I like knives. Not quite sure how many non kitchen knives we have lying around but me thinks it probably counts a lot. One knife I think everyone could really benefit from owning is the good old fashioned Ka-Bar. I got mine for around $40 from cheaper than dirt but that was awhile ago and they now cost $54 or so.
Anyway there are a lot of general purpose/ fighting knives around but few if any beat the Ka-Bar. First of all they are just awesomely classic which is cool. Second of all they are a big old piece of steel with a leather handle. Third of all short of killing someone with a can of budweiser or dropping a model T on their face in terms of hand to hand killing it doesn't get much more American than stabbing some asshat in the face with a gone Ka-Bar.
There are all sorts of super cool fancy urban combat special operations commando fighting knives these days. One could play a game where they made up a tough sounding name for a knife then threw in a bio of some special operations guy and sold it for $200-600. Mine will be called "The Boar" and it was invented by an Raul Enrique Gonzalez an elite Paraguaan Navy Seal, it can be had for the very reasonable price of $382.49. That is a low price for a deadly fighting instrument invented by the most elite Special Operations SEAL forces of South America. If you buy this knife suddenly you will be strong, brave and capable of doing amazing things but only for the power of good.
Anyway I am not going to say that all of these new knives are crap. I know a guy who always had the newest coolest knife. He spent money on knives that made what I spent on guns seem reasonable. Some of those knives where pretty awesome and I bet would take a real beating.
However lets look at it this way. Would you rather have "The Boar" for $382.49 or a pair of Ka-Bar's, a used Remington pump shotgun and 50 rounds of buckshot? I personally would stash another boom clack and have a knife to have on me and one to throw in the trunk of my car just in case.
While a Ka-Bar will not get you mall ninja chic points it will certainly do what it is made to do and cut stuff or heaven forbid cut and stab people. I firmly believe in my heart of hearts that if you can hold up your end of the proverbial bargain a Ka-Bar will never let you down.
You should get one of these and maybe a spare. I am thinking about a couple of spares........ Prolly think about this shortly after the ATM card for the new bank account (where there is a bank here into which I can put several hundred dollar bills) finally shows up and I order the bunch of AR/870/Glock 19 stuff I've been meaning to get. A bit more than a hundred bucks will get me two more of them which would probably be sufficient. Then again me thinks maybe another Ka-Bar and a Buck 119 Special would be a better way to go.
Thoughts?
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19 comments:
Ryan....When it's SO Bad that it has turned into a knife fight....somebody has really made a bad decision ...somewhere!
Stephen, I find little to disagree with in your statement. I would however say that if you end up in a serious fight things have gone bad already so having a long gun (if possible) plus a good pistol and a good knife is prudent.
Kabar's are fantastic. Full tang, stout and they just feel good in the hand. I keep one in my GHB and one in our preps boxes in the house.
I keep a Buck folder (Ranger) in my pocket at all times - even if I happen to be wearing a suit! I figure that with these two knifes, I'm pretty well covered for most situations that might arise.
Agreed - nothing fancy and you can beat it up pretty well. Still keeps on coming back, asking for more.
I've been taking a look at the 3/4 sized version, the original is a BIG honking knife, maybe just a bit too big to keep in a rucksack. The smaller model might do.
I think the original and the CS Bushman should be in 'Po' boy Hall of Fame' knives.
TOM, I agree. The Ka-Bar is everything a fighting/ general purpose knife should be. Like the buck 110 series a lot, got a pair of them.
3:38, I disagree that the Ka-Bar is too big to have in a rucksack or for that matter on your belt. Go back to a time when people had to do most everything with one knife and they carried a pretty decent sized knife. Got to figure you would do lots of hacking and chopping and not a lot of slicing peppers or whittling.
Unless you want to put it in your front pants pocket it is a fine size. Not to say the smaller one would be bad parse but I think the original is fine. Got a CS Bushmen lying around somewhere. Back when I got it for $9.99 it was a lot for the money. Now at $20 they are OK I guess.
My best friend in the world, God rest his soul, gave me a K-bar many years when we were in the Marines together. That knife is one of my most prized possessions today.
GunRights4US, A servicemen giving his knife to another is a very big thing. Treasure that blade and pass it to an heir some day with a story of the great man who gave it to you.
May it never have to cut anything more than a steak.
You don't have to fork over the $40-$50 for one either. Go to yard sales. I've gotten so much gear for next to nothing. I got a Kabar from an old Marine for a few bucks. Also bought his old 'Nam era flack vest for $5.
Yard sales and craigslist are a must for the budget prepper.
Things I've got for a dollar or two each:
-Bags, containers, storage ideas, and ammo cans ($1 ammo cans is nice)
-All kinds of guides, manuals, as well as fun-to-read books.
-Knives, tools
-Backup electronic gadgets (two is one and one is none)
-Rags, cold-weather gear.
-Everything else for the home and garden.
I agree except for the part about killing someone with a can of Belgian beer somehow being American.
The Buck 119 is HIGHLY underrated. It has served members of my family and myself very well for a LONG time.
"...short of killing someone with a can of budweiser or dropping a model T on their face in terms of hand to hand killing it doesn't get much more American than stabbing some asshat in the face with a gone Ka-Bar."
That, sir, is poetry. I spend the rest of the evening trying to figure out where on my body I want that tattooed.
ryan i got my kabar given to me in 1975. it has been in my backpack the whole time. ive used it like a hammer or ax more times than i can count. they are fine knives.
I've been very taken with the Glock knives. Cheap. incredibly durable, and they take abuse like a trailerpark housewife. Come in three colors, ambidextrous sheath, non-reflective finish and just a good general purpose knife. Can usually be found for abotu $30~.
If a pistol is only what you use when you're fighting your way to your rifle, I don't know what a knife is.
That said, I couldn't agree more that the KaBar is one of the best tools out there for the job. Let's not forget that, in the field, there's a lot of use for a good knife besides giving some "asshat" a poke. I knew a guy who brought one of those $200+ knives to jungle survival school with me in '87 and ended up borrowing MY knife to chop though bamboo to make the various tools & utensils we were required to make for the class.
You hit the nail on the head. Post a bio of some "operator", of which there are no shortage and sell it to America's "Couch Rambos". They're laughing all the way to the bank.
As for Budweiser being "Belgian", Mr Anonymous, it has done nothing to improve the taste.
That is what I have for hunting and tactical knives the Ka Bar and Buck 119 special knife.
I also have a doctrine that will not allow me to spend more than 60 dollars for any knife, no matter good it says it is.
I'll be the lone voice in the wilderness here: Ka-bars have a mystique like Colt 1911's and Harleys. And like Colt 1911's and Harley's, they don't deserve it. 1911's are antique cavalry pistols. There have been advancements in the last century. Try an H&K. Harleys are probably the worst motorcycles made unless chugging along in a straight line with pipes that say "Look at me" is your goal. Try a Ducati. Ka-bars are mediocre fighting knives made by the lowest bidder. Unless you stab a lot of people on your camping trips, try anything that has a full tang, no upper guard, a 4-6" blade sharpened all the way to the hilt, and a secure sheath. Nothing says "Tenderfoot" like a fool who shows up in deer camp with a Bowie knife.
Gosh, Too much to cover here. As for getting them in yard sales or whatever that is certainly something to keep ones eye out for but not practical if you want to get a knife tomorrow.
Never handled a Glock knife, will need to do that. At 30 bucks or so a pop it would be easy enough to order a pair over the next few months.
I like the Buck 119 special a lot.
60 dollars is a fairly reasonable top bar. The exact amount could be debated a bit but certainly something in that range.
Oblio13, Gosh. I am predominantly a Glock man so I agree that looking toward the newest and best is good. I think Ka Bars are a lot of fighting/ general purpose knife for the money. As for a hunting knife I would bring the Buck 119 Special which is sitting in my kitchen. While I agree there have been a lot of advancements in a lot of things fighting and general purpose knives really aren't one of them until they make the light saber at least.
I dig the Ka-Bar, but there is another great knife made by Gerber that warrants a look. The Gerber LMF-II. It has partial serrations, the sheath has a built in knife sharpener, and there are holes built into the knife so you can paracord it to a stick to make a spear. It also has a plexiglass punch on the end, as well as a flat area that can be used as a hammer.
Ka bar is the knife to fight with if ever need. very reliable, grips well and kills well (when absolutely need to)
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