Knife/Survival Knife Info.

[Leighman]

Iv'e just learned a bit about stick tangs on knives. Is the stick tang a single component or piece, or a bunch of collpsable pieces fit together?

I think it is one-piece, just not near the width of the blade itself.

If you look closely at the butt/pommel, you will se the rectangular size of the tang (pretty small). You can also see where it is "pinned" if looking on the rounded side of the butt itself.

While Ka-bar's have a rich & deserved combat history, I think knife making has evolved so much since WWII (i.e. blade steels, thicker tangs, grinds, handle composition, etc) that they may be a bit outdated to some.

That said, I've never been able to "kill" a Ka-bar and once a proper convex edge is added, they make for a good all-around slicer and a so-so chopper.

I say "so-so chopper" only because thel overall weight of the knife limits the amout of the blade's chopping efficiency; that's probably why Uncle Sam issued an Ontario made machete!

[Leighman]

Coll site. I was surprised to see how well the USAF pilot knife did, thats the knife i use. It out did the USMC Ka-Bar.

That and the fact that "some" $20 Chinese imports outperformed some very high-end blades!

Of course, there are many "kinfe snobs" out there (just like "gun snobs" in the shooting community) who bash the guy's techniques but it's interesting to see how certain brands/models hold up (and don't) when it comes to complete & total destruction.

Lastly, better HIS knives than MINE!

[Pal334]

My best knifes: Got a USAF Survival Knife issued by the Air Force while in Thailand in the early70's http://www.bestglide.com/AF_Survival_Knife_Info.html) and it served with me up to a year ago, in the humid jungles, the big sand box and everywhere in between. It is beat up, chipped but retains its edge and is easily sharpened . Not bad for a 30 plus year old knife. It now resides on my "love me wall" in my den. My constant companion for at least as long has been my pocket knife, a two bladed Barlow brand, the blade is somewhat thinned by years of sharpening, one of the handle pieces is broken, but it is still ticking. It has been used as a screw driver, can opener, gaping spark plugs and even occasionally as a pocket knife Here is a site for the type, of course mine is US made, not China as indicated in the site http://www.knifecountryusa.com/store...e-handles.html

I just try to keep things simple

[nell67]

Sharp looking knife you have there PAL.

[Pal334]

Cool site. I was surprised to see how well the USAF pilot knife did, thats the knife i use. It out did the USMC Ka-Bar.

I just wrote a little on the forum "Not So Good Knives" About the USAF knife, have had one for 30 plus years and all good experiences.

[Jericho117]

That is very reassuring.

[Pal334]

Nell: Just wish mine were still that "purty". But they have aged gracefully (like me )

[nell67]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,eh Pal? And since you be-holding that knife,it's beautiful right?

[Pal334]

Well put. I "beholding" them forever

[FVR]

Along with Bean's chores with his Kabar, mine doubled as a diving knife, has chiselled scallops off rocks, chopped wood like an ax, has won one knife throwing contest, and has never let me down. I bought it from a Navy guy when I was 13 years old.

The only reason I do not use it anymore, it's a collectors item now and I want to hand it down to my son. The knife accompanied me through my early hunting years, my USMC years, it has been around the world, wet in the Atlantic, Pacific, swamps of Panama, and the waters off Oki.

Hands down, you can not go wrong.

[Ole WV Coot]

FVR is right on. I guess the AF knife is ok, I have one and don't care for it, personal preference. I have an Ontario style Kabar and it bent easily at the guard. My retired Kabar is 45yrs old and is like a razor including the false edge. It has saved my bacon and helped fry it. The only treatment the leather handle has had is sweat, dirt and a little blood and I know it's a compromise and not a fighter, but nobody told me so it worked fine, not as good as my EK fighter, also 45yrs old and retired but it just feels right in my hand and never let me down.

[backtobasics]

I've never owned a Ka-Bar and many here swear by them. They are good looking knives. I'll probably end up getting one. One more knife can't hurt, right? I just never thought i needed a knife with a blade over 5 inches, but hay, I'll give it a try. Maybe I'm missing out on something.

[Leighman]

I've never owned a Ka-Bar and many here swear by them. They are good looking knives. I'll probably end up getting one. One more knife can't hurt, right? I just never thought i needed a knife with a blade over 5 inches, but hay, I'll give it a try. Maybe I'm missing out on something.

The "Next Generation" Ka-Bars are not as traditional in appearance as the orginal leather handle/1095 carbon steel versions but have some features that some prefer.

A single guard is the best improvement I've seen. if you ain't goin' toe-to-toe with the enemy in a knife fight, the top part of the guard is pretty useless and many fans of the Ka-Bar simply grind off the top guard.

The butt/pommel (while still flat) has a lanyard hole (important to some, not so much to others).

Some type of black semi-hard rubber Kraton type handle as opposed to the leather washers.

Partially serrated (and plain) blade styles are available.

Some type of stainless blade (440A?). I'll take to easy-to-sharpen 1095 any day.

Sheath options of leather, thermopalstic kydex type, and nylon. The Nylon is made by Eagle (I think) and VERY well constructed.

There may be a few more minor differences but these readily came to mind.

Having owned and used both I would take the original Ka-Bar and just upgrade to a better quality sheath/scabbard for it.

[Gray Wolf]

On the www.knifetests.com, The Scrap Yard Knife Company's "Scrapper 6" (with a 6 1/2" blade) had the highest rating of all the knives tested! (only $99.95) It's a Busse brother knife Company. Below is the info.

Scrapper 6

The Scrapper 6 serves as the debut model of the Scrap Yard line. It features SR-77 steel, which is a slightly modified version of S-7 tool steel hardened to 57-59 Rc. S-7 is commonly used in jackhammer bits and is well known for its enormous toughness. Through the use of deep cryogenics and our proprietary heat-treating protocol we are able to wring the maximum performance out of this incredibly tough tool steel.
Cost $99.95

The Scrapper 6 features a 6 1/2" long blade and near full-length tang construction. The end of the tang is less than 1/4" from the butt of the handle. The thicker than 1/4" blade (.275" thick) features a full-height flat ground bevel with a convex edge adding to the strength and cutting power of this abuse loving American made blade. The exclusive, non-hygroscopic Resiprene C handles have been proven in the harshest combat conditions around the globe. With an overall length of 11 1/2" the Scrapper 6 is the perfect sized blade for day campers, combat professionals, and those who choose to venture into the uncharted wilderness.

No detail has been overlooked in the construction and design of the Scrapper 6. These details include all radiused corners at the blade handle juncture, which, although covered by the handle and unseen by the user/abuser, greatly increases the overall strength of the Scrapper 6 at the point where most other knives can fail under extreme conditions. Other details include a radiused "plunge" at the beginning of the blade bevel and a generous sized choil for ease of choking up on the blade. The choil also facilitates ease of re-sharpening along the entire edge without bumping into the plunge of the bevel. The black coating is both non-reflective and protective against the elements.

The Scrapper 6 is built like a tank and is far tougher than most every other blade on the market today.

Specs at a glance:

Steel: SR-77
Hardness: 58 - 60 Rc
Handle: Resiprene C
Thickness: .275 (Between 1/4" & 5/16")
Blade Length: 6.5"
Overall Length: 11.5"

It's a great knife for THAT price!
http://www.scrapyardknives.com/intro.htm

[Leighman]

ANY knife made by Busse/Scrapyard/Swamprat will outperform just about any production knife out there, not my opinion but a generally recognized fact; hence their fierce and loyal following.

I have the Scrapyard "Dumpster Mutt" (blade a bit shorter than a Scapper, also in SR-77) and have found it be as durable (if not more so) than the majority of the higher end production knives on the market.

Good or bad, there is somewhat of a cult following and finding one available for the MSRP can be tricky at times as the company produces certain models in small batches.

[SARKY]

I've had my dads Ka-Bar for some 40 years now and it isn't a bad knife but knives have come a long way since the Ka-bars were designed. I also had 20 years in the military carrying a pilots knife either in my SV-2 (avaitors survival vest) or in the field as a survival instructor. I found it so wanting that I carried a Benchmade Bushmaster in my SV-2 as well as the pilots knife. I wound up trading the pilots knife for a mora knife. I think I got the better part of that deal. As to the Ka-Bar's tang, I'm not sure if it is one piece, but most rod tang knives have the tang welded to the blade. The Ka-Bar falls into the general catagory of Bowie as far as blade design. It was designed to do everything good enough (from fight to survival) . If i wanted a fighting knife (I don't know why I would, there are no winners in a knife fight, only 2 badly bleeding losers) there are plenty knives designed for that. If you want a utilitarian (survival)knife there are plenty of those on the market. Decide what you really need or want the knife to do for you and then decide.

[Tuckahoe]

Just so you will know there are bunches of knock off copies around most surplus stores.

[chiye tanka]

GW, we've got to get together so I can get a couple of those knives.

[Gray Wolf]

You're right, with everything that's gone on the past month, I forgot.... sorry

[Leighman]

Just so you will know there are bunches of knock off copies around most surplus stores.

Luckily, copies are pretty easy to spot.
The Marine combat knife is currently made by Ka-Bar, Ontario, Camillus (presently out of business), and some by Case (base of blade is marked).

If by chance, you happen to "find" a Ka-Bar marked on the crossguard (blade side and marked either Ka-Bar or Camillus, designated as USN, MK II), snatch it up as these are THE real deal from WWII and somewhat collectable.

Many of the WWII origianls (specifically Camillus) came with a gray plastic/fiber scabbard (looks like a bayonet sheath) with metal throat and gray canvas belt hanger.

The USAF/USN Pilot's Survival Knife is presently made by Ontario (possibly older ones by Camillus) and the manufacturer/production date (or date of gov contract) is marked in very small letters/numbers on the flat of the pommel nutt.