Are you a soldier looking for a nice tactical knife to attach to your belt? Or, are you a knife enthusiast looking for a wicked fighting knife to add to your collection? Look no further. This article will discuss the top 3 best-selling fighting knives ever made. These are knives used by actual soldiers and marines in combat. The difference between these knives versus other “fighting knives” is that they are field-tested. Yes, that crazy shaped knife you’ve seen online that is labeled a combat knife is not really field tested–maybe in the designer’s fantasy world it is!
Do you want a REAL fighting knife or a poser fighting knife? Only real fighting knives are listed below.
What to Look for in a Fighting Knife
First off, you should make sure that the knife you are buying complies with uniform standards. You don’t want to buy a slick knife to find out that your First Sergeant won’t allow you to carry it. If you happened to purchase a knife that is a no-go, you can always carry it around in your pocket instead of on your belt–if no one can see it, it is OK.
A tactical knife must be black or colored in a way that reduces shine. You do not want a glossy coat or a bright color. Once again, bright colors are a no-go and you will be forced to place them in your pocket.
You can get a fixed blade or a folding blade knife but drawing a fixed blade knife is always faster than a folder. Also, since you can attach your knife to your webbing, it just makes more sense to get a fixed blade–you can get some really long fixed blades whereas folders are limited in blade length.
Many people wonder about what steel they should pick for a combat knife. You have basically three options: stainless steel, carbon steel, or a hybrid. Stainless steel is soft and dulls easily. It also allows you to sharpen it easily and it can withstand a lot of abuse without cracking. Carbon steel holds an edge for a very long time but can chip under heavy use. It also rusts much faster than stainless steel. There are also high carbon stainless steels that give you the best of both worlds. The only downside to this is that it is more costly than the other two choices.
The sheath of the knife is very important as well. A poor sheath is dangerous. You can cut yourself reaching for your knife or, even worse, lose your knife during a march. You can go for the classic leather sheath or a synthetic sheath. The leather ones are quite slick but won’t do well in high moisture climates. The synthetic sheaths are cool but the quality varies a lot. Some synthetic sheaths just suck and are basically nylon. Others are hard plastic that really adds value to the knife.
How long should a fighting knife be? It should be longer than 3 inches (the length of a pocket knife) and less than 12 inches (the length of a bowie). Longer knives are good for getting hard work done because the length gives you leverage. Smaller knives are better for detailed work.
1. Ontario 490 M9 Bayonet System
This is the classic government-issued bayonet that attaches to an M16 or M4. Anyone who has been thrown the bayonet course at basic training is familiar with this knife. However, what you may not have noticed is that the ones you use in training suck. Most are old, rusted, and dull. If you get your hands on a new M9, you will see that these knives ROCK.
Not only can you attach it to your AR-15 or Mossberg 590, you can also use the sheath as a great attachment to any MOLLE gear or your belt. It blends right in with your uniform as well.
Now, this knife was designed to be a workhorse and it is that; however, it is made of 420 stainless steel. This is good if you hand sharpen a knife once a month. The reason why the Army decided to use 420 stainless was that carbon steel is too brittle for bayonet use. Also, the sharpness doesn’t really matter for bayonetting since the primary action is stabbing, not slashing.
2. The Ka-Bar USMC Knife
This is the original Ka-Bar design that was issued since WWII. It features a 7-inch blade with a full tang leather handle. These knives have been around for ages and are respected by anyone in the military. There are stories of fathers passing on their Ka-bar to their sons and, all these years later, the Ka-bar still cuts like new.
The Ka-bar comes with a very nice leather sheath that has the USMC stamp right on it. The sheath has a belt loop. The sheath compliments the knife very well in my opinion because the leather of the sheath matches the leather of the handle.
The knife uses 1095 steel. This is a good steal that balances blade retention with ease of sharpening: you won’t need a professional to sharpen the knife for you. In my opinion, this steel is a step up from the M9’s 420 stainless steel.
The Ka-bar USMC knife is Ka-bar’s top-selling knife. The company actually changed its name to Ka-bar because the knife was so popular. This knife currently has 5 stars on Amazon with over 280 reviews. All reviews are raving. Read more here.
3. Ka-Bar 1282 D2 Extreme Fighting Knife
Ka-Bar 1282 D2 Extreme Fighting Knife
You’ve read about the Ka-Bar brand above and this knife continues in the Ka-Bar tradition of quality. It’s a 12-inch knife with a 7-inch blade (dimensions which make a lot more sense to me than the design for many knives in the marketplace that have a handle that is significantly longer than the blade! Sheesh! This knife has a partially serrated blade made of D2 steel with a black epoxy powder coat. It comes with a black glass-filled nylon belt sheath. Its 20-degree blade angle and clip-point blade are the hallmarks of a classic Ka-Bar. The Kraton G handle provides excellent comfort and balance.
You’ve read about the Ka-Bar brand above and this knife continues in the Ka-Bar tradition of quality. It’s a 12-inch knife with a 7-inch blade (dimensions which make a lot more sense to me than the design for many knives in the marketplace that have a handle that is significantly longer than the blade! Sheesh! This knife has a partially serrated blade made of D2 steel with a black epoxy powder coat. It comes with a black glass-filled nylon belt sheath. Its 20-degree blade angle and clip-point blade are the hallmarks of a classic Ka-Bar. The Kraton G handle provides excellent comfort and balance.
Keep in mind that D2 steel can’t really be sharpened with a whetstone. You’ll need a diamond sharpener, but hey, it’s a small price to pay for a knife with steel so hard, that you have to actually get a specialized sharpening system!
Conclusion
So, if you are about to hit the field and want a cool knife to carry around, which one should you pick? If you just want a solid, go-to knife, get the Ka-bar. It has been proven time and time again for 3 generations. It is also a great piece of art to have, and the price point is the lowest on our list. (You can get an Army version if you are not a Marine). The Ka-bar was also my best pick for survival knives.
So, you found your perfect knife, now what? You can check out some awesome throwing knives to give you that one-two strike that’ll take any enemy down. You can also pair the throwing knife with an awesome throwing ax. Also, don’t forget to comment!
My father was in WWII pacific, while growing up and becoming a rough woodsman, I found his kabar and would sneek it out and use it. Became quite good at throwing it and the military hatchet. The better I got the further away from target I would go and the harder it would be thrown…Ugh’ I broke off the end on the handle on a dougfir bad throw. Man was he upset… I welded it back on short one leather ring, still feel bad about that… Still think a good fixed blade should be thrown and have not found anything durable enough to withstand it. Not interested in ‘throwing’ knives rather a real knife. Any suggestions?
That’s because anything that is soft/springy enough to handle the shock of impact from being thrown will be too soft to hold a proper edge. In this instance you really can’t have both. Suprisingly people still argue that you can, however the evidence is in the lack of being able to find one. As close as you are going to be able to get is a custom that has been differentially heat treated. But still the knife is going to suffer from the stress and eventually break. This will happen sooner than later.
Art, While stationed in Fulda, Germany in the early 80s, I bought an C.J. Herbertz Bärentöter throwing knife that had a 5inch Solingen blade with a leather disk handle. It is perfectly balanced and throws like nothing else I have used.
Search online, or check Ebay, Amazon, etc…
Years ago I bought a7″ knorewegian filet knife.Soft steel in center,hard steel on outer.cheep price.Split a hair 3-4. Times in half.keep your k bar!sshato as a @14 century tango.was a kid had it open and cut through a mighty mack jacket,my shirt and got 9 stitches by contact.Wow.were can I replace it?mb714@gmail.com
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My father witnessed Pearl Harbor as a 17yo Air Force Draftsman. His last assignment was a loader for the Enola Gray in 1945. He carried a Cattaraugus 225Q while stationed on Tinian Island. Not sure how he acquired it, but I remember he would always carry it when hunting or taking the family out to target practice. He made his peace with God 29 July 1992.
My sister gave this to me in 1995, after receiving a box of his personal items from his 2nd wives family. The sheath was missing, it’s 6inch blade stained, with a few rust spots, the point rounded and the handle was a bit loose. So far I have cleaned the blade with steel wool and some honing oil. There is pitting from the rust in a couple of spots, and it would seem that someone tried to sharpen it with a grinder, missed a few times , and thankfully gave up before any real damage was done.
I am using a Smith’s Sharpening Kit and have a nice sharp edge. I went to the local swap meet and found a thin leather sheath for $2, finding that you get what you pay for. The 2nd time I sheathed the knife, it left a half inch slice along the top rivet. Live and learn…
I would add the US Air Force Survival Knife to that list. It has a 5″ blade of 1095 steel, the knife if big enough for fighting and yet small enough for everyday cutting chores. It does not take up as much space on one’s TA-50 as the larger knives. A soldier can buy one at the PX for about $30 new.
K-Bar makes a great plastic sheath for the K-Bar. I bought one to reduce the wear & tear on the fiberglass one that my father’s USN K-Bar came in. He got it in WWII. No idea where.
@Art…well I disagree with throwing the knife for anything other then play purpose (or distraction if you have 2 knives I guess) Ill point to the SOG Seal pup if you havent tried it. Get it serrated. Forego the kydex sheath for the nylon. Good all around knife. Geared more to fighting than survival, but itll stand up to almost every task you need in that respect. It is also fun to throw, and I’ve never broken one. Good knife for around 70 bucks.
Kabar is a awesome knife but no soldier goes around a corner with one, if he had the pre thought he’d have a tomahawk, you only use a knife as infantry once bundled by the enemy so the best fighting knife is one that you can use in a wrestle therefore the British commando knife is best proven by US/UK during ww2
The hand guard on the KA Bar is rattling because the leather washers are drying and shrinking . I was USMC in 80s. And still have my KA Bar. Also rattled after wet and dry. You can apply C L P oil.Or plain olive oil to leather. every now and then. Leather expands and rattle stops
The leather washers on the KA BAR dry and shrink over time . Causing the hand guard to rattle. I was in USMC in the 80s and still have my KA BAR . Did same thing. Apply C L P. Or knife honing oil or olive oil to leather. The leather absorbs oil and expands. Rattle will stop and guard will be tight
These are okay. The best ever, period, is the Randall Made #14.
so when you’re issued a K-bar you’d ask for a Randall? LMAO
Semper Fi and hope you knew how to handle a K_Bar
I do agree with Mick the best knife is still the fearburn Sykes issued to HM Marine Commando dating from WW2 and still standard issue it has a exalent double edge blade and a brass bomal holding the handle to the knife the USMC KA BAR is reley only good as a survival knife not a fighting knife if you want a slash and dash knife you would want to take with you a Kukri deadly in the right hands just look at the Gurkha,s
My father had a Marbles 5 in fixed blade.Carried through the Aleutian islands,I lost it in a housefire.Used the issue bayonet and junk knives in 1 tour of ‘Nam.Best fighting implement is an entrenching tool IMHO.Or run Lol
WHO DO I SEND A STONE TO TO GET A REVIEW?
cold steel nachez bowie… anyone?????
Yep love the Natch.. Would never throw it tho, the Natch, Laredo, 1917 and Trailmaster simply arent made to be thrown tho some have done so with no immediate ill-affect. Particularly with the 1917 and Trailmaster which have full(ish) tangs.
I luvs me sum Cold Steel! kalten Stahl immer wieder, ja!
I, finally, got a US Air Force ‘survival knife’, recently. I own an after market Kabar, as well as a large Bowie and even an Arkansas toothpick, (Bud K Knives) amongst my small ‘collection’. The AF survival knife has about a 5″ blade, instead of the 7″ Kabar, the 13-1/2″ Bowie, or the 15″ of the Arkansas toothpick. I also own a British Commando knife, with a 7″ blade. Of all of them, for carrying purposes, I far prefer the AF knife. It is shaped like a smaller version of the Kabar, comes in a leather belt sheath with a metal squared off tip and a sharpening stone, in a pouch for the purpose on the sheath.
This is such a great article. The Ka-Bar USMC is such a classic and one of the most popular in the world.
Really cool article and review on these knives. I agree about the Ka-bar being a classic. Thanks for the post!
Thanks definitely good food for thought here
how about esee??? those are great tac/survival knives
I recently bought a k-bar fighting utility knife on Amazon with the USMC stamps on it and I couldn’t be happier to be honest I’m glad that the k-bar knife has the best review on here because reviews from other people matter
Get a Fallkniven
Great article,i would like to suggest that you go to head hunter blades by tuhon harley elmore owner,designer,maker and also owner of worriers way martials arts academy. His knives and war hawk tomma hawk are very impressive.
It would be nice to note that the “Ka-Bar Fighting Knife” is one version of the pattern specification of the US military “Knife, Fighting, Utility, Mark 2 also made by several other companies beginning in 1942, and currently available from Ka-Bar, Onterio Knife Co., and Camillus Knife Co. (The Onterio and Camillus are both cheaper than the Ka-Bar, although almost identical. Differences are in the dye of the leather hilt, and the coating of the blade.) Ka-Bar is currently owned by Cutco.
I just have a question,,, WHERE DO I FIND A K BAR FOR $50.00??!!!! Is there some secret store that i have heard of??!!! I have not seen any K BAR for under $#100.0 (not even the mini K BAR.
Never mind I just realised I misread the chart thing
Your over-generalization of steel types is cringe worthy, and in many cases, grossly incorrect.
Yes, three excellent picks. Unfortunately, one of the knives is no longer produced. Take a look at the Ontario TFI. 1, It has the best “issue” sheath/retention. 2. the knife is full tang; 3. the grip is fine; 4. the length is fine – one doesn’t need a 6 or 7 inch blade. A 5 inch plus blade is as effective. 5. the price point is affordable for most people.
The ZT has no guard and thus eliminates it from my consideration as a true combat knife…ever hit something really hard with a stabbing motion? Your hand will slip…especially if your hands are wet or sweaty and I don’t know too many guys that didn’t have sweaty palms in combat…the guard will keep you from injuring yourself unnecessarily. Very important in a combat knife. The KA-BAR weighs 7/10 of a pound…you can find several high quality combat knives that come in around 1/2 a pound…may not seem like much but ounces make pounds and pounds make pain so it definitely bears consideration if you are serious about this. The M9 comes in several variations some of which weigh up to almost a full pound…so again something that should be considered. My preferred knife today is the CRKT Ultima…lighter than the KA-BAR but doesn’t scrimp on toughness.
I have the M9 and the Kavar, in order to be very practice I think the Kavar is a better knife, it has tested the time for more than 60 years of Army operations and it still on the top of preferences. It has some minor debilities, one is the leather handle that does not garantee resistance against water, and the other, the 1095 steel, that is a good steel in order to hold an edge but does not resist rust. I have tested the Kavar in abuse an it passed the testes, I don’ t know if the M9 could, because I have not tested it, I think it may no, because I have my dudes if the union between the handle and the blade could resists abuse.
My personal recomendation is that if someone wants a knife tha could be almost “eternal” is that a full tang one with an ergonomical handle made of a material that could resist water, fire, abuse, etc. is the best choice, and a blade between seven or eight inches long, an a 4 to 6 mm thick. I prefer stailess steel 420 HRC, 440 C (because they are economical good steels) others like AUS 8 or similar are too expensive, and the price weights at the time to decide to buy one.
What about Benchmade Adamas fixed ?
I collect military knives and by far the ka-bar is the best , I have over a,100 to so.e ville goes that’s not many but I have quit a few bayonets too , thanks
Knives rule! Rock!
Hey Ricky,
First off, you said the M-9 was a $100.00 MSRP and $95.00 on Amazon which is what I’ve been seeing, then in your conclusion you said to stay away from the M-9 with it’s $200.00 price tag…
Also the $50.00 Kabar and the conclusion said the $100.00 Kabar was a better choice…
oh, and the first paragraph you don’t get thrown boot camp you get through boot camp, LOL…
I own and carry the Kershaw Ernest Emerson as my EDC and also my FOX Dart with the Emerson wave feature for the quickest deployment of any knife system…
Great articles,
Greg “Arnie Arnsberger
Should never leave the Short Nighthawk out of this line up plus the best IMO the Reeve 7in combat fighter.
In this category of knives, the best one is always the one you cannot lose, drop, or have taken away and turned against you.
don’t you have to have an affiliate disclosure on this site?
Nice I love knife there the last line of defense when corners
Gloves must have been worn his whole life. They don’t have a mark on them.
” Stainless steel is soft and dulls easily. It also allows you to sharpen it easily and it can withstand a lot of abuse without cracking. Carbon steel holds an edge for a very long time but can chip under heavy use. ”
No. Why tell people this nonsense?
You are discounting the properties, and tempering process, of 100 steels with inaccurate generalizations.
I was told 3 inch blade, AF?
I need engraved 3 inch knife, can you do?
I HAD A K-BAR KNIFE WHILE IN THE MARINE CORPS IN 1964. THE KNIFE WAS MADE BY THE CAMILLUS KNIFE CO. THIS KNIFE WAS A PIECE OF JUNK. I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THIS K-BAR WHEN I STUCK IT INTO A TREE.
WHEN I WENT TO REMOVE IT FROM THE TREE I MOVED THE HANDLE SIDEWAYS INSTEAD OF UP AND DOWN IN A VERTICAL MOTION.
WELL THIS CAMILLUS PIECE OF JUNK KNIFE BENT AROUND WHERE THE CHOIL MEETS THE LEATHER HANDLE. THE KNIFE BENT IN HALF LIKE A PIECE OF RUBBER. IT SHOULD NOT HAVE BENT IN HALF LIKE IT DID. MAYBE THIS KNIFE ALONG WITH SOME OTHERS WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED OR TEMPERED THE WAY IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. I WILL NEVER KNOW FOR SURE, BUT THE RESULT OF BENDING THIS KNIFE GAVE ME THE IMPRESSION THAT THE CAMILLUS CO. SENT K-BAR KNIVES TO THE MARINE CORPS THAT THEY KNEW WERE DEFECTIVE.
Nonsense! Judging from my own experience with these knives- (pre-bankruptsy) Camillus, KaBar, and similar, this is not believable. The poster doesnt seem to understand what it would take to bend a blade back to the choil.. This steel isnt soft enuff to bend that far, and sticking it into a tree wouldnt give enuff to leverage the blade back. There is NO WAY a pre-bankruptsy Camillus could bend that far back.
the ka-bar is a very good knife in a knife fight if one has had training, that’s very important if one gets into hand to hand combat, with no knife fighting training he might be in serious trouble so its important to get all the training you can get…
its a good way to stay alive.
Mike Semper Fi
The Utica Company Made the Best Marine K-Bar.
I was in the Military….I hate the K-Bar….if my life depends on it and I might be deployed in a war lasting a long time I like Medford knives…Cost a lot, pretty good quality….but for black operations I love Lotar badass Israeli knives.325-600$….Gets a great well thought out designs from the super professionals.
As Horseman says, hard to get both. The M14 bayonet was a great thrower, but took only a so-so edge. I remember the Ka-Bars being extremely easy to sharpen compared to anything like a Puma. I used to use some 2 sided stone I acquired and the machine gun oil on the bunkers to sharpen knives. That British commando knife was a mean tool.
I have an old KA-BAR . The sheath has ” M-1017 stamped into it. Does anyone know what this means? Scribbed into the back is the name Judd Meyers and his service number. Cant find record of him. Any help would be great.
I was in the Military….I hate the K-Bar….if my life depends on it and I might be deployed in a war lasting a long time I like Medford knives…Cost a lot, pretty good quality….but for black operations I love Lotar badass Israeli knives.325-600$….Gets a great well thought out designs from the super professionals.
How bout the old Gerber Mark 2.went through Vietnam well……if you can find one in mint condition on the web buy it….