KaBar knives

In January of 2011 Ka-Bar sent out a press release that the "Big Brother" would be released in May of the same year. A better name for this knife might have been "The Beast"!

This is a huge knife and it has everything you love about the original except that now it's supersized.

My main problem with it doesn't actually concern the knife itself. It's the fact that there is no Kydex sheath for it, yet. I'm sure KaBar is working on that issue though.

A few other changes are that the guard is flat across and not slightly swept back like on the original, and this knife has the serrations on the back edge of the knife instead of on the blade close to the handle.

This knife is getting EXCELLENT reviews and of course, it has the KaBar name backing it. You can't go wrong adding this to your survival preps.

Weight: 0.90 lbs.
Length: Blade length 9 5/16"
Overall length: 14 1/8"
Grind: Flat
Shape: Clip
Handle: Stacked Leather or Kraton G
Stamp: USA
HRC: 56-58 CR
Edge Angle: 20 Degrees
Butt Cap /Guard: Pwdrd Metal
Steel: 1095 Cro-Van
Country Mft'd: Made in USA

KABAR Leather Handled Big Brother Knife

This model is the closest you can get to the original KaBar adopted by the Marines in 1942 and it is my favorite.

As I understand it, the original version had a sharpened back swedge which made this knife even deadlier.

The back swedge is now just a false blade. I have not sharpened mine but I've read reports where some people have had a professional do it, so it can be done.

This modern version has a black blade and comes with or without serrations on the blade close to the stacked leather handle.

The serrations are nice for cutting rope or small limbs for a fire, however, the serrated portion is more difficult to sharpen. It also comes in a 7" or 5" blade.

Weight: 0.68 lbs.
Length: Blade length 7"
Overall length: 11 7/8"
Grind:Flat
Shape:Clip
Handle Material:Leather
Stamp:USMC
HRC:56-58
Edge Angle:20 Degrees
Butt Cap /Guard:Pwdrd Metal/1095 Carbon
Steel:1095 Carbon
Country Mft'd:Knife Made in USA, Leather Sheath Made in Mexico


USMC Straight Or Serrated Edge Fighting Knife

KABAR USA Short Knife w/ Leather Sheath

Designed by outdoorsman Ethan Becker, the KaBar BK7 is one of the top selling knives KaBar manufactures. It has got a TON of fans.

For those wanting an easy to take care of, easy to sharpen, and easy to use knife, this knife is for you.

The blade is a very thick 3/16 inches, made from 1095 Cro-Van steel and is a breeze to sharpen. Which is good because you will probably want to sharpen it as soon as you get it. Yes, it is sharp out of the box but the blade could use a good touch up with a sharpening stone.

I'm not a huge fan of the Grivory handle that comes with it. I think it is too slick and I don't want my knife slipping when it gets wet. However, I do like Micarta, and it just so happens that KaBar makes Micarta handles for these knives. You can find them here.

If you want to save money on the Micarta you could score the Grivory in a criss-cross pattern and that would give you better grip.

Blade Type: Fixed Blade
Measurements: Blade length 7"
Overall length: 12-3/4"
Grind: Flat
Edge Angles: 20 Degrees
Handle Material: Grivory
Shape: Clip Point
HRC: 56-58
Made in USA
Blade Thickness: 3/16"

Ka-Bar Becker BK7 Combat Utility Fixed Blade Knife (7-Inch)

This is the ultra-popular Black Ka-Bar knife. It has all the character of the original Ka-Bar Utility/Fighting Knife but now with that Darth Vader Deadliness look.

I've noticed that the Kraton handle seems a little heavier, shorter, and thicker than the leather one.

It comes in the 7" or 5.25" blade lengths, with or without serrations, and with a leather or Kydex sheath.

The only bad points I've heard on any of these KaBars is that the sheath is not even worth using and that this knife is usually sold out in many places due to its popularity.

I would save yourself the hassle and just spring for the Kydex sheath on this one.

Weight:0.66 lbs.
Length: Blade length 7", Overall length 11 3/4"
Grind:Flat
Shape:Clip
Handle Material:Kraton G
Stamp:USA
HRC:56-58
Edge Angle:20 Degrees
Butt Cap /Guard:Pwdrd Metal/1095 Carbon
Steel:1095 Carbon
Country Mft'd:Knife Made in USA, Leather Sheath Made in Mexico


Ka-Bar Full Size Black Straight Edge Knife

Buy The Ka-Bar 2-1212-3 Black Combo Edge Fighting Knife Here.

Buy The Short Black Kabar Combo Edge Drop Point Knife Here.

Buy The Short Ka-Bar Black Leather Sheath 5.25 in. Plain Edge Knife Here.

Cutting tests performed on D2 steel prove that it is one of the toughest steels in knife making.

D2 is the same steel they use to make hammers and drill bits and it also makes the knife more rust resistant.

The knife itself is going to be harder to sharpen because of the hardness of the steel, however, the trade off is that it will keep an edge longer.

You could think of this knife like an upgraded version of the original Kabar military knife or a Kabar Utility/Fighting Knife 2.0.

It has a Kraton handle which gives you the flexibility of rubber but with increased resistance to heat, weathering, and chemicals.

This is an all around awesome knife that would give many many years of service. It consistently gets great reviews and would be an excellent addition to your survival or camping gear.


Weight: 0.78 lbs.
Length: Blade length 7"
Overall length: 11 7/8"
Grind: Flat
Shape: Clip
Handle: Kraton G
Stamp: USA
HRC: 59-60 CR
Edge Angle: 20 Degrees
Butt Cap /Guard: Pwdrd Metal/1095 Carbon
Steel: D2
Country Mft'd: Made in USA

You Can Buy The Ka-Bar 2-1282-6 D2 Extreme Fighting Knife Here.

Here is the Kydex sheath I recommend for Ka-Bar Knives.

The problem with the leather sheaths is that these knives are so sharp that they can cut the leather just by simply removing the knife.

The D2 Extreme has the same problem with its nylon sheath.

Black Kydex Sheath Fits 1211, 1212, 1217, 1218, 1219, 1220, 4, 1281 (KB1216)

Soon after Ka-Bar knives were introduced in the mid-1920's, the KA-BAR trademark became widely known and respected. There have been many versions of how the KA-BAR name came to be, but all evidence points to a letter received from a fur trapper. This particular fur trapper's testimonial turned out to be the most significant ever received by the company.

He wrote, in very rough English, that his gun had jammed and that he had therefore relied 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. All that was legible of his scrawled writing was "k a bar". The company was so honored by this testimonial that they adopted this phrase and used it as their trademark, KA-BAR.

(From the Ka-Bar Official Web Site.)