KA-BAR with or without serrations?

[elcoyotelocoatx]

Hi all,

I'm getting the KA-BAR 7" knife as a general utility knife for use around basecamp: everything from dressing meat & cutting onions for dinner to making tent stakes to cleaning fish. (I already have a cane knife and multi-tool.)

My question is, would the blade that's partially serrated be more or less useful than the standard model? I can see the serrations coming in handy if I needed to hack through some sheet metal or seriously tough rope, but I'd like your opinions.

Thanks!

[Bigdog57]

I'm rather 'old school', my KABAR is not serrated. I actually prefer a slightly smaller knife for field use though - a 5" blade tanto style with the similar stacked leather washer handle. It is not serrated either.

[Eaglebait Ranch]

I carry a Leatherman Wave because it is a tad smaller, gives me a serrated blade, and lots of other tools that can be very useful in the back country.

[richardvg03]

Without...

Sgt. Richard V. Gilbert
United States Marine Corps Retired
Scout/Sniper

[fermi91]

Re: KA-BAR with or without serrations?

without classic looking and the serations are overkill

[GeoBigJon]

Re: KA-BAR with or without serrations?

Out of the two choices I would say without.

[rvpopham]

Re: KA-BAR with or without serrations?

I have one of each Ka-Bar, one stays at the camp kitchen and the other goes with me everywhere. I found that the serration are handy on certain tasks, some types of rope are hard to get a good start on as far as cutting, the serrations kind of tear the rope and then allow you to continue slicing more easily. The serrations are also good when starting a notch in a branch or willow when building camping structures, I suggest trying the serrated blade as you will soon find a lot of uses for it in primitive style camping.

[immortal_ben]

Re: KA-BAR with or without serrations?

The serrations give you options which you would not have without them. Options are a very good thing. I do not recall ever saying "Man! I hate these stupid serrations on this knife! All they do is get in the way!"

Plus, look at the serrations as weight saving, HAHAH!

Realistically though, I do not think that is the knife I would use for those chores. I would use a much smaller and thinner knife for dressing game and fish. Other than that, I think it may work for you.

[rvpopham]

Re: KA-BAR with or without serrations?

Well said Ben, I agree with the idea of having a small knife for the dressing and cleaning of fish. Can one ever really have too many knives?

[immortal_ben]

Re: KA-BAR with or without serrations?

One only has too many knives when there is no more room to carry them, and there are no more friendly hands to place them in.