KA-BAR Mark I Fixed Blade Knife 5.125" Clip Point 1095 Cro-Van Black Blade Kraton Handle Black

Wow! Compared to the price of knives as a whole, this seems like quite a bargain. Made in USA too! The fit and finish are perfection. Even the retaining strap on the sheath is the perfect length. I'm ex military and grew up with lots of vets from WWII, Korea,and Vietnam so maybe I'm biased but I think this is what a knife should look like. This one has a great grippy handle and a guard thicker than my other Ka-Bars. Even with greasy hands I was able to hold this knife securely. The blade is made from 1095 carbon steel with a nice thick coating that should help keep rust at bay. I live in a desert region but still am careful about rust. Smearing Vaseline on my carbon blades has always worked for me. (if your blade does rust, apple cider vinegar is the ticket). 1095 steel was introduced in the mid 1800s and has proven itself for decades through thousands of military issued knives. I've got a dozen or more 1095 knives myself made by Ka-Bar, TOPS, and Ontario and they all have always performed well. 1095 is also easy to sharpen. As far as plastic sheaths go Ka-Bar makes some of the better ones. This one is definitely a keeper. I'll admit I didn't do much testing with this knife because I am so familiar with the 1095 alloy and Ka-Bar so I know this will be a good knife. I have a Pelican case where I store my absolute favorite fixed blades. This knife will be going there for sure. Grumpy old guy seal of approval times 2.

This is just a review of my initial impressions regarding this knife. At first touch, WOW!! I've had the similar K-Bar knife the "Short Marine Fighting Knife", for quite some time now and just loved the way that thing performed. Not too big and not too small, just right for an all around outdoors knife. My only gripe to that knife was the thinness of the handle, never really felt hand filling to me. When using it hard it would start to hurt your hand, kind of like a hand cramp because you were squeezing it soo hard to make sure you had a solid grip on the thin handle. Well maybe I had two gripes with the knife (for my uses, outdoors not fighting) was the hollow ground blade, always like full flat ground. Yea these are just nitpicks because like I said earlier it's still an awesome knife. Now this knife solves all my previously mentioned gripes making this knife in my mind, perfect! Same kraton handle only thicker with a better palm swell, losing the cutout rings for a more light pebble type finish and a full flat ground blade. I have a size large hands and this thing fits like a glove in my hand, the purchase is perfect on the kraton handle and long enough where the pommel is not in the way or obscured. The other difference is there is only a blade side hilt, no double hilt on this knife. This is a plus as now you can use your thumb on the spine of the blade for better control of push cuts, I believe this also adds to the "Fighting" ability of this knife in the Filipino type grip (Kali). Lastly we have the GRN (kydex) sheath which retains the knife very well and utilizes a snap type of retention on the knife. You can't just rip the knife out of the sheath you actually have to use your thumb to push away and pull to release the knife. Sounds more complicated than it actually is, it's really easy and makes for great knife retention in any orientation. The sheath has a couple of straps for the handle one crossover and another higher on the handle. It secures by a belt loop which a D-ring is also attached, but there are holes all over the edges that will fit paracord allowing for all kinds of options. I'll finally add that the sheath is slim and narrow not cumbersome at all, large drainhole is nice. I highly recommend this knife for any outdoorsman!

I've used this knife heavily for over a year with excellent results. The blade shape is ideal for many cutting tasks while being strong enough for heavy use. I've had the blade deflected about 30 degrees while batoning oak/madrone kindling and the blade just springs back to shape with no issues. I primarily use the knife for splitting kindling, making fuzz sticks and food prep for a wood smoker and a cook stove. The Kraton handle has held up well and still feels great. (It is a little short for my hands but I think that helps control the blade when my hands are cold and wet.) The black blade coating wore through eventually but that is too be expected considering the volume of hardwood I've hammered it through. The factory edge was hair popping sharp and held this edge for a few weeks of very heavy use. I used the knife daily all last winter (split kindling twice a day and misc food prep) without any maintainence. After 12 months of heavy use, it only took about 45 seconds to get back to shaving sharp using my Work Sharp guided field sharpener. (3-4 strokes per side on the fine diamond and 5-6 on the fine ceramic.) I used the knife this last season for field dressing and meat cutting. The full height grind geometry works very well and the knife is easy to keep clean. I now use a few strokes on the WorkSharp's leather strop after each use and the blade holds a hair popping edge. The factory plastic sheath held the knife well and was easy to deploy. I didn't notice any issues with edge dulling as others have mentioned. However, I would prefer a more compact carry solution. The nylon loop allows the sheath to hang too low for my taste. I'll probably make a more compact sheath out of my next hide. I give the sheath 3-4 stars and the knife 5 stars.

When u see the name Kabar, your getting quality 100% of the time. I have a full size 1211 kabar and now I own the Kabar Mark 1 USN. Although I love the full size, it is a bit to large to carry around. The Mark 1 is better for my needs. Its smaller, but just as sturdy and reliable. The hand grip is perfect, and the hand grip does have a finger guard on it which I like. The hand grip is very ergonomic and has a rubbery feel that I can't see how your hand could slip using it. **The Mark 1 came razor sharp out of the box**. I feel like the 2 strap holders on the sheath that come on the mark 1 is too many, so i have the top strap buttoned behind and i only have the horizontal strap I'm using. I have also modified the sheath with a leg strap. The 1211 is an absolute classic, but just to much knife for me. The Mark 1 is everything I could ask for in a knife, whether its EDC, camping, hunting, survival, bushcraft, etc...

This knife has a blade just a little narrower than I prefer-- about 1/8" at a guess-- but it is stiff and strong and I have a lot of faith in it. The handle is comfortable and gives a secure grip. The knife is not especially sharp. I ran it over one of my ceramic hones, but that didn't seem to improve it any. It is still sharp enough to shave a little hair off my arm, but not as sharp as most of my other Ka-Bar knives have been. Even though the blade is a little thin, it retains a lot of that thickness down near the edge and out near the point. It ought to be plenty strong for just about any job. The handle is about the same shape front and back and the blade just has a stubby little guard, so if you grabbed this knife in the dark, it would be hard to figure out which edge was the cutting edge and which the spine. That is a problem for a tactical/survival knife. The knife will fit in the sheath either way-- great for lefties, but it doesn't help you find that cutting edge in the dark. The knife is a tad heavy for its size, but not objectionably so. I'd guess eight ounces. Most of this weight is in the handle, and the knife is distinctly handle-heavy. The balance point is almost halfway down the handle. I don't mind it, but some may find it annoying. The sheath is kydex, a hard plastic, and is almost perfect. As noted, the knife fits either way, and the retaining straps are reversable, so if you like having them on the other side, go for it. The sheath retains the knife three ways-- by friction, and by the two straps. The knife locks into the sheath nicely. It takes a little effort to pop it out. This is a balancing act in which most kydex sheaths fail. They either hold the knife too tightly or too loosely. This sheath is just right. There is a black nylon web strap with a metal snap that secures the knife across its guard, and another that secures the knife around the end of the handle. I have no doubt that if I jumped out of a perfectly good government aircraft with this knife triple-secured in its sheath and the sheath secured to my body, it would still be with me when I reached the ground, no matter how rough the ride was. For those of us who aren't airborne infantry, we can probably get by with any two of the three methods of securing the knife. Just pick the two you like best and you may rest assured that when you hike, camp, hunt, whatever, your knife will always be with you. Even if one of the straps or snaps breaks, you've got another. Even if they both break, the knife probably isn't going anywhere. The sheath features a square drain hole at the bottom. This knife is made in USA.

Wow! So I was a big fan of my original WWI MK1 KA-BAR, and now after owning this knife they picked up right where they left off. I find this knife the perfect size for REAL WORLD function. I am in the Military and this is the highest quality and so far best knife to date. Though I would still recommend this for just regular use for camping or well just anything that you would need a knife for. The weight is perfect. great balance. If you use it a lot you will find out cause there will be no fatigue in you hand or wrist. The knife edge is great from the start. Holds an amazing edge. Also the black powder coat really holds up well! Also very easy to sharpen! The tang is larger than the original and I believe a little stronger. The new handle material is similar to that of a boot soul. Little rubbery but in a great way. I know I can grip it well. Great improvement! The handle is a little thicker too, which feels better. I have size large hands. My wife likes it too and well there small hands and still fit great. The case doesn't come off cheap, which is nice. I love the 3 locking system. Now camping or on the go I can put it to my rucksack and know I WILL NOT LOSE IT! multiple tie downs, and even 2 different spots for webbing, nice feature! All in all I believe I just found the last knife I will buy. I dare to have anybody show me a better one. yes sometimes on amazon there only about $45-$55. After owning the new MK1, if I ever loose it I would pay 3 times that to get it again. I think its that great of a knife!!!

Absolutely great overall knife for the value. 1095 steel with a durable rust resistant coating on top. Remember that high carbon steel can and will rust so try to keep the edge and any part where that coating falls off (and it will eventually with very hard use as do all coated knives) oiled with whatever your oil or grease of choice. I actually use the oil my face makes when out in the woods. The knife came pretty heckin sharp, though roughly ground. For outdoor use (which is what it is intended for), that's no big deal. It takes an edge without too much effort on a wetstone. The sheath is amazing. I love the 3 points of retention, which you can choose to use or not depending on your needs. Generous belt loop, plus the multiple lashing point. The handle is super ergonomic and feels good in the hands with no hotspots. If you have extra large hands though, you may find the handle a little too short for a comfy fit. I would say my hands are large and while still comfy, it is teetering on just being a little too small. It's honestly just a great all around knife.

The Ka-Bar Mark 1 United States Navy knife is a good all purpose knife. I appreciate the Kraton handle especially when wet. A real plus for a field knife. I also like the clip point blade for versatility and strength. The knife has a steel hilt and pommel which I prefer in a knife as well. This model is new out last year and comes with a Kydex sheath. The sheath also has holes drilled on the sides of it for the installation of 550 parachute cord that is so useful in the field for survival. I bought mine to hang on my gun belt because it is short enough to not be in the way when I get in and out of my SUV vehicle while hunting the back roads here in Western Oregon. I also don't want to ever be caught with out a straight bladed knife, as once I was in SE Oregon, when hunting deer. After having knee surgery, I was forced to use a 4" folding knife to gut and skin a deer, since I was not able to walk far back to the truck and would have much preferred to have had this short but effective knife hanging from my pistol belt ready to do business. So I recommend this knife to anybody that needs a easy to carry strong field knife while hunting or other outdoor activities. The price of Ka-Bar knives is very reasonable, especially for American made quality. Enjoy!

Leider ging dieses Messer zurück, was hauptsächlich an 3 Punkten lag : 1. Bereits bei Lieferung blätterte die Farbe der Parierstange ab. 2. Die Klinge war sehr dünn, alles in Allem zu biegsam und zudem am Ricasso völlig asymmetrisch verschliffen. 3. Der kurze Griff ist geeignet für Handgröße 9 abwärts. Ich mit meinen 10-11 fand darauf keinen Platz. Ich besitze noch zwei alte USMCs der Firma Ka-bar und muss sagen, dass mich die Qualität der aktuellen Messer schwer enttäuscht. Ich hatte mir von einem alten Klassiker wie dem Navy Mark 1 deutlich mehr erhofft. Einen Stern gibt es für das klassisch zeitlose Design, den anderen für die funktionale Scheide, diese gefiel mir ganz gut.

The Shorty is out, I just bought a 2nd copy of this knife. I decided to modify my first one by filing a flat on the spine for ferro rod fire starting, folded the hilt hasp under the webbing loop. The sheath has adequate retention and with the thumb strap it is secured more than adequately to meet my needs. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I chose the USN Mk I for the shorter blade but retaining a full size grip (rather than the shorty's 75% in every dimension comparted to a Mk II). No regrets on that choice. The Kraton G is well regarded as a good grip material, no hot spots and good feel and grip even when wet. It is also well regarded for it's longevity, some knives have been in use for 20 years and are as good as new. I like the hard scabbard though I have little need for the 3 point retention system as I don't plan on leaping out of an airplane or helicopter anytime soon. The scabbard by itself has good retention, the thumb strap adds extra security and I fold the hilt strap behind the webbing's first layer to get it out of the way. A large drain hole for water is provided on the back of the scabbard. Most of my uses for any knife are utility: opening packages, cutting some cardboard, making some feather sticks to start a fire and so on. A shorter and lighter knife is more useful for 99% of my tasks. 1095 CroVan steel has a lot to recommend it. Far from being a modern super steel, it nonetheless has many good features. Tough, easy to sharpen and takes a keen edge with decent edge retention. It is however, nowhere near to being stainless so a bit of mineral oil after use is a good rust prevention measure. I keep a large aluminum pill cannister (sealed with an o-ring), to store some mineral oil and keep several handy. In the car, in my daily carry bag for camping etc. A few drops goes a long way. I cut a section of large bicycle inner tube as a Ranger band to hold a ferro rod or two and also filed the finish off a section of the spine to make it sharp enough to throw sparks from the ferro rods. A small silky saw makes firewood processing easier than carry a much heavier hatchet in the wood. i will likely buy both Mk I and Mk II models with the more traditional leather grip and sheaths to satisfy the purist in me. They will also look great to some Estwing hatchets and splitting mauls of similar construction.

Excellent general purpose knife with ''Kabar'' quality as an assurance of dependabilty. Excel in cutting slicing or chopping lot of materials (and keeping and edge!). It is a pretty good hunting knife if sharpen adequately, not as good as a Buck (119 for moose or bear, 105 for deer or smaller ame and 102 for rabbit, grouse or cleaning fish) but close (you can use your thumb or finger over the blade for delicate cuts and the shape of the blade is on par with most clip point knives). I used it on a regular basis for fishing or hunting in backcountry as it is strong enough for any survival task unless you asked it to do some thing outside its league (like batonning a 10'' log, which by the way is totally unneccessary). I own many good knives (bigger like USMC or more specialised like Buck 105 or CRKT Kommer and some good folders like Cold Steel Recon, Spyderco Delica, Sogzilla, Kabar Dozier...) and the only one that, IMO, can compete for a jack of all trade job in backcountry is the Becker BK15 (another Kabar) which is better for cleaning fish and small game and is an outstanding slicer altough I wouldn't hesitate to use it with utmost confidence in a survival situation. As for most of Kabar knives, you have to pay a lot more to get a more useful or dependable knife.

This is the first knife I have ever purchased and I'm more than impressed. After doing a lot of research, I was torn between buying the MK1 and the BK16. What sold me was the kydex sheath that comes with the MK1 and the kraton handle. I have large size hands and the knife fits perfectly, although if my hands were any bigger this knife would be too small. Razor sharp out of the box and very comfortable to carry.

Solid knife overall. I cant find any faults with the knife at all, which is why I buy KA-Bars in the first place. The sheath is total over kill, it has a snap in place lock and two buckle overs. I removed one of the buckles to make it easier to draw from my belt and it still locks in place firmly.