activities such as camping, mountain climbing, hiking, etc?
  

Be sure you know the primary use and your choice becomes much easier!

A primary feature that you should think about is whether you need a fixed-blade or whether a folding knife would suit your purpose.

• A fixed-blade can be very reliable and can be used immediately. There is no folding mechanism to break or malfunction, but they are not as compact.
  
• Folding knives have a blade that locks in place, are typically safer and easier to carry, and can offer better dependability. Some are simple enough to open with one hand using a blade-hole, thumb-stud or other similar feature.
  

TDI Law Enforcement Knife In extreme close quarters encounters where a suspect is attempting to take an officer's handgun, or an officer cannot access his handgun, the TDI knife is available as a "last option" knife. When worn on the pant belt the entire unit - knife and sheath - is well concealed. Designed by John Benner, founder and owner of Tactical Defense Institute.

The Ka-bar Short Black 5 inch Fighting Knife is the smaller version of the highly popular 7 inch Ka-bar Fighting knife - the one used by many of our men and women in uniform. The 5 inch Black Fighting Knife features a 5.25 in. serrated or plain edge high carbon steel blade. The tough oval shaped handle gives you a comfortable no-slip grip.

Ka-bar Black Fighting Knife Pros:

• Balance: The balance point on the knife is almost exactly where your index finger is when you grip the knife.
  
• Handle: The rubber handle also offers an excellent grip and overall this knife feels great.
  
• Penetration: The blade is quite thick and strong; the point design offers excellent penetration.
  
• Serrated: I have the partially serrated version of the Short Black Fighting Knife, which I would recommend. The serrated section of the blade is very useful for cutting rope, etc.
  
• Sheath: The leather sheath was super tight at first, but over time it stretches and it fits great now.

Ka-bar Black Fighting Knife Cons:

• Corrosion resistance: Since the knife is made of 1095 steel, a high carbon steel that is not stainless, don't use this knife where corrosion would be a problem (i.e. around saltwater.).
  
• Sharpness: Due to the thickness and angle of the blade, you'll find the Ka-bar Short Black Fighting Knife lacking if you use it for tasks that require a super sharp blade - things like cutting paper, slicing food, etc.

Conclusion: Great knife, especially to fighting, survival, many outdoors tasks, and heavy duty tasks that require strength and penetration.

Look at the materials out of which the handle is manufactured. You want a good strong grip no matter what your application will be. Comfort could be a factor, so look for a knife that fits the size and shape of your hands and will not be a strain or cause cramping after any potentially long periods of use.

You might also consider if its handle is weather-proof or not. This could be an issue if your application will take place primarily outdoors.

Finally, you will want to be sure that the handle is appealing aesthetically. If this will be your primary knife, this becomes an even more crucial factor to consider as you'll be looking at this knife a lot (and perhaps showing it off to friends or colleagues).

The USMC Fighting & Utility Knife (7")is the most famous fixed blade knife in the World - "the KA-BAR" - was designed to serve our troops during World War II and is still doing its job, with many flying colors, more than 50 years later.

Ka-Bar... The name says it all. It is the standard to which all others must live. I really like this knife. It has a 7" blade which makes it nice and long.

This is one of the true classic military survival knives. The Original USMC Fighting / Utility Knife is still a favorite of the U.S. Marine Corps. Any of the Ka-Bar knives would make an excellent addition to your emergency survival gear.

You will look like a seasoned veteran at the camp site with this knife. Sometimes, size is ALL that matters. This blade is made in the U.S.A. and the leather sheath is made in Mexico.

Don't forge to consider is what type of warranty is offered. Depending on the dollar investment made, you may want to be sure the manufacturer will back up their product should it ever stop working at peak performance or in the manner in which is intended and/or promised.

Ka-bar knives have a Limited Lifetime Warranty so If at any time your knife fails to perform due to manufacturer's defect, they will replace the product with the same model or the most similar model to it from the urrent product line.

US Army Fighting Knife 7 in. Buff polished blade with an black Epoxy powder coated high carbon steel, made of 1095 steel Oval handles constructed of compacted leather disks, smoothed and polished. 11.88 in. Overall length. Comes with brown leather US Army sheath.

As with any legend, there are many versions of the legend. While we truly don't know how the Ka-bar knife got it's name, the officially accepted story points to a letter sent by a a fur trapper to Union Cutlery, the maker of the knife, back in the 1920s. This particular fur trapper's testimonial turned out to be the most significant ever received by the company.

This trapper wrote, using his limited English, that his gun had jammed and that he had to rely on his knife to kill a wounded bear that was attacking him. In thanking the company for their quality product the trapper described using his knife to kill the bear. But all that was legible of his scrawled writing was "k a bar". The story is that the company was so honored by this testimonial that they adopted this phrase and used it as their trademark, Ka-bar.

Tall tale or true story? We'll never know for sure. But what is certain is that the Ka-bar has been a reliable knife for almost a century.

In many industries buying directly from the manufacturer can provide you with a great deal. However, Ka-Bar only sells to consumers at full, suggested retail prices. This ensures that they do not compete with the dealers who sell the company's products. The best way to purchase a Ka-bar knife is through a national reseller like Thompson Outdoor Supply. Not only will you get the best pricing but you can buy with confidence based on Thompson's 30 day 100% money-back guarantee on all sporting goods products.

Black Fighting Knife (7") A practical, all-purpose utility knife featuring ergonomically designed slip resistant handle. This variation of the USMC Fighting Knife serves every task perfectly.

An essential chore for hunters at the beginning of each hunting season is sharpening those hunting knives. Your hunting knives should always have a fine edge in order to prevent accidents and achieve cleaner cuts. Every hunter must be able to quickly remove muscle from bone on game, as it is a matter of health of safety.

Here are some ideas for sharpening your hunting knife and keeping it in tip-top shape.

• Inspect the blade of each hunting knife for nicks or gouges. Grind down damaged areas if the damage is not severe. The blade must be discarded if the nick is too great to file down.
  
• Run the blade down the length of a piece of paper to determine how dull or out of true the metal has become. A clean straight cut is what is desired. Any jagged tears or failure to make any cut at all is an indication that the blade needs sharpening.
  
• Use a sharpening stone to hone the edge of the hunting knife's blade. These are typically rectangular pieces of Arkansas stone of differing roughness glued together. A small amount of honing oil applied to the stone will suffice.
  
• Drag the knife's blade across the sharpening stone at the angle at which the original edge was honed. Looking at the knife's blade edge will give an idea of the angle to draw across the stone.
  
• Pull the blade slowly and carefully towards the body at the proper angle. Alternate edge sides after each draw. Continue to hone the edge until the hunting knife's blade will easily slice through a piece of paper.
  
• Leave a more pyramid-like edge to the blade if it will be used for chopping. Move the blade from side to side to remove any burs or rough areas. I know all your hunter types hate it, but go ahead anyway and wear eye protection and gloves during this project.