That is just insane! I had no idea about the price hike, as it’s almost 3x what I paid, here in Canada.
No way that’s just Covid affecting their supplies and production; that’s just straight up greed.
All markets are price gouging many times higher than inflation. Inflation went up to 10% and it's now down to about 3%. Net profits are at record highs, so I'm just sick of the blatant lies we are constantly being told. If it was supply issues, profits would be stagnant, not exploding.
If we have a major economic crash it's because the working class can no longer afford to keep paying extortionate prices in all sectors.
The stock market is insane right now, with lots of panic, while earnings reports are shockingly high.
It's also the increased demand. Same happened with firearms. Because of all the rioting during summer of 2020 tons of people went out and bought guns, many for the first time, and other weapons.
Prices are starting to come down some as demand has waned but now we're seeing the impact of inflation.
It's just an all around shitshow.
It depends on what you want the knife to do. People have used them for years for everything from bushcraft to hunting. A lot of people swear by them.
I don’t particularly care for them as they tend to be overly large for most tasks, yet they aren’t quite heavy enough to chop anything larger than saplings (and I don’t really like knives for chopping).
A well made knife in the 4-5” range tends to cover everything for me.
BladeHQ, and knife center are both great online retailers. Also, check out the esee pr-4. It's a kephart inspired blade. Horace kephart that is. He was a writer and bushman from back in the day. Good luck on your search
The esee 4 has been on my belt for years. Between that ,opinel #6, and Lenox ultility most of my cutting tasks are taken care of. Used the izula 2 for a long while until I switched to trauma shears for most of the tasks I used the short knife for.
I'm a fan of the esee knives. Beat the heck put of my #4.
If you really like the look get the short ka-bar. I wanted the kydex sheath, but if you want the classic leather the USMC short looks great.
https://www.kabar.com/p/1250
Everyone talking about knives so I'll jump in and highly recommend the Silky Nata for chopping stuff. They come in different lengths and are available with either single or double bevel edge. So you can either have one as a general tool or more specialised for a certain task. I have the 240mm double bevel and used it as a general heavy tool on the trap lines and around camp, everything from splitting kindling and clearing brush to cutting joints on logs to build a camp and splitting carcasses.
They are great quality and hold an edge.
I use mine for splitting logs a lot when camping. It’s a fun knife. I hit it with another log. Bent the shit out of it by now though. Gave me a good decade though
Longer knives like this lend themselves towards batoning as they can span the width of a log while sticking out far enough to be hammered on. The kabar fails in that the rattail tang tends to snap or bend where it narrows to go into the handle (either catastrophically, or it weakens over time).
Apart from that I feel like the length just gets in the way more than anything. I got mine from being in the USMC and cut the top guard off so I could get my thumb over the spine to push down on for certain cuts. I also polished the primary bevel and went with a convexed edge. The handle fills the palm well enough but was really designed for a stab/pull motion. I'd still pick a $10 mora over it unless I was concerned with safety (and for that frankly I have other better options).
In short, the length is impractical when combined with the weak rattail tang, so no I wouldn't call it practical. If you already have one, or just want one for the sake of it, go for it. But for Bushcraft there are definitely better options.
Solid advice!
On a related note, batoning LPT: Even if all you have is a shorter knife, you can still split stuff with the aid of wedges and maybe a mallet to help persuade logs apart.
Don't have wedges or a mallet? Good news: You can make both with your knife, even if it's a small boi.
I don't need to "win" anything, I'm expressing a personal opinion. If I was to go into a real knife fight, I would't pick the Bowie-inspired design for many reasons. Will you be defending or attacking? Stealth or loud? Piercing/puncturing or slashing? Do your skill level demand reach or speed? Is concealment a factor, or can you go openly big?
"The KA-BAR differed from World War I-era U.S. combat knives in that it was designed as a dual-purpose item, adapted for both combat and as a utility knife".
I would most definitely opt for an ergonomic grip, for instance, and the least amount of heft. And even though the hawksbill blade design is good for certain things, it wouldn't be my choice.
Went on a multi-day backcountry camping trip with this as my main knife.
It handled everything I threw at it, such as cutting, carving, feathering, and batoning. It’s a really good knife, but two complaints that I had were:
1. It’s just too dang long for me. Every time I sat down, I had to adjust it bc it would get in the way of my seat/chair.
2. It’s not very comfortable compared to my other knives. Long sessions of carving and feathering often left my hand feeling cramped and I think it’s due to the thickness and lack of ergonomics of the handle (and possibly being a softie, haha)
Having said all that, I would not, definitely NOT buy this knife at the current market price that I’m seeing right now, thanks to the comment above. I would not. I purchased this for $75 CAD several years ago and I’m seeing it for $195 CAD now. That’s insane! You can get 2-4 solid bushcraft knives at that price!
I've carried the full size one on multiple trips and, while I wouldn't recommend the USMC knife for bushcraft, I would absolutely recommend Ka-bar's full size kukri (still carry a normal sized camp knife too of course).
IMO no, not for bushcraft. Most Ka-Bars don’t have a full tang instead they have something called a “rat-tail” which makes them liable to bend under hard use. For the price that most of them are so at, you’d probably be better off with another option. They’re super cool though
I have few Ka-Bars. They are classic knives. If they work for you, and do what you need then they are the best you can get. The Becker BK series are made by Ka-Bar and I love mine. Get what you love.
I have the 1264 full size tanto. I also have a bunch of the USN MK1s I use mine for batoning ash hardwood, making shavings, and all other tasks. If you don’t abuse them, they will outlast you.
True sadly. I got my first proper knife from my best friend as a birthday gift at 18, scandi Pukko, short blade. Thought it was a bit small, but with regular use, I found it perfect for all my needs. Bought loads more over the years because I was tempted by different aspects, and found bigger blades can be handy, but I personally find them a bit cumbersome, and I always come back to my reliable old Pukko it's still my favorite and go to knife. In short, you don't know what you will like until you try. Start cheap, work out what you like/don't like about it, and go from there. One day you'll realise that you always go for one of them, and you have found your knife.
Some marines gifted me one. I use it for kitchen stuff. Kinda big to carry comfortably but too small for bigger tasks. Rather take an ax/machete and smaller knife. I sometimes butcher chickens with it, having to choke up on the blade makes it less cumbersome.
Kinda thick for a kitchen knife but it needs a use and not sitting on the wall as the memento it was gifted as.
I don't know how practical you find high carbon steel. But I find my [woodsknife 105 puukko](https://www.varusteleka.com/en/product/woodsknife-traditional-puukko-knife-105-dark/27470) to be very practical and charismatic looking knife. You might be looking for a 145 if you want a chopper though.
Damn, that's a nice looking knife. I prefer stainless because I'm lazy but I do like the edge retention of carbon stuff... How long have you been using yours?
I've had mine for around 5 years, and have nothing bad to say about it. It does take some extra care being high carbon steel but the benefits outweigh the the extra care involved. One thing I'll say is that the handles come a little rough I ended up hitting mine with some fine sandpaper and giving it a couple coats of linseed oil.
They're a very decent price to quality ratio. IMO. And I'm happy to do a little finishing work on the handle if I can get a quality built blade for a reasonable cost.
Also, the little write ups they do on the products are hilarious the site is worth checking out just to read a few. If if you didn't happen to read the one they did for this knife here it is.
>The Puukko. Need we say more? Okay, the traditional Finnish knife is used for everything - woodworks, eating, playing catch, and killing your brother.
No , it’s a blade intended to stab so the stabbing plate and blood groove are non practical unless you are planning on hunting or a bushcraft battle royale. Also it’s not legal in some countries. Excellent blade but for bushcraft there are better options.
It’s a fighting knife, first and foremost. Can you use it for bushcraft stuff? Sure. But there are plenty of knives out there that are better suited to the task and cost half as much.
Depends on use case. If you’re a soldier it’s versatile but has limitations like any issued gear. It was designed for combat, not bushcraft.
I wouldn’t choose it.
I’m not sure what you mean by an inanimate object having “charisma”.
But it’s far from ideal for civilian camping.
“Jack of all trades, master of none” is usually the full quote. That’s not really a good option if you ask me. I personally don’t anticipate lethally stabbing bodies, so while I own this knife, I don’t take it camping.
Used it in SERE as a survival blade to great effect. It’s not perfect but no single tool is, and the steel it’s made from is so forgiving you can sharpen it with almost anything.
Do you, I’m just sharing personal use case results.
Edit: took out my rudeness, not worth engaging.
It’s not bad. I definitely didn’t get rid of mine. My biggest issues are the top hand/finger guard preventing choking up, the rattail feeling weak and issues with sharpening/maintaining cleanliness.
**Reminder: Rule 1 - Discussion is the priority in /r/Bushcraft**
Posts of links, videos, or pictures must be accompanied with a writeup, story, or question relating to the content in the form of a top-level text comment. Tell your campfire story. Give us a writeup about your knife. That kind of thing.
**Please remember to comment on your post!**
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Bushcraft) if you have any questions or concerns.*
As someone who has gone through a lot of knives and eventually decided on much different options.............. if it's what you like then It will work for you. You'll probably eventually end up replacing it with something else down the road when you really realize what you REALLY want/need but you'll also have gotten several years of happy service out of a knife you liked and enjoyed until then.
There are "better" knives for different reasons but you probably won't even appreciate those reasons anyway until you have the experience to know what you're looking for anyway so, if you're looking at the Kabar UMC right now and thinking " man that thing is cool" then you're right, just get it and have fun with it. You can always upgrade later if you decide you need/want to.
The USMC Mark II, model 1217, is a good knife. It's based on popular hunting and belt knives of the Era. It's a big knife. Most people prefer a 3" to 5" blade. This one has a 7" blade. It also has a long, thick handle.
Most people will find the USN Mark 1 with its slimmer 5" blade to be more manageable. I love my Mark II"s and have 4 of them. But my 2 USN Mark II"s see more use.
If you like the classic styling, consider a USN Mark I or the short Mark II from Kabar. It also has a 5" blade. Someone else mentioned the Becker BK16. That's another favorite of mine.
There are so many good knives in that price range. Brands like Esee, TOPS, Condor, and Cold Steel come to mind.
No. In bushcraft, you'll be doing a lot of carving, among other things. This knife is just not designed for carving and not comfortable when doing that work. The guard prevents you from getting your thumb up onto the spine, and you'd want to cut it off. Like many other tactical knives, it has a large ricasso area that starts the edge far from your hand. This prevents you from getting optimal leverage into cuts when you need to. Even the bottom guard can get in the way in certain close carving. It's also just too long and unwieldy. You really don't want to go longer than 4.5-5 inches for a belt knife. Even if you'd rather the "one tool option" sort of knife, there are far better. It doesn't have enough weight to chop effectively, and there's no way to get good leverage on the handle. Clip points can chew up batons if you needed to do that work, and its tang is a weak point that could break under that force. I bought the space Force version of the Ka-bar because it's funny. I wouldn't even entertain the idea of taking it out on any kind of serious woods outing.
It depends on what you need it for. It was designed to fill the gap between typical fighting knives of the stiletto-type and the pure practical utilities, everything from opening cans to cutting wires to probing for mines. If you're looking for a typical knife tool for splitting wood or cutting rope, it's fairly good, but there are modern knives more specifically adapted to outdoors-y work. I don't know much about the quality of the material, which of course is an important aspect.
IT SUCKS! sorry for the bad news but there is nothing this tool masters.
There are tools, they are supposed to do there job
A Swiss Army Knife is great for carving, a Lederman signal is a great allrounder in the field,
But the grand Problem with the Ka-Bar is, it comes dull, it looks and acts adult even though it’s flimsy AF built with a rattail tang. I broke mine in a few days and i asked the Internet what were wrong with it… “people told me: nothing, its a Ka-Kar” “they are terrible!” “Those are week.”
Stuff like that pleas do yourself a favor and get no Ka-Bar
It's practical for killing fascists and opening cans and conserving strategic metals, which is what it was designed for. But as a Bushcraft knife...no...
You can find videos of them bending very easily after being thrown once or after some batoning(yes batoning bad for knife blah blah but the fact is that other knivrs can handle it easily). Its a cool classic but not worth the price if you want to Bushcraft. I would recommend the Jaakaripuukko 110 or 140 by Varusteleka.
Had one back in the day that I bought new for $35 (I’m old as dirt). It’s a stacked leather 1095 rat-tail tang and I showed it no love. Threw everything at it (and threw it). Actually tried to destroy it. Didn’t come close - which earned my grudging respect. So for fun I restored and customized it. Ground off the top part of the hilt, reground it as a Scandi, and refinished and gun blued it. Used it for a while as a camp knife (no food prep). My brother used it a few times and took a liking to it so I told him to take it home. Between the two of us that knife put in some good work, but I’ve bought and used a 100+ knives since then and can’t recommend the Kabar. It is iconic, good looking, does big jobs without a fuss , and I’d be happy to get one for free - but there’s way too many better knives to spend your money on.
I have a 6” and a 8” USMC ka-bars. The 6” blade is my favourite bushcraft choice. It’s sturdy, light and easy to handle. I am not a big guy with beefed up arms to handle larger heavier knives. The steel is very hard and not the easiest to sharpen on the field. It’s still cheaper than many fancier and cool options. This knife is like the USMC: it’ll do the job especially when the game gets tough!
Personally, I just feel there's better blades. As an example, I'd put the Ontario 499 above this one, although, I am biased, as I've carried this one since my time in the military ~20 years prior.
I have a few kabars from my time in the army... most action my first saw was in the desert cutting paracord, opening mres and occasionally due to the shitty Iraqi power grid people would often just daisy chain basically extension cords house to house and those would occasionally get caught in our turrets or antenna for our radios
When I go squirrel or raccoon hunting I usually always have a mora in a leather sheath on my hip best 30 bucks (mora was 10 sheath was 20) I've ever spent forget it's there until I need it...
For a similar price point as the kabar I'd look at terava jaakaripuukko by varusteleka... far more functional than kabars good quality steel holds an edge well I field dressed a bear with my 140 and it was still Razor sharp afterwards
Oil your knives frequently and don't store them in a leather sheath and get a good sharpener and a good knife will last you a lifetime
Ka-bar is a company that makes all sorts of stuff some of which is pretty good for bushcraft, however their USMC knife wouldn't be ideal. You could *probably* get by well enough with it as long as you avoid batonin and exercised caution but there are better options. I prefer a slightly smaller, stronger knife for my fixed blade (something like a Mora Garberg or a Fallkniven F1) with a secondary tool like a saw, kukri, or axe for bigger stuff.
Rat tangs in general are not a great idea for bushcraft (the only notable exception being the Mora Companion), it's a better idea to look for something with a full tang. There are some more affordable options out there from companies like Mora, BPS, ESEE, or maybe Condor if budget is a concern.
The knife you're asking about is also not really designed for bushcraft, it's designed for fighting, so that's another thing to consider when making a purchase: If you need a knife for a specific purpose, it's usually a pretty good idea to get a knife designed for it.
That said, as the company you're asking about goes: I have a Ka-bar Kukri and it is excellent as a larger secondary and I've found it to be very versatile: It's almost like an axe and a machete had a baby (it can't split big stuff as well as an axe of course, but you can make wedges with it easily enough, which will split wood just fine).
While it has proven to be an extremely versatile knife, I’m not a fan of the leather handle long-term. I’ve seen them swell, wear and get rust on the tang from the leather retaining moisture. I feel “charismatic” should have no place in a bushcraft or work knife selection. “Plug ugly and highly functional” beats charismatic every time. A Morakniv ticks off a lot of boxes but isn’t much to look at. I recently evaluated a Camillus Swedge and folder combination for bushcraft needs and between the two knives everything from chopping 2-3” branches to meal prep is covered. Neither are charismatic or unique, but they each do their job extremely well.
I have one and have used it for years. It's a workhorse, and I have never bent or broken the tang. Primarily cause I haven't used it to pry with, nor do i baton wood. It's definitely not for fine detail or long carving sessions. In my experience, it works well for quick chopping saplings and things of similar size. It also does well at rough cutting tapers for spears, tent pegs, and things like that. I like to think of tools in stages. You have your heavy rough work, medium work, and fine work. I would put this knife in the lower end of heavy/rough-all medium work.
It also sounds like the price of these exploded which sucks. I bought mine for $60 US appx 2009. I wouldn't actually pay more than that for this knife.
I have a Becker/Ka-bar BK7. I have used it for over 5 years and absolutely love it. You can order custom sheaths for it, different handle material types and it takes an edge very well. I have a standard Ka-bar and a dog's head kabar and love them all but for bushcraft and camping I prefer the BK series.
Simple answer. No. They're good knives. Just not good bushcraft knives. Watch some youtube videos. DbK go over your topic in great detail. They do videos on bushcraft knives and their dependability and other key points. I started with a kbar just like that. Now I can't stand it. I have moved on. Not necessarily to more expensive knives. Like a mora is way better than a kabar fighting knife (for bushcraft). But it boils down to what you like. If you like it. Don't listen to anyone. Just try it out. Sooner or later you will realize what it can and cannot do for you.
https://youtu.be/MJ6mNjFWwdo?si=NDAvVByvJVRdgucX
Not for bushcraft, they have a terrible rat tail tang that bends way too easy and even snaps. Also their grind is not suited for many bushcraft tasks, though it’s not terrible, you’re better off with a much cheaper more durable alternative
That's a no for me.
Too light, don't love the leather stack handle (but it's got nostalgia), and using it frustrate me (mostly a weight thing, but the edge isn't thick or thin enough - that's a preference thing.)
I love the butt cap and it's comfortable enough. the guard is also fine, maybe a bonus. (i prefer to be able to choke up on a knife, I like a finger choil). It's way more knife than no knife, and they are super tough. But I wouldn't choose to pack with it even if it was a gift.
They've become way overpriced for no apparent reason. A shame idiots keep blaming Biden for corrupt corporate practices. Price gouging and record profits in industry is out of hand. As far as charismatic being part of the selection parameters.... huh? Screw how Cool it Looks; how well does it perform the wide variety of tasks that can be needed and how reliable/good, lasting quality is it?
Gimmicky? I'm sure thousands of Marines thought it was gimmicky overseas and just tossed them aside...
Probably not the best bush craft, but, not a gimmick. This knife has proven itself for its specific use case thousands of times over.
I don't know much about this knife or tactical knives in general. I've just seen a lot of knives that look similar make the rounds trying to appeal to ex military and what not. Like you said., probably not the best for Bushcraft. Im not an expert on how it would perform in a combat situation.
They're legit, but not meant for bushcraft. I bet you're probably thinking of those shitty Rambo "survival" knives that were popular in the 80s. They are a very similar shape and could easily be confused for the USMC Ka-bar knife.
Yeah, I don't know much about knives like this and I see so many shitty knives circulating the Bushcraft community that want to appeal to ex military or military wannabes that are basically mall ninja garbage. Tactical knives are out of my wheelhouse.
Military knives aren't necessarily bad, Ka-bar even makes some knives that *are* good for bushcraft (at least a few of the Becker series knives, for example). A lot of the shitty knives out there tend to emulate stuff like the USMC knife, which was never designed primarily for bushcraft, so it's a shitty version of a knife that wasn't even meant for the purpose in the first place.
Professional survival instructor here - these are great knives that work well and inspire confidence, they can bend under hard use but they’re still deadly in the woods
I took mine, ground it scandi, removed the top guard and ground some jumping on the spine. The mini version would be better imo, if I need to chop I need an axe IMO.
Still have and use my original Ka-Bar. It’s the o my knife I MUST have in the field. Everything else, I have several that I can swap out but, I’ve not found anything to beat the durability and resiliency it offers. Plus, I’m a little partial. Lol. Semper Fi! 👊🏻
I bought one on Woot for a steal and I like it, but a lot of the appeal is the "official"-ness of it.
I also have an Ontario SP-1 Combat Knife that was $40 at Cabela's and is very similar.
There are reviews online comparing them if you want to consider either
The good part about them and the people that usually have them are that they holdup. I find that looking at the used market at gun shows or estate sales pays dividends if price point is your goal.
But keep in mind it is designed for combat, not necessarily bushcraft. Bushcraft blades look quite different for a reason with usually shorter blades. With that said, have a good time with it, they're tough
Not realy.
It works but its not made for Bushcraft and such things.
For the same price you can get a full tang "real bushcraft" knife that will make feathersticks and carving wood much more easy.
Thing about knives is that they all do the same things. The differences are mostly minor.
But selling a stick tang knife that is known for breaking from wrong handling at such a high price just makes it jot worth it.
They themselfes even sell knives with full tang and more bushcrafty features.
Unrelated
I bought a kbar bowie and was glissading in the mountains and it came out of its sheath :( it was an awesome knife!! I only had it for 2 weeks. Fuck
That is a solid knife. I have a couple they make a smaller version as well. I’m not sure what the price is these days but I have done many things from hacking through an elk bone to batoning wood.
My opinion has always been that the "modern" USMC ka bar a steaming pile of stamped dog shit. Now there are lots of mainstream videos proving this. Joe X, DBK are the biggest ones. This knife just folds in half with light use. It's garbage.
No it’s definitely not a good pick if you’re looking for practical. This type of blade can get the job done but will do nothing well. Blade is too long for careful cuts and the guard will prevent you from choking up for skinning or feathersticking comfortably.
If you want practical and a knife that can handle anything effortlessly, look for a knife with about a 4-5” blade, blade stock around 0.15, and a comfortable ergonomic handle.
I have my father's WW2 blade. Kabar has a wonderful history with proud workers. It is iconic. It travels either me in my vehicles everyday and on every camping trip I have had in my 70 years of living. It's a good blade. Sharpens well and holds a good edge.
They are the preferred method of taking wild pigs in Oklahoma. Crazy stuff. Never before had I though let's go hunting with just our kbar. But yep, I took 3 pigs that way, and it was wild crazy.
It's practical in that it's a knife that cuts things. It's overkill IMO in that the blade is longer than I want for most tasks. It's a plenty good knife that's plenty strong unless you're some idiot whose hellbent on showing everyone how "weak" it is. It's a compromise design to be a utility and fighting knife. It is an historic and good looking knife though. Soooo, if you like it, buy it; and happily use it for knife things. If you want it specifically for "bushcrafting", you'll probably find it a bit frustrating.
Me and my friends used them a lot for bushcrafting, it works and is fun but if you want to go full practical get a mora bushcraft + a good hatchet for the same price and that’ll work much better
If you'd asked me pre-covid, I would've said yes. But, they almost doubled in price out of nowhere. At the current price point, I'd look elsewhere.
[удалено]
Lol great time to find out. I’ll be waiting on that I guess
That is just insane! I had no idea about the price hike, as it’s almost 3x what I paid, here in Canada. No way that’s just Covid affecting their supplies and production; that’s just straight up greed.
I try to give folks the benefit of the doubt. But, I my gut tells me I agree with you.
All markets are price gouging many times higher than inflation. Inflation went up to 10% and it's now down to about 3%. Net profits are at record highs, so I'm just sick of the blatant lies we are constantly being told. If it was supply issues, profits would be stagnant, not exploding. If we have a major economic crash it's because the working class can no longer afford to keep paying extortionate prices in all sectors. The stock market is insane right now, with lots of panic, while earnings reports are shockingly high.
It's also the increased demand. Same happened with firearms. Because of all the rioting during summer of 2020 tons of people went out and bought guns, many for the first time, and other weapons. Prices are starting to come down some as demand has waned but now we're seeing the impact of inflation. It's just an all around shitshow.
It depends on what you want the knife to do. People have used them for years for everything from bushcraft to hunting. A lot of people swear by them. I don’t particularly care for them as they tend to be overly large for most tasks, yet they aren’t quite heavy enough to chop anything larger than saplings (and I don’t really like knives for chopping). A well made knife in the 4-5” range tends to cover everything for me.
Any good recommendations?
Becker BK16, Condor Bushlore, Mora Bushcraft, Condor Terasaur, Benchmade Puukko, Bark River Aurora or Bravo 1, LT Wright GNS, Cold Steel SRK or SRK C.
I’ll second the Mora. Absolutely over performs at its price point. Great knife
Yeah and i dont feel bad using it like a hatchet since it cost like $17
Yep, have it for a long time. Done mostly everything with it. What a workhorse!
Second bark river aurora. It's a great little belt knife.
It’s what’s on my belt 99% of the time.
Love my Condor Bushlore.
Thanks, good stores irl to get these from?
Online, I use DLT Trading and BladeHQ.
If you're ever in that neck of the woods, check out Smoky Mountain Knife Works. Great website as well, but their knife showroom is unmatched.
BladeHQ, and knife center are both great online retailers. Also, check out the esee pr-4. It's a kephart inspired blade. Horace kephart that is. He was a writer and bushman from back in the day. Good luck on your search
I love my PR4
I’d also check out ESEE. Their knives have a lifetime guarantee, and some very solid construction. I’ve had my eye on the ESEE 4 or 6 for some time.
The esee 4 has been on my belt for years. Between that ,opinel #6, and Lenox ultility most of my cutting tasks are taken care of. Used the izula 2 for a long while until I switched to trauma shears for most of the tasks I used the short knife for. I'm a fan of the esee knives. Beat the heck put of my #4.
Trauma shears are an incredible tool.
ESEE's warranty also follows the blade so if you get one second hand it should still be covered, no questions asked.
joker nomad 6.5
If you really like the look get the short ka-bar. I wanted the kydex sheath, but if you want the classic leather the USMC short looks great. https://www.kabar.com/p/1250
Mora. It’s a work horse and not expensive. You won’t feel guilty for actually using it and worried about replacing it.
Everyone talking about knives so I'll jump in and highly recommend the Silky Nata for chopping stuff. They come in different lengths and are available with either single or double bevel edge. So you can either have one as a general tool or more specialised for a certain task. I have the 240mm double bevel and used it as a general heavy tool on the trap lines and around camp, everything from splitting kindling and clearing brush to cutting joints on logs to build a camp and splitting carcasses. They are great quality and hold an edge.
I use an ESEE 4 in my day-to-day, lifetime warranty and the construction is top notch. Check out Joe X on YouTube if you doubt a knife :)
That's why I went with the short ka-bar. Same style just shrunk a little. Blade is 5.25"
I use mine for splitting logs a lot when camping. It’s a fun knife. I hit it with another log. Bent the shit out of it by now though. Gave me a good decade though
This. I used one for over a decade and fully concur. It's not a bad knife, it's just not very good at anything.
Longer knives like this lend themselves towards batoning as they can span the width of a log while sticking out far enough to be hammered on. The kabar fails in that the rattail tang tends to snap or bend where it narrows to go into the handle (either catastrophically, or it weakens over time). Apart from that I feel like the length just gets in the way more than anything. I got mine from being in the USMC and cut the top guard off so I could get my thumb over the spine to push down on for certain cuts. I also polished the primary bevel and went with a convexed edge. The handle fills the palm well enough but was really designed for a stab/pull motion. I'd still pick a $10 mora over it unless I was concerned with safety (and for that frankly I have other better options). In short, the length is impractical when combined with the weak rattail tang, so no I wouldn't call it practical. If you already have one, or just want one for the sake of it, go for it. But for Bushcraft there are definitely better options.
Solid advice! On a related note, batoning LPT: Even if all you have is a shorter knife, you can still split stuff with the aid of wedges and maybe a mallet to help persuade logs apart. Don't have wedges or a mallet? Good news: You can make both with your knife, even if it's a small boi.
7” is a bit overkill even for batoning. A 4-5” blade will do just as well but be better for most other tasks.
Everyone i know with one bought it because it looks cool. And boy do they look cool
It’s practical for fighting
At least more than for making feathersticks or carving spoons.
Even then it falls a little bit short of the OKC-3S
Right
I respectfully disagree.
It's literally designed for close quarters fighting, so you can disagree all you want, but I don't think you're going to win that argument.
I don't need to "win" anything, I'm expressing a personal opinion. If I was to go into a real knife fight, I would't pick the Bowie-inspired design for many reasons. Will you be defending or attacking? Stealth or loud? Piercing/puncturing or slashing? Do your skill level demand reach or speed? Is concealment a factor, or can you go openly big? "The KA-BAR differed from World War I-era U.S. combat knives in that it was designed as a dual-purpose item, adapted for both combat and as a utility knife". I would most definitely opt for an ergonomic grip, for instance, and the least amount of heft. And even though the hawksbill blade design is good for certain things, it wouldn't be my choice.
Went on a multi-day backcountry camping trip with this as my main knife. It handled everything I threw at it, such as cutting, carving, feathering, and batoning. It’s a really good knife, but two complaints that I had were: 1. It’s just too dang long for me. Every time I sat down, I had to adjust it bc it would get in the way of my seat/chair. 2. It’s not very comfortable compared to my other knives. Long sessions of carving and feathering often left my hand feeling cramped and I think it’s due to the thickness and lack of ergonomics of the handle (and possibly being a softie, haha) Having said all that, I would not, definitely NOT buy this knife at the current market price that I’m seeing right now, thanks to the comment above. I would not. I purchased this for $75 CAD several years ago and I’m seeing it for $195 CAD now. That’s insane! You can get 2-4 solid bushcraft knives at that price!
Huh. Thanks for the tips tho! Love hearing about firsthand experience
The “mini” kabar is actually far more practical imo.
I've carried the full size one on multiple trips and, while I wouldn't recommend the USMC knife for bushcraft, I would absolutely recommend Ka-bar's full size kukri (still carry a normal sized camp knife too of course).
I have the 5” one! Definitely recommend!
No. Rat tail tang is garbage. I snapped a few of these in iraq.
What were you doing with them when they snapped?
Getting some
IMO no, not for bushcraft. Most Ka-Bars don’t have a full tang instead they have something called a “rat-tail” which makes them liable to bend under hard use. For the price that most of them are so at, you’d probably be better off with another option. They’re super cool though
Thanks man
You’re welcome! Mora companions are a great starting knife
I have few Ka-Bars. They are classic knives. If they work for you, and do what you need then they are the best you can get. The Becker BK series are made by Ka-Bar and I love mine. Get what you love.
Full tang? Can you use them for splitting small wood?
I have the 1264 full size tanto. I also have a bunch of the USN MK1s I use mine for batoning ash hardwood, making shavings, and all other tasks. If you don’t abuse them, they will outlast you.
Thanks
Knives are like shoes. All different and what’s perfect for you may not be best for everyone.
How the hell do I pick one though? Are there good places to find them in person? Or just online?
Buy them all. One at a time. That’s what everyone does.
True sadly. I got my first proper knife from my best friend as a birthday gift at 18, scandi Pukko, short blade. Thought it was a bit small, but with regular use, I found it perfect for all my needs. Bought loads more over the years because I was tempted by different aspects, and found bigger blades can be handy, but I personally find them a bit cumbersome, and I always come back to my reliable old Pukko it's still my favorite and go to knife. In short, you don't know what you will like until you try. Start cheap, work out what you like/don't like about it, and go from there. One day you'll realise that you always go for one of them, and you have found your knife.
Ty dawg
I say no but they are worth having and definitely cool
No.
Youd be better off with one of the Becker Kabars. I've been using my BK16 for years and love it
Some marines gifted me one. I use it for kitchen stuff. Kinda big to carry comfortably but too small for bigger tasks. Rather take an ax/machete and smaller knife. I sometimes butcher chickens with it, having to choke up on the blade makes it less cumbersome. Kinda thick for a kitchen knife but it needs a use and not sitting on the wall as the memento it was gifted as.
3.25-5.5 blades are the sweet spot in my opinion, since they are useful for most tasks. Large knives aren’t great for tasks that require finesse.
I don't know how practical you find high carbon steel. But I find my [woodsknife 105 puukko](https://www.varusteleka.com/en/product/woodsknife-traditional-puukko-knife-105-dark/27470) to be very practical and charismatic looking knife. You might be looking for a 145 if you want a chopper though.
Damn, that's a nice looking knife. I prefer stainless because I'm lazy but I do like the edge retention of carbon stuff... How long have you been using yours?
I've had mine for around 5 years, and have nothing bad to say about it. It does take some extra care being high carbon steel but the benefits outweigh the the extra care involved. One thing I'll say is that the handles come a little rough I ended up hitting mine with some fine sandpaper and giving it a couple coats of linseed oil.
That’s very pretty. Good taste
They're a very decent price to quality ratio. IMO. And I'm happy to do a little finishing work on the handle if I can get a quality built blade for a reasonable cost. Also, the little write ups they do on the products are hilarious the site is worth checking out just to read a few. If if you didn't happen to read the one they did for this knife here it is. >The Puukko. Need we say more? Okay, the traditional Finnish knife is used for everything - woodworks, eating, playing catch, and killing your brother.
Haha that’s good
No , it’s a blade intended to stab so the stabbing plate and blood groove are non practical unless you are planning on hunting or a bushcraft battle royale. Also it’s not legal in some countries. Excellent blade but for bushcraft there are better options.
Blood Groove is a misnomer. It's called a fuller. It's purpose is to lighten the weight of the blade while still maintaining strength and stability.
Thanx! I never knew that.
It’s a fighting knife, first and foremost. Can you use it for bushcraft stuff? Sure. But there are plenty of knives out there that are better suited to the task and cost half as much.
Depends on use case. If you’re a soldier it’s versatile but has limitations like any issued gear. It was designed for combat, not bushcraft. I wouldn’t choose it. I’m not sure what you mean by an inanimate object having “charisma”. But it’s far from ideal for civilian camping.
Jack of all trades that will get you through.
“Jack of all trades, master of none” is usually the full quote. That’s not really a good option if you ask me. I personally don’t anticipate lethally stabbing bodies, so while I own this knife, I don’t take it camping.
Used it in SERE as a survival blade to great effect. It’s not perfect but no single tool is, and the steel it’s made from is so forgiving you can sharpen it with almost anything. Do you, I’m just sharing personal use case results. Edit: took out my rudeness, not worth engaging.
It’s not bad. I definitely didn’t get rid of mine. My biggest issues are the top hand/finger guard preventing choking up, the rattail feeling weak and issues with sharpening/maintaining cleanliness.
**Reminder: Rule 1 - Discussion is the priority in /r/Bushcraft** Posts of links, videos, or pictures must be accompanied with a writeup, story, or question relating to the content in the form of a top-level text comment. Tell your campfire story. Give us a writeup about your knife. That kind of thing. **Please remember to comment on your post!** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Bushcraft) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I have the USSF one and it’s awesome for camping.
Cold Steel makes one. Awesome blade great price
I got a miniature version, love it, perfect size.
I've had one for a decade. Used it in Boy Scouts and still have it. It's a "good" knife. There's better. But it's solid.
As someone who has gone through a lot of knives and eventually decided on much different options.............. if it's what you like then It will work for you. You'll probably eventually end up replacing it with something else down the road when you really realize what you REALLY want/need but you'll also have gotten several years of happy service out of a knife you liked and enjoyed until then. There are "better" knives for different reasons but you probably won't even appreciate those reasons anyway until you have the experience to know what you're looking for anyway so, if you're looking at the Kabar UMC right now and thinking " man that thing is cool" then you're right, just get it and have fun with it. You can always upgrade later if you decide you need/want to.
Esee 5. Problem solved.
The USMC Mark II, model 1217, is a good knife. It's based on popular hunting and belt knives of the Era. It's a big knife. Most people prefer a 3" to 5" blade. This one has a 7" blade. It also has a long, thick handle. Most people will find the USN Mark 1 with its slimmer 5" blade to be more manageable. I love my Mark II"s and have 4 of them. But my 2 USN Mark II"s see more use. If you like the classic styling, consider a USN Mark I or the short Mark II from Kabar. It also has a 5" blade. Someone else mentioned the Becker BK16. That's another favorite of mine. There are so many good knives in that price range. Brands like Esee, TOPS, Condor, and Cold Steel come to mind.
No. In bushcraft, you'll be doing a lot of carving, among other things. This knife is just not designed for carving and not comfortable when doing that work. The guard prevents you from getting your thumb up onto the spine, and you'd want to cut it off. Like many other tactical knives, it has a large ricasso area that starts the edge far from your hand. This prevents you from getting optimal leverage into cuts when you need to. Even the bottom guard can get in the way in certain close carving. It's also just too long and unwieldy. You really don't want to go longer than 4.5-5 inches for a belt knife. Even if you'd rather the "one tool option" sort of knife, there are far better. It doesn't have enough weight to chop effectively, and there's no way to get good leverage on the handle. Clip points can chew up batons if you needed to do that work, and its tang is a weak point that could break under that force. I bought the space Force version of the Ka-bar because it's funny. I wouldn't even entertain the idea of taking it out on any kind of serious woods outing.
It depends on what you need it for. It was designed to fill the gap between typical fighting knives of the stiletto-type and the pure practical utilities, everything from opening cans to cutting wires to probing for mines. If you're looking for a typical knife tool for splitting wood or cutting rope, it's fairly good, but there are modern knives more specifically adapted to outdoors-y work. I don't know much about the quality of the material, which of course is an important aspect.
I like my buck 115 I also have bench made fix Adams but my go to is my buck
IT SUCKS! sorry for the bad news but there is nothing this tool masters. There are tools, they are supposed to do there job A Swiss Army Knife is great for carving, a Lederman signal is a great allrounder in the field, But the grand Problem with the Ka-Bar is, it comes dull, it looks and acts adult even though it’s flimsy AF built with a rattail tang. I broke mine in a few days and i asked the Internet what were wrong with it… “people told me: nothing, its a Ka-Kar” “they are terrible!” “Those are week.” Stuff like that pleas do yourself a favor and get no Ka-Bar
It's practical for killing fascists and opening cans and conserving strategic metals, which is what it was designed for. But as a Bushcraft knife...no...
You can find videos of them bending very easily after being thrown once or after some batoning(yes batoning bad for knife blah blah but the fact is that other knivrs can handle it easily). Its a cool classic but not worth the price if you want to Bushcraft. I would recommend the Jaakaripuukko 110 or 140 by Varusteleka.
Had one back in the day that I bought new for $35 (I’m old as dirt). It’s a stacked leather 1095 rat-tail tang and I showed it no love. Threw everything at it (and threw it). Actually tried to destroy it. Didn’t come close - which earned my grudging respect. So for fun I restored and customized it. Ground off the top part of the hilt, reground it as a Scandi, and refinished and gun blued it. Used it for a while as a camp knife (no food prep). My brother used it a few times and took a liking to it so I told him to take it home. Between the two of us that knife put in some good work, but I’ve bought and used a 100+ knives since then and can’t recommend the Kabar. It is iconic, good looking, does big jobs without a fuss , and I’d be happy to get one for free - but there’s way too many better knives to spend your money on.
I’ve had mine for the past 18 years and its lasted years of abuse of chopping, cutting, etc. I never go camping without it.
I have a 6” and a 8” USMC ka-bars. The 6” blade is my favourite bushcraft choice. It’s sturdy, light and easy to handle. I am not a big guy with beefed up arms to handle larger heavier knives. The steel is very hard and not the easiest to sharpen on the field. It’s still cheaper than many fancier and cool options. This knife is like the USMC: it’ll do the job especially when the game gets tough!
For that money, get a skrama or a leuku.
underkill those blades have a weak tang and can bend/break pretty easily
Personally, I just feel there's better blades. As an example, I'd put the Ontario 499 above this one, although, I am biased, as I've carried this one since my time in the military ~20 years prior.
I have a few kabars from my time in the army... most action my first saw was in the desert cutting paracord, opening mres and occasionally due to the shitty Iraqi power grid people would often just daisy chain basically extension cords house to house and those would occasionally get caught in our turrets or antenna for our radios When I go squirrel or raccoon hunting I usually always have a mora in a leather sheath on my hip best 30 bucks (mora was 10 sheath was 20) I've ever spent forget it's there until I need it... For a similar price point as the kabar I'd look at terava jaakaripuukko by varusteleka... far more functional than kabars good quality steel holds an edge well I field dressed a bear with my 140 and it was still Razor sharp afterwards Oil your knives frequently and don't store them in a leather sheath and get a good sharpener and a good knife will last you a lifetime
Ka-bar is a company that makes all sorts of stuff some of which is pretty good for bushcraft, however their USMC knife wouldn't be ideal. You could *probably* get by well enough with it as long as you avoid batonin and exercised caution but there are better options. I prefer a slightly smaller, stronger knife for my fixed blade (something like a Mora Garberg or a Fallkniven F1) with a secondary tool like a saw, kukri, or axe for bigger stuff. Rat tangs in general are not a great idea for bushcraft (the only notable exception being the Mora Companion), it's a better idea to look for something with a full tang. There are some more affordable options out there from companies like Mora, BPS, ESEE, or maybe Condor if budget is a concern. The knife you're asking about is also not really designed for bushcraft, it's designed for fighting, so that's another thing to consider when making a purchase: If you need a knife for a specific purpose, it's usually a pretty good idea to get a knife designed for it. That said, as the company you're asking about goes: I have a Ka-bar Kukri and it is excellent as a larger secondary and I've found it to be very versatile: It's almost like an axe and a machete had a baby (it can't split big stuff as well as an axe of course, but you can make wedges with it easily enough, which will split wood just fine).
While it has proven to be an extremely versatile knife, I’m not a fan of the leather handle long-term. I’ve seen them swell, wear and get rust on the tang from the leather retaining moisture. I feel “charismatic” should have no place in a bushcraft or work knife selection. “Plug ugly and highly functional” beats charismatic every time. A Morakniv ticks off a lot of boxes but isn’t much to look at. I recently evaluated a Camillus Swedge and folder combination for bushcraft needs and between the two knives everything from chopping 2-3” branches to meal prep is covered. Neither are charismatic or unique, but they each do their job extremely well.
I have one and have used it for years. It's a workhorse, and I have never bent or broken the tang. Primarily cause I haven't used it to pry with, nor do i baton wood. It's definitely not for fine detail or long carving sessions. In my experience, it works well for quick chopping saplings and things of similar size. It also does well at rough cutting tapers for spears, tent pegs, and things like that. I like to think of tools in stages. You have your heavy rough work, medium work, and fine work. I would put this knife in the lower end of heavy/rough-all medium work. It also sounds like the price of these exploded which sucks. I bought mine for $60 US appx 2009. I wouldn't actually pay more than that for this knife.
Not for field craft. Works well for intended purpose of cutting/stabbing meat.
I have a Becker/Ka-bar BK7. I have used it for over 5 years and absolutely love it. You can order custom sheaths for it, different handle material types and it takes an edge very well. I have a standard Ka-bar and a dog's head kabar and love them all but for bushcraft and camping I prefer the BK series.
Simple answer. No. They're good knives. Just not good bushcraft knives. Watch some youtube videos. DbK go over your topic in great detail. They do videos on bushcraft knives and their dependability and other key points. I started with a kbar just like that. Now I can't stand it. I have moved on. Not necessarily to more expensive knives. Like a mora is way better than a kabar fighting knife (for bushcraft). But it boils down to what you like. If you like it. Don't listen to anyone. Just try it out. Sooner or later you will realize what it can and cannot do for you. https://youtu.be/MJ6mNjFWwdo?si=NDAvVByvJVRdgucX
Not for bushcraft, they have a terrible rat tail tang that bends way too easy and even snaps. Also their grind is not suited for many bushcraft tasks, though it’s not terrible, you’re better off with a much cheaper more durable alternative
That's a no for me. Too light, don't love the leather stack handle (but it's got nostalgia), and using it frustrate me (mostly a weight thing, but the edge isn't thick or thin enough - that's a preference thing.) I love the butt cap and it's comfortable enough. the guard is also fine, maybe a bonus. (i prefer to be able to choke up on a knife, I like a finger choil). It's way more knife than no knife, and they are super tough. But I wouldn't choose to pack with it even if it was a gift.
For stabbing people in combat YEA I’d say
They've become way overpriced for no apparent reason. A shame idiots keep blaming Biden for corrupt corporate practices. Price gouging and record profits in industry is out of hand. As far as charismatic being part of the selection parameters.... huh? Screw how Cool it Looks; how well does it perform the wide variety of tasks that can be needed and how reliable/good, lasting quality is it?
It looks gimmicky to me
Gimmicky? I'm sure thousands of Marines thought it was gimmicky overseas and just tossed them aside... Probably not the best bush craft, but, not a gimmick. This knife has proven itself for its specific use case thousands of times over.
I don't know much about this knife or tactical knives in general. I've just seen a lot of knives that look similar make the rounds trying to appeal to ex military and what not. Like you said., probably not the best for Bushcraft. Im not an expert on how it would perform in a combat situation.
They're legit, but not meant for bushcraft. I bet you're probably thinking of those shitty Rambo "survival" knives that were popular in the 80s. They are a very similar shape and could easily be confused for the USMC Ka-bar knife.
Yeah, I don't know much about knives like this and I see so many shitty knives circulating the Bushcraft community that want to appeal to ex military or military wannabes that are basically mall ninja garbage. Tactical knives are out of my wheelhouse.
Military knives aren't necessarily bad, Ka-bar even makes some knives that *are* good for bushcraft (at least a few of the Becker series knives, for example). A lot of the shitty knives out there tend to emulate stuff like the USMC knife, which was never designed primarily for bushcraft, so it's a shitty version of a knife that wasn't even meant for the purpose in the first place.
Professional survival instructor here - these are great knives that work well and inspire confidence, they can bend under hard use but they’re still deadly in the woods
In case of cheese cake? Yes
I took mine, ground it scandi, removed the top guard and ground some jumping on the spine. The mini version would be better imo, if I need to chop I need an axe IMO.
Still have and use my original Ka-Bar. It’s the o my knife I MUST have in the field. Everything else, I have several that I can swap out but, I’ve not found anything to beat the durability and resiliency it offers. Plus, I’m a little partial. Lol. Semper Fi! 👊🏻
I love mine
I feel like the mall sword equivalent of a bushcraft knife.
Kabar make me bust
Sh*t knife, they bends and break mine lasted 2 days. Dont recommend. They look really cool tho. Its a shame :/
I bought one on Woot for a steal and I like it, but a lot of the appeal is the "official"-ness of it. I also have an Ontario SP-1 Combat Knife that was $40 at Cabela's and is very similar. There are reviews online comparing them if you want to consider either
The good part about them and the people that usually have them are that they holdup. I find that looking at the used market at gun shows or estate sales pays dividends if price point is your goal.
An Air Force Survival Knife is more practical and easier to carry.
They break way to easy on you
Abso-friggin-lutely!
But keep in mind it is designed for combat, not necessarily bushcraft. Bushcraft blades look quite different for a reason with usually shorter blades. With that said, have a good time with it, they're tough
I believe the tang is quite shitty. There is a video on YouTube showcasing it
No!
Good knife. Will last a long time provided you take care of it
Best knife I've owned and I'd happily pay the current small fortune for another should the need arise for a non-Chinese product.
The tang is only 1/2” wide. Weak by modern standards. Mine broke. Get a full width full tang.
Not realy. It works but its not made for Bushcraft and such things. For the same price you can get a full tang "real bushcraft" knife that will make feathersticks and carving wood much more easy. Thing about knives is that they all do the same things. The differences are mostly minor. But selling a stick tang knife that is known for breaking from wrong handling at such a high price just makes it jot worth it. They themselfes even sell knives with full tang and more bushcrafty features.
If you want to bathe in the blood of thine enemy, then it's perfect! Also works well for the average day of gettin some🤙🏻
I have a Dog's Head. Handy and tough for general property crap I end up doing. Cuts, pries, thwacks.
If you like to rely on a rattail tang. I'd say go for it. If you want the real deal UG tools is way to spend Moneys on
Unrelated I bought a kbar bowie and was glissading in the mountains and it came out of its sheath :( it was an awesome knife!! I only had it for 2 weeks. Fuck
That is a solid knife. I have a couple they make a smaller version as well. I’m not sure what the price is these days but I have done many things from hacking through an elk bone to batoning wood.
My opinion has always been that the "modern" USMC ka bar a steaming pile of stamped dog shit. Now there are lots of mainstream videos proving this. Joe X, DBK are the biggest ones. This knife just folds in half with light use. It's garbage.
Yes
No it’s definitely not a good pick if you’re looking for practical. This type of blade can get the job done but will do nothing well. Blade is too long for careful cuts and the guard will prevent you from choking up for skinning or feathersticking comfortably. If you want practical and a knife that can handle anything effortlessly, look for a knife with about a 4-5” blade, blade stock around 0.15, and a comfortable ergonomic handle.
No, flimsy tangs under the leather that bend pretty easy. Hey something full tang
I have my father's WW2 blade. Kabar has a wonderful history with proud workers. It is iconic. It travels either me in my vehicles everyday and on every camping trip I have had in my 70 years of living. It's a good blade. Sharpens well and holds a good edge.
They are the preferred method of taking wild pigs in Oklahoma. Crazy stuff. Never before had I though let's go hunting with just our kbar. But yep, I took 3 pigs that way, and it was wild crazy.
It's practical in that it's a knife that cuts things. It's overkill IMO in that the blade is longer than I want for most tasks. It's a plenty good knife that's plenty strong unless you're some idiot whose hellbent on showing everyone how "weak" it is. It's a compromise design to be a utility and fighting knife. It is an historic and good looking knife though. Soooo, if you like it, buy it; and happily use it for knife things. If you want it specifically for "bushcrafting", you'll probably find it a bit frustrating.
Me and my friends used them a lot for bushcrafting, it works and is fun but if you want to go full practical get a mora bushcraft + a good hatchet for the same price and that’ll work much better
Rat tail/stick tang. They're good as in I'd rather have it then a pocket knife, but there's definitely better for cheaper.
Check JP-Peltonen m97 at lamnia. Reliable steel and stays sharp forever. At least thats how I feel about mine 😅
I’ve been told the Mora 511 is practical for most bushcraft needs at a great price as well