Hey if you guys liked this video check out these other videos I've made if you like. Ruger Gov't MK2 & M1A vs Old Cabin : kzfaq.info/get/bejne/jLWCnJBlzZfDhoU.html S&W 629 .44 Magnum blasting. : kzfaq.info/get/bejne/m5qTpqV1nJfYYIU.html NM Sadlak M14 Spring Guide Installation : kzfaq.info/get/bejne/jcx8apyH2dS8dIk.html 1909 7.65mm Mauser at Range .311 bullet vs .312 bullet : kzfaq.info/get/bejne/mZ6TmtSc0LW2lYU.html Thanks for watching, sub if you like.

$19 is all the proof you need😉

First clue should have been that it's sold by Bud-K

One way you can tell if someone bad-mouthing the quality of a KA-BAR was sold a fake is if they claim the blade snapped off at the tang. KA-Bar fighting knives don't snap; they bend. The tangs are differentially heat treated to be softer than the rest of the blade so that they will bend under intense load. The idea is that you can always bend the tang back to straight and keep using the knife, whereas if it were heat treated to be as hard as the rest of the blade, it'd snap off and destroy the knife.

The price sticker should have been a huge red flag genuine K bars do not cost $20

Real KA BAR knives are not Stainless steel blades, they are 1095 Carbon Steel.

Got mine straight from ka-bar factory!

Got my K-Bar in 1984 at MCAS Cherry Point when they were $20 bucks. To this day it still holds an edge and has not given up on me, they were built to last. I'm very thankful I don't have to get another one. At $80 a pop today, my wallet couldn't afford it.

Good video... One thing I've had a difficult time explaining to people is the guard. A LOT of people I've spoken with always think their KA-BAR USMC is fake because the guard is bent and I've thankfully talked a number of people out of selling the real one because they were convinced the fake one with the straight guard is real.

Love the ka-bar usmc knife I finally got one been waiting for 3 years to get one

it's a clone. It would be a counterfeit if they were trying to sell it as a Ka-bar.

the KA-BAR that was issued to me in 1978 has CAMILLUS ON IT and the only anyone will ever get it away from me is to pry it out of my dead hands.... sgt.Smith USMC

I got a USMC KaBar with a serrated edge, came with an authentic sheath. Got it last year, hasn't failed me yet, cuts through anything like butter.

Maybe the $20 price tag would have been the first clue?

I'm just noticing now how crooked the Kabar sits in its handle. 3:35

I knew you were going to say it that way. Most people say it like the old experimental potato chips "Oh - lean" and the people who live in the town call it "Oh-Lee-Anne". The knives look pretty similar.

Another differance that can not be seen is the quality of steel used. An authentic Ka-Bar uses High carbon steel whereas the knockoff will use a cheaper inferior stainless steel that will not hold a keen edge. Unfortunetly that can not be determined just by looking. But just remember the old adage "You get what you pay for.".

BudK seems to be the purveyor of "tacti-cool" junk (though there are some legit quality stuff in their sea of crap). It's clearly marketed to the CoD and CS:GO kiddies who don't know the first thing about milsurp gear or quality fighting/survival tools. I think a good indicator of their target audience's age is that BudK doesn't sell firearms, or even firearm parts (like AR-15 uppers, barrels, Pmags, handgun mags, etc.). However, I don't condemn them for selling mostly crap, as part of growing up is realizing you've been sold crap. It teaches the valuable lesson of "buyer beware," "if the price is too good to be true, be skeptical," and "you get what you pay for." Any time you see a "KA-BAR" sold for $20-$30, you can almost be certain it's a cheap knockoff. The lowest I've ever seen a KA-BAR for sale was $50 at a gun show, and it was well used. Their MSRP is usually around $120, but you can find them for around $75 if you do some shopping around. The reason they cost so much is a combination of the material cost (very high quality Mexican leather, and high quality chromium vanadium 1095 carbon steel), and the quality of manufacturing. Every KA-BAR is forged and hand assembled in America by employees who actually give a damn about the quality of their work. That bumps the operational cost way up. Compare that to a Gerber Bear Grylls Ultimate Survival Knife (also a fantastic bit of hardware), which has a lot of outsourced parts, and is sold usually around the $40 mark. That's about the lowest priced brand new full sized fixed blade knife I'd buy. So yeah, if you see a fighting knife for $15-$30 new, it's probably crap.

I bought the BudK clone K-Bar just to add to my mini collection of military style knives. Now, I plan to buy a real K-Bar but the one I have in mind is the shorter 5.25 inch blade because I think it would be a better utility knife than the longer 7" combat blade. Nice video.

i have used this to determine that a knife i was thinking about buying, is either real, or a very accurate fake, smaller proportions, USMC letters pointing up towards blade, has KA-BAR written on it, very good paint on it, leather is darker

Got issued mine in 68 it a Camillus still got it

Although I'm not a Marine, have worked with several, I've been interested in getting a Ka-Bar for myself. Thanks for showing the differences between the real deal and the ones made in "Cheena".

Thank you man! You help me a lot because here in Brazil we have so many ka-bar fakes on sale in the internet... Thanks!

Olean is pronounced Oh Lee Ann for those wondering. It is a city in Upstate NY Northeast of Bradford Pennsylvania. (I lived in Jamestown NY and traveled to Olean many times for classes)

Good to know how to tell the difference. It would be extremely embarrassing to have the blade snap off on your enemies ribcage because of cheap Chinese construction. My favorite uncle had to "use" his KA-BAR several times in the South Pacific on the island hopping campaign( World War Two) And he was able to pass it along to my cousin Jim.( His son)

Is gun oil ok to use on keeping it rust resist and sharping it ?

Have been known to actually shave with one back in my wicked and misspent youth. My old one had been sharpened so much that it had a curved in blade, super sharp and they HOLD their edge. Have used one as a hatchet once to cut down small tree.

I have my grandpa's original usmc issued kabar he never used it, it still looks brand new

I have had my original Ka-Bar and its sheath since 1983 and it is still in mint condition.

That's is a lot of good information. Mine was purchased at the MC exchange on Wake Blvd, Parris Island, so I had no doubt that it was real but it was nice to see every detail that you pointed out. A couple I wasn't aware of. But it removes any doubt that one might have if they hadn't gotten it personally either from the MC or a reputable dealer. Thanks again thumbs up from me.

$84? I bought my K-bar in 2008 or so for like $50. Damn prices have gone up.

Thanks for your video I have been wanting one for no other reason than to say I had an official USMC fighting knife. I would have beenz very disappointed to know I had bought an imposter.

Ka-Bar's are made in the USA.. They have a leather stacked Rounded handle.. they are stamped Ka-Bar on the sheath and they also go for around 50 to 150 dollars depending on the year it was made.

Good tips and information for those who didn't know..."handcrafted in China"...should tell you everything though

I bought mine for $80 from an army surplus store..yes its real still going strong 20 years later..

Subscribed! Looking forward to your videos! ✌

Something I didn't hear you mention that you may of is the blade. It is slightly off centered because it lines up better when you stab. I just bought mine for about $100 off Amazon and it was definitely worth it.

If it has USMC on it was never in the Ka-Bar factory. Ka-Bar stamped their logo on the guard. The US Military ordered knives in this pattern from dozens of US companies.

Ontario Knife Company was the one that had a contract to make ka bars for the Marines with their model #498. Union Cutlery Company also made K bars and in 1952 they changed their company name to Ka Bar to capitalize on the popularity of the knife. A real Ka bar is a knife with the design that you see in the video and made by any of the manufacturers that made the knife in the day. Union Cutlery Company was the one that put the name Ka- Bar on the knife and sold it like that

Is there a website you could recommend where i could get a real one?

Oh thank God I got one off Amazon, and it's legit. Thanks dude.

Got mine from granddad👍👍👍..its been overseas.. Normandy.. Its the real deal.. And his m3 fighting knife..it's stamped 1943 on the sheath..had them since he passed in 1982 RIP granddad😞😞..wish I had him instead of the knife's..

My k-bar 1213 is being delivered today I'm just sitting here waiting for it along with a K Bar Reinhardt kukri

Shouldn’t one of the hand bars be bend inwards?

I heard that the guard on the knock-off was plastic. Is this true?

The guard of the real KA-BAR is offset from the handle, whereas the fake one is centered.

Why does the original not lined up with the handle looks ofset

The biggest give away is the price. I have 2 ka-bars. I bought the first at the mcx Parris Island while watching graduation ceremonies. It is not used or carried. It cost me $79. The second was given to be by a friend. I don't know how much but would be compatible to the one I purchased. I use the gifted one as an EDC utility knife. My state allows me to carry large knives either concealed or open carry.

One thing he didnt mention is that some of the ones that arent issued dont have to say USMC on it. I bought a real one, it says USA on one side and Ka Kar Olean NY on the other. I didnt want one that said usmc since Im not a Marine(yet) I wouldnt feel right about it. Im trying to join tho. Does anyone know whether they issue ones with leather handles or the synthetic handles in the Marines nowadays?

I knew mine was real but this video helped me to confirm it 100 percent.

thanks brother

I had the fake one would like to get around to getting a real one some day

Great ! . Thank you .

Hey guys, blade HQ sell authentic K bars for $80? I want to get one. LMK

Often imitated never duplicated.

KA-BAR knives are manufactured less than two miles from my house in Olean . However, it's pronounced, Oh-lee-Ann, with emphasis on the "O"

The original USMC KA-BAR knife was handed down to me. Still got original leather handle.

I found a fake ka-bar knife and it was the most strangest knife I've ever held,used,got,and I even disassembled the knife to and it was strangely heavy unlike the real kabar to its very light

I love my Kabar. Bring it everywhere

i really hate those D-bags making counterfeit stuff and trying to sell it off and market it as the real thing. i bought my ka-bar for like.. what 800₪? (ILS. do the math yourself to usd or whatever). and i was relieved to know thats it was a REAL ka-bar and not some cheapo ass no good piece of scrap. honestly, those 800₪ were worth it because i LOVE this knife

Definite give away: The KA -BAR is patently made in Olean NY. Anywhere else...it's a knockoff. Also, the "false" edge on a genuine KA-BAR is SHARPENED...it has a sharp edge.

Glad mine is the real deal and proud to own it . Excellent video and just subscribed to your channel thanks

Where can I buy the real one?

"China " was all you needed !!

Also the real kbar blade is offset from handle, not directly center above it

Speaker: As you can see. Me: I can’t see sh*t

Good info

Yeah real K-Bars are 1095 carbine steel, not stainless steel. The blades are cryogenicaly frozen to make the blades tougher and last longer. I use my Ken Onion Work Sharp, pass them on my ceramic rod then leather pant belt. You can shave with my knives. Oil the blades because carbon steel can rust if neglected. I use 3 in One oil on my knives and guns. High humidity here in Louisiana. Thick oil last longer.

I'm confused I got the exact knife from camillus New York its doesnt have the usmc ..I mean I live in Holland and got no clue about these things its beat up and the black from the blade is almost gone so I dont know spacers are old leather...

I got a counterfeit ka bar thinking it was legit (I did not know much about them) I got one because I heard they where realibe so I bought it I brought the price down from 25 to 20 dollars I thought it was weird it being so cheap but it was a flee market and i thought it was used because it had a warn down handle so it being so cheap I bought it it was really sharp and felt very durable I threw it at wood logs and it still stood strong so later finding out it’s was fake I felt a little upset but buying it for only 20 dollars and the fact that it was so durable I wasn’t upset and didn’t care much it’s still very reliable like the original and to be honest because I don’t want to spend so much on a knife I know ka bars can go up to 100 dollars knowing it is so realibe i would probebly get the counterfeit

Right on

Great video man, do you still have your ka bar? I've got the ka bar big brother and have to say, the handling of the knife is ligit better then any knife I've wielded, I practiced for years and years and even have the scars to prove it lol, but where I live everyone just uses guns, I said why learn one skill when you can learn a lifetime of survival moves, but I can wield a knife very well as well as a bo staff and a katana, I practice with multiple weapons, I have a 5160 high carbon steel with no kissaki at the end, it's made to puncture through Kevlar vest and regular bullet proof vests, then I have a collapsible bo staff in wich I practiced Aikido for 2 years as well as muso Jikiden Eshin Ryu for 3, but outa all my weapons, my ka bar sits right ok my hip along side my 1911 .45 Taurus..best of both worlds 😎

Gd material Thumb up

Mantaaap

I have one with serial number, anyone know if they are worth more?

I hate those wanna be rip off companies that make the same exact things as famous good companies but make them crappier.

Thanks for stabbing me with the real deal. You sir are a classy fellow.

One will hurt someone the other will just hurt their pride

Another thing about real Kabar knives is the hilt. Notice the bend. That bend is a 8° bend that is on all Kabar combat knives. Every fake has a straight hilt. Kabar knife company makes knives with US Army stamp, USMC (US Marines) stamp, USN stamp (US Navy) and USGC stamp (US Coast Guard), plus sheaths with unique logos of the service branch. I have the US Army stamp. The best way to determine a real from a fake Ka-Bar is none of the real Ka-Bar knives are $19.95. And no stainless steel is used. Buy cheap you get cheap. Real Ka-Bar combat knives are around $80 retail. If you want a Ka-Bar, get a real Ka-Bar. So you can "kill a bear", there's a story about the Ka-Bar receiving a letter from a user that killed a bear with one of their knives. The letter was mostly unintelligible. Something like K???-a-B?ar. The company changed the name to Ka-bar, and, been their name ever since. There is only one Ka-Bar Company.

If they are advertising it as a usmc fighter than that's what it is. Ka-bar was not the only company that made a usmc fighter and are still to this day not the only company that makes a usmc fighter knife. Medford knives makes a usmc fighter, strider knives makes a usmc fighter and they are most certainly not knock offs of a ka-bar. They are not advertising it as a ka-bar. Now if it was advertised as a ka-bar then it would be a hole different story!

Just FYI, this isn’t considered a counterfeit. It’s considered a clone. A counterfeit would have the Ka-Bar name on it, because it is trying to pass off as a real one. The clone does not claim to be an actual Ka-Bar, so it’s not considered counterfeit.

It you want the real Mccoy order from the website or get it from a reputable store. Avoid mail order and places you've never heard of.

Real KABARs are just slightly offset between handle and blade. Hard to see unless you are looking for it.

Well yea, obviously if it says China. But there are sellers on Facebook who sell exact replicas of the USMC model. Less than half the price of an authentic knife

The actual Marine combat knife was not strictly made by k-bar other companies mail as well as the company that Mike's own Ka-Bar just a brand name

I bought an Ontario 498 as a collection piece! Ontario went out of business!😢

Real Ka-bars are stamped with USMC on one side and on the other side they are stamped with Olean, NY...OR they are just stamped Olean, NY anything else is a fake. Keep in mind Ka-Bar in Olean, NY also make fighting knifes for Navy SEALs and Army SOF as well, the Ka-Bar Line is actually very large for the combat professionals

Someone tell me who sells the USA marine corp knives? Not the china ones.

KA-BAR knives are really tough so was the Phrobis 3.

Olean is pronounced “oh-lee-Ann”.

I got my Kabar from quantico for Christmas

Everyone wants to be a kabar even case makes a knock off version of it.but only kabar is has been time tested to the extreme.

The originals were made from carbon steel not stainless steel, correct?

The price is a good give away too.

To explain the pronunciation better than someone previous. It’s pronounced “Oh-Lee-Ann”, but unless you’re from the area, you wouldn’t know that. Good attempt.😁

I found a ka bar knife that looks real but only the USMC letters ar not facing the blade like in the video...does that mean it's fake??should i buy it

I have the real one. next to my pillow every night. Helps me sleep better.

I can get simmular copy for 50 dollars in ka-bar package seems legit but I saw plastic sheeth copys of cabar that work out a bit and poly handle ones that go 5-10 dollars fun enough worth the price but not that one doe

The fake looks better. At least the blade lines up with the handle, not so with the 'genuine article'.... !!!

How many of us already new it was not a Ka-Bar raise your hand...