KA-BAR1220 US Army Straight Edge Fighting/Utility Knife with Leather Sheath , Beige, 7" Blade

First of all a nag from other reviews about the sharpness and the edge: This knife is razor sharp from factory and comes like that. Test it on arm hairs and it will go through them like a shaving razor, but there is an explanation why many think it's dull. When you run your finger over it the blade feels dull because it's a thicker edge than most knives. I had same issue with my Buck Nighthawk, it's in fact almost twice as thick as this knife on blade and the edge, but it cuts hair. But if you can put on an edge at the angle you like I won't argue it, just pointing out that running fingers over a thick knife won't give you a proper feel of how sharp it really is.Now back to this knife. I originally had a Nighthawk and thought it was best knife around, then got this. This knife has a tougher handle with a buttcap on the bottom I can use for pommeling, a feature sorely missing from a Nighthawk with it's polymer two-piece handle than will fall apart from pommeling, but not necessary because I use a hammer instead of a knife for that work. The handle on the Ka-Bar's are also better in the fact that they are made from hard washers, and shaped so good you won't lose grip. I got a mid-sized hand and the handle sits perfectly in it, the buttcap and the handguard both prevent the knife slipping forward and back so it is a great handle. The Nighthawk had rubber inlay that's getting scratched and discolored every day I take it out to the farm or the woods with me, the scratches are really noticeable but not deep at all, in fact can't feel them, just see them being brighter green and I predict in a few years it will lose it's gripping ability, Ka-Bar on other hand will last till my children get it and it still has a good enough shape I won't lose grip.The mext part of my review and comparison is about the blade. The blade on the Ka-Bar is a very fine one quality-wise. It's as thick as a proper butchering knife, and a half inch longer than the Nighthawk's blade. Now the Nighthawk has the upper hand of the blade being a very hard cryo-treated steel that's also almost twice as thick as the Ka-Bar while just as sharp. That's fine if the blade will be smashed into stuff or heavily abused from splitting wood etc. but in a real fight it will be a bit slower than the Ka-Bar. There is a fuller on the Ka-bar, it's there not for a blood groove but for architectural strength and weight reduction purposes. This aids this fighting knife in being fast, and since it's just as sharp and still has a clipped point it's very deadly. The Nighthawk wins on heavy duty bear-tank type blade but the Ka-Bar is lighter, just as sharp, still thick enough to bust a window and a half-inch longer. In a fight that is exactly what matters, speed and extra reach, because a real knife fight is over within seconds and if the other guy gets you first due to a longer blade that gets you first, well that's not a good reason to lose/die.To sum it up, Ka-Bar fighting knife against the Buck Nighthawk the Ka-Bar wins in every aspect except the weight and ruggedness of the actual blade. Faster, longer, lighter, just as sharp and the handle not being as fragile makes this match-up obvious to me. Now, to get this clear: I am not dissing the Buck 650 Nighthawk in any shape or form, simply comparing it to a similar product. I would trust my life to the Buck 650 Nighthawk in a fight any day of the week, even Sunday. It is a very combat capable blade and if someone is carrying one already I wouldn't tell them to get a Ka-Bar unless they got $50 extra and really want the edge (no pun intended) on an enemy in a knife fight that really might not happen in your life or during service. If you own a Nighthawk already, get this knife only if you really want to add to your collection. If you don't own either, the Ka-Bar wins by a margin but both blades are winners.

This knife is legendary. I am a veteran and I bought this for someone in the family who is now active duty. This is the knife we take into battle. It is part of our Army tradition and we carry it with pride. I recommend this item to all my brothers and sisters in the military.

Well I really give it a 4.5, but because if the history it gets the 5. I actually think the stainless Ka-bars are more durable and more workable, but they don't get the same respect as the black carbon. You can hit the bottom when needed and when you scratch the blade it doesn't show as much. They are cheaper, the bottom is stronger, stainless blade, and all around a better knife.having said all that, I still like my Army Ka Bar, it is very similar to what is issued in the army when I was in.the 80's. It is a great self defense knife, but if you are looking for a out in the woods hunting knife, there are better options.The pro's are a great sheath! Perfect size for self defense Handle material is great. It has a great history and a great recognizable look. if you need to kill some scumbag in a self defense type situation, you wont find a better knife. Every guy should have a Ka Bar in his collection. Easy to sharpen 1095 cro-van steel. The price is not bad for USA made knife. A great hiking knife, to wear while fishing, and as a combat knife.Cons, thin Bolster is useless to use in camping type situations, the bottom of the knife is a cap held in with a pin, so it can loosen over time if you are using this knife in a camping situation where sometimes you use a hammer type motion to plunge the knife into a giving material. I believe the stainless series KA Bar is full tang and has the bottom as a part of the tang, so it will not loosen no matter how hard you work it. The bottom line is this knife is better used as a potential combat knife and not so much as a working camping knife, if you are as hard on your camping knives as I am with mine. While it is a good steel, I don't prefer it as much as some of my spyderco police models that keep an edge forever and are scalpel sharp and keep the edge much longer.

It is a great knife it is nice and sharp one of the best knives that I’ve owned I would recommend this kabar to everyone that is wanting a good knife

I ordered this knife for sentimental reasons. I served in the Army for 20 years and always likesd the look of the KA-BAR knife. Only problem was they all had Uncle Sam's Misguided Children stamped on them. So when I saw this one with Uncle Sam Ain't Released Me Yet stamped on it I had to have it. Ok about the knife itself...it is a KA-BAR made in the good Old US of A (few things are anymore sadly) (the sheath is made in Mexico but is very good quality leather it is well stitched and is stacked as well as having rivets for reinforcement) secondly it is very well balanced and the steel in these new ones are 1095 carbon steel High Quality easy to sharpen and holds an edge for a very long time..now fore the NAY SAYERS will it Rust yes it will BUT ONLY IF you're and idiot and don't take care of it; real hard to take care of it few drops or 3 in 1 or a shot of WD-40 now and then. The leather wrapping on the handle needs to be soaked in neets foot oil or use mink oil (best Choice as it waterproofs as well as conditions and preserves) or any other leather type protecting oil. The leather will (with use) loose it's shiny smooth feeling which is what you want so as to have a better grip when using the knife. This is a military knife made for killing people! Will it work for Battoning Absolutely, can you dig with it Yepper, Can you make snares and feather a branch Yes, is it the best survival knife? It will definitely do the Job.Bottom Line Its a Great Classic Knife and everyone should own at least 1.