The Ka-Bar proved easy to manufacture; the first production run was shipped by Camillus Cutlery Company on January 27, 1943.[2] After the U.S. Navy became disenchanted with blade failures on the USN Mark 1 utility knife, the latter service adopted the Ka-Bar as the US Navy Utility Knife, Mark 2.[22] The Marine Corps in turn re-designated the Ka-Bar as either the USMC Mark 2 Combat Knife, or simply the Knife, Fighting Utility. In naval service, the knife was used as a diving and utility knife from late 1943 onward, though the stacked leather handle tended to rot and disintegrate rapidly in saltwater.

FINALLY a proper kabar review. Very annoying watching a kid baton a log with it and break it and say the knife is shit.

five plus years later, had to watch this again! I Did modify mine: files, sandpaper and lots of sandpaper, lots of cigars, sweet tea, coffee, and patience. Great Video!

I found this channel in the truck this morning while drinking my coffee before going into work, absolutely loving it! I have a KaBar that I got in the Marines in '89, had never thought of those type of improvements. Thanks!

Like how well educated you sound and how a good teacher you are

You can greatly improve the grip by sliding five #15 O rings onto it, one for each cut-out notch. They'll fit very tightly & will noticeably enhance your Ka-bar's knife grip.

Having served in the U.S. Marine Corps I was issued a Camillus Ka-Bar for one thing and one thing only and it worked very well I made it home

I love my Kabar, very useful and multi function blade. I did slightly bend the tang where it meets the blade from being too aggressive when batoning some wood, that was completely my fault. Imo if you need to split fire wood, make some wedges and carry a small, decent hatchet. It will always out perform a knife when doing that task. I find the guard useful and wouldn't consider grinding it off, I've used in making a spear from a hollowed out thick diameter branch, and those tabs come in handy when lashing it to the pole. It can be difficult to sharpen but once you do it holds the edge well and touches up nicely. Arkansas stones work the best. I have the kind with a semi serrated blade towards the handle, and I find that useful for rough work, debarking sticks, notching, and light batoning kindling, so I can keep the main blade in good shape and to avoid dings and I find it has plenty of length even with the serrations. I hate hearing people bad mouth this knife cause I know it's a really great blade and also it has a long history in the U.S armed services, and is also a very capable self defense and combat knife in the right hands. Very customizable and very practical and functional . Also alot less money than many overhyped, overpriced survival blades. I think I've said enough.

The compass / navigation trick was interesting.

I've had a Ka-Bar for 45 years and it has held up well. I like the part about using the knife as a compass pretty clever. Thanks Blackie. atb

I have my father's K-bar knife ....2 tours in Korea ...3 tours Viet Nam . I leave it as is . A anti personal tool I use bush craft knives for bush craft .....instead of hacking up a great knife for what it is intended for . thanks for the video 👍 good info and story ....

Hi Blackie, your field jacket is just like the ones we were issued during my service in 1988-1989. Long time since I have seen one. Thumbs up.

I've had a K_Bar for close to 44 years it's never failed I love it. Great tips. Never gave a thought to putting watch points on the pommel have to try it out. Thanks Blackie. atb Opal

"That boulder, that cliff, that tree, that Japanese soldier".................. WAIT, WHAT?

When cameras got cheaper hundreds of snotnosed teenagers bought one and started making youtube videos, everything from survival to firearm reviews to lawnmower repair and underwater basket weaving, many are junk, a waste of time to watch, I watched a few of your videos and am happy to say thanks for not being like those, your videos have good audio, lighting , informative , everything , thanks for making them .

Carried a USN Mk II Ka Bar for 20 years in the Marine Corps. I ground down the tip as you described so that the point of thrust was centered on the handle. Semper Fi.

Those are some great tips. I hadn't considered the navigational aids that were possible with that knife. Thank you.

I got my Kabar Mk2 in 1973 when I was stationed in Guam, in the Pacific. We would take an empty bean can, fill it with neats foot oil, turn the knives handle down, and soak the handles in the oil for a few weeks. The oil completely saturated the leather washers, making them water proof. We had a LOT of humidity over there that would rot leather , so this is how we fixed that problem. We did the same with the sheaths. I still have my Kabar, still love her.

Most instructive. I appreciate this video and I thank you.

Great video Blackie. I've been looking for a video just like this on the Ka Bar. Excellent tips from your uncle too, from a practical use sense to historical sense. We can still learn a lot from the old timers.

You had me worried when you said you had Mods for the KA-Bar ..BUT all that you have done and all that you have mentioned make perfect sense for the conditions you find yourself in .It is an honest and practical vid and I thank you for your time and effort .

Brilliant! Great job Blackie. I have the Case version of the Ka-Bar. I love it`s weight and how it feels in my hand. I have always doubted that rat tail tang. You make excellent points and I learned more than one new thing. Thank you.

top tips, I used (and abused) a ka-bar for 15 years or so, maybe not everybody's preference but i'd take a ka-bar over most commercial knives,

You don't even realized how much this helped me

I love your suggestions! I am absolutely going to make these modifications!

I love the Ka-Bar knife. It was the tool of choice for my Grandfather who fought in WWII. I also removed the cross-bar on mine that I use in the wilderness. Gread advice for batoning!!

Great vid! Awesome info. I never thought about it before. I carried both camilus and ka-bar brand knives during desert shield/storm 90-91, through 2 minefields (combat engineer, USMC). I broke my armory issue one from throwing it too much. The pommel worked its way back and forth too many times and broke. It’s a great fighting blade. I’m gonna mod one of mine. Thanks!

I carried Kabars during eight years of active duty. They were $22.50 at the PX. A new sheath was $15.00. So I just bought a new knife every time the sheath wore out, which was ridiculously often. The point of the knife pokes through the sheath. You wrap it with 100mph tape and when the blade cuts through that you wrap it again until the cut is too big to be wrapped in tape. Get the plastic sheath model. Spring for a kydex sheath. You'll be glad that you did. Other than the sheath, the Kabar is a great wilderness/combat/survival knife, maybe the very best for the money. paired with a good multiblade or multitool, you'll have al the blade that you need.

I’m a massive fan of KABAR’s. All three of the KABAR knives I own, the standard straight blade, standard serrated, and the USMC 120th anniversary, none of them have the issues you speak of. The swedge is not sharpened, nor does it curve back. It may be due to the different companies producing the blade, but mine lack the only gripe you have with the blade. Buy from the KABAR website :)

Out standing tips sir you are very knowledgeable ! Thank you for a great video!!! If I am not mistaken what you have there is a Ontario 498 combat knife , KA-BAR is a separate company , once a division of union cutlery who was one of several company's manufacturing the usmc2 during WW2 and argued to have done it best . hence the reason all knives of that style are commonly referred to as KA- BAR

Thank you for sharing these useful tips, I have an original that my father’s cousin brought back from the Second World War they are both now in heaven bless them but I have the knife which I shall pass it on to my son. Great knife 👌

I just got a Ka-Bar for my best friend on Christmas. Thanks for this video. Great non biased review. 👍

Very good video! Lots of useful things to add the classic KA-BAR THANK YOU

I have actually come back to this video quite a few times. You are talking about everything I did to my Kabar Marine years ago, I also trimmed down the leather grip to fit my hand, the filing down the tip you end up with profile reminiscent of the SP6. Love mine, love mine so much that I rarely use it now! Kinda like 'this is my baby, I am going to take care of you, I cared for you for almost 20 years' , LOL, but true ! Thanks for the channel!

mine is in the mail coming! im pretty excited ive heard a lot of good things about ka bar

I was considering getting a KA-BAR for field work in the woods. Now I'm not so much. Thanks for your input. It helped me make my decision.

Sounds like you want a different knife

ALRIGHT -ALRIGHT - ALRIGHTY! Been carrying my K-Bar since Vietnam. Was gifted it by a Marine Corporal. He didn’t want to go to his Corpsman with a Socially acquired disease because it would go into his medical records and hurt his chances before the promotion board! I took care of his medical needs, was able to keep it out of his records and he gave me his K-Bar after I admired it and said I wish the Army issued them to us as well. It has served me well throughout the years so I can’t see making the mods on it so I just acquired another one slightly younger than mine(but not by much) and making mods on it and retiring my original one of 50 years use and carry! Thanks Brother for the knowledge! Never too old to learn !

Interesting tips, good point about what the knife is for. I am happy owner of KA-BAR 1217 and I like it as it comes out of the box. For skinning, drilling and so on I prefer to use a different type of knife. Thank you for your video and waiting for more of them.

I just bought a Kabar at my local Cabela's and I love it. Great video and very cool tricks!! I will be watching it again so I can learn what you said. Thanks, and more Kabar vids would be appreciated too!!!

Most of those same mods can be made to the USAF survival knife. I don't own a Kabar. I did the tip mod a while back. also I ground the hex pommel round, shortened the top guard and rounded both upper and lower. I filed flats on the sides of the handle making it easier to control. The saw back makes good jimping if you round off the sharp corners. I will grind half of the saw teeth off to create the sharp 90 degree spine you mentioned. I also like the idea of the clock face in the pommel. It would have been very easy to lay that out before I rounded off the pommel, oh well. Thanks so much for taking the time to always pass on your wisdom. God Bless.

This was waaaaay more informative AND engaging than I thought it would be, I'll definitely be recommending this channel to my friends

Thanks so much for sharing the navigation technique, I've mentally added it to the list. Really appreciate it! Peace.

Incredible video will watch this several times and mod my Kabars!!

Thanks for the great tips! You see the knife and think: oh, a great utility knife that doubles as a combat knife; what I see is a great combat knife that doubles as a utility knife. The backslash edge and the guard stay on. Great video! I have a “Camillus” made in NY.

I've used my kabar exclusively for kindling in my house woodstove tools. I also use it as a throwing knife for fun. If it bends, I bend it back. Thanks for the upgrade tips. I originally bought it because there was a YT channel that extreme tested knives. He was beating on the kabar with an 8 pound sledge and it never broke, it wasn't pretty anymore. He also would put them in a vice and bend them until they broke, well the kabar just bent. He bent it back and it was fine. I think i paid 25 bucks for mine. You can pay more for junk knives. Thanks for your channel, I love it.

Interesting lecture... I never realised about the compass readings on the pommel, learned something new. Oh, I like yer hat.. Lost my VN-era KaBar (chrome-bladed) but recently picked up a lightly used 1st Gulf War Camillus that looks like your KaBar. My own bush knife is a (not like I don't have choices) Cold Steel bowie I mounted an elk-antler grip on and made a saddle-leather sheath for.. a lot bulkier than the KaBar for sure but it will take abuse that would snap a KaBar/Camillus USMC knife. The point about seawater eating the leather is right on- Ive replaced the rotting leather grips of seawater-exposed USMC knives. Just as an observational somewhat tongue in cheek aside, watching and listening to you- being a Northern man, I'm glad that late war was over long before either of us were born... ;)... Ronald Dunne..

Glad I ran across your show, good to see a fellow Alabamian. I am originally from Andalusia, in south central LA lo "lower Alabama". How about yourself. An thank you for sharing that on the K-bar great knife!

Very Cool info! I was not a Marine I was in the Navy but I love knives and I thought I knew all the functions of the KaBar but I did not know about the Compass or the Sight! Cold Steel Leatherneck knife which is somewhat of a copy of the USMC KaBar but it has some of the Improvement that you suggest like the 90 degree spine of the blade, doing away with the Rat Tail Tang, Removing the Upswing on the tip of the blade and making it drop point, Thicker false edge toward the tip to protect the meat when skinning. I have a Classic KaBar model Stamped USN, KaBar 2000 D2, Ontario KaBar Clone that I cannot remember which model it is and the Leatherneck as part of my knife collection. They are all GREAT Knives and the USN which was a gift from my friends from my last Command which had my Name Rate and years of Service Laser Engraved on the blade.

Thanks, you just answered questions I have had about my Dads K-bar.

I have a K bar i'm going to try some of your ideas thanks Blackie

That is exactly like the one I have. It was my dad's from Navy. He was UDT Korea war era. Knew to use analog watch that way, newinfo to use knife.Thanks for the video

I've always wondered how celestial navigation worked, thanks for explaining how that is used and applied!

Blackie that is all good advice and I am looking forward to trying the navigation stuff out, good work. I have used rubber o-rings on my leather handle finger grooves for better grip. they are cheap and no worries about slipping even with wet hands. keep up the good work. best wishes.

Great video Blacky,great very informative.

Great tips! Thanks for sharing them!

Subscribed! Liked the clock compass info, and the rat tang baton advice!

Very knowledgable man. Thankyou for your effort in making this video sir. Ive sucked up every word like a sponge. Cheers

Long experience has taught me NEVER dull an original sharp edge (particularly on an $75-$100 knife). I've always had to re-sharpen it back to the initial edge. Interesting review. Ty.

very good , nice good horse sense and the guys that carried them in the field and in real action knew how to get the best out of them . Thanks for sharing

Learned so much from this. Great stuff.

Howdy from a new subscriber. You first really good knife was the Mk2 Ka-Bar? That's an amazing coincidence. My first "good" knife was a Ka-Bar, bought it at an Army-Navy Surplus joint out in Huntington Beach, CA., back in the later 1970's. I was driving delivery and it was lunch time. Seeing a place to park I grabbed it, and the surplus joint was a few doors down. The proprietor wanted to sell me something and showed me the Ka-Bar and then the Ontario version. I had to think as at the time there was a $10 difference, about two hours pay at the time. I left with the Ka-Bar. Just found the original box and the price sticker was still quite legible; $29.95. That's been quite a while. It's been a great companion over the decades and while I never have abused it, still remains quite serviceable. I'm really enjoying your content, I like your downhome style and the straight forward presentations you are giving; very well done. Heck, even I can understand most of it, so you are a good instructor. Thanks and be well.

Awesome accent and excellent tips, now looking up your other videos!

Thank you Blackie for sharing those very helpful tips. I really appreciate it. The very best to you. 🤗

Thanks buddy I love your channel, and I have to say I learn all kinds of good stuff

I enjoyed your video and how well your information is. I just want to say two things, First the rear guard is useful in carving holes if you hold the knife like a pencil backwards with the original tip. Second that watch face idea is the coolest thing I have ever heard. I'm gonna put that on mine since I'm from Nevada and used to 20 mile flats.

First i enjoyed your Alabama accent.Hell yeah!!! Second i liked your video especially the part that you said how to navigate and how to use knife for chopping if it is necessary.Greetings from Greece!!!

Outstanding explanations! Liked and subbed.

Great tips! I really appreciate your information!

Learned some things - thanks so much !

Some cool modifications thanks.

Fully agree with this video and advice. The compass thing is new to me but makes sense. I like to keep them as they are for my collection but I do have the Ontario SP1 I have used in the field for years and I did change the sharp swedge and tip point. Also lost the top part of the hand guard. I prefer the Ontario SP1 because it's thicker stock and more weather resistant, but of course you miss the pommel that acts like a field hammer. But I would have no problem with the USMC Mark 2 as my only field knife. It's a classic.

Hey Blackie- Ive been catching up on older vids. I have a very similar knife made by Ontario and I have never been a fan of the clip point design, so what I did to mine is took a file and shaved down the clip point to more resemble a drop point which I like and works better for me. I also have a genuine issue USN WW2 combat issue knife that is basically the knife that the KA-BAR was born from. Believe it or not, that WW2 issue knife is razor sharp and cuts like a razor, however I only show it off to friends. With all that said, the absolute best knife in my opinion that I used while in the service is the Gerber Prodigy. I cant tell you how much abuse I have put that knife thru and it keeps asking for more. Thanks for your tips on stuff like this- Be safe out there-

Blackie is a really knowledgeable guy , I really like his modifications also.

thank you for the tips my brother gave me a Ka bar for my bday and i love the it

Really great info. Thank you

Many good tips & valid advice! Tnx for sharing. ATB Gereon

Very interesting! Thanks for the video!

As built, great fighting knife. You really need to own, at very least, 3 ka-bars. Definitely going to mod one. Thanks, great info.

Always good info in your videos! Thanks!

Awesome video thanks for the information

Interesting presentation.

Great mods, great tips from your Grandpa!

Thanks for this one Blackie! I really enjoyed it and got some good ideas from it. Myself, I`m not a fan of the round handle on most Ka-bars. So the first mod I do is filing or grinding a couple of flats on the sides of the handle.

Greatest knife ever. I buffed the varnish off of the handle, won't slip in your hand when wet.

I liked the OL guy comment, I'm right there with ya, yep the knife peep ain't gonna work in the swamps of fla either. I have the same knife had for 40 yrs an Never mod it, but I will now, thx for the vid.

Excellent and informative info! Sub’ed!

Very good tips and tricks indeed. Thank you for sharing.

Great demonstration of Dead Reckoning Compass!

this was a better video than I thought it would be.

Tradition very important. Thank you for saying that. I am German and for us Tradition is so important. I know for many Countries it ìs important then who wants to loose the identity of you country. Good video about the Ka - Bar , German Bundeswehr doesn't has a good knife they can't make up there mind. 👍

I have a smaller companion skinning knife, also made by Ka-Bar, that I do not use for utility use. I also have a compass with a sighting tool on it, which only helps me when I reach a mountaintop up here in NH. You do what you want with yours, but I'm keeping mine as is. Thanks for the info though. It is a great knife.

best knife mod ive ever heard.treasure trove of info

Nice video, I've ordered the new kabar 1266 modified tanto it has a 8 inch blade. I'm Very excited.

I would love it if you would take a look at the Cold Steel Leatherneck SF knife. Full, wide tang, modern handle grip, straight tip for drilling. No sharp edge on top. I really like this knife! It's like a modernized Ka-Bar.

Love the review... Wow. Good stuff. Subbed you

all excellent points.have you considered a full scani edge on this?

Nice video. That compass idea is great. I never thought of that. Thanks for sharing.

Excellent mods! Thumbs Up!!! Clark

Very useful tips. Thanks for sharing!