The Best Ka-Bar Knives for Tactical, EDC, and Outdoor Use - Gear Hungry (2024)

Sam Anderson

Sam Anderson has followed a passion for well-told stories and nature's beauty from university classrooms to mountain adventures. After earning a bachelor's degree in literature, he leaned into a life fueled by road tripping, rock climbing, coffee and beer, and renegade camping. He has worked as a chainsaw operator, house carpenter, and window cleaner, at one point running his own window cleaning business. He has finally settled with his girlfriend and small zoo in the western American desert, trading his tool belt for a keyboard.

1

Ka-Bar Becker BK18 Harpoon Knife

Becker’s BK18 Harpoon checked some interesting boxes during my review. At 6.9 oz. (10.6 with the sheath), it’s pretty light compared to its competitors. But the deep-bellied blade seemed sturdy enough for heavy-duty tasks and did not fail despite my best efforts to break it. It had its flaws but it was unequivocally tough.

The first thing I thought about the BK18 Harpoon was something along the lines of “this is a hell of a knife.” It is a substantial piece of steel, and the plastic sheath is stout and broad, even considering the knife’s size. The knife is 9 ⅜” long; the full tang blade covers 4 ½” of that length. The blade is big in all dimensions: it has a deep belly and it’s 4mm thick.

Testing was hit and miss. The knife was satisfactorily sharp out of the box. It sliced soft tomatoes without squishing them and made a decently clean cut in paper. And it was very strong. At one point, I got curious whether I could break it, so I stuck it between two gate doors and pried. I found it bent pretty readily but sprung back straight as an arrow. Even when I really leaned into it, I couldn’t snap or bend it. As well, I was confident in the sheath, which gave plenty of lashing options.

That was the end of the good. The 1095 Cro-Van blade, though flexible and durable, didn’t hold its edge particularly well. It also corroded pretty quickly on the exposed edge. Beyond that, I wasn’t crazy about the knife’s feel. Some people say Celkon handles feel cheap, and I’ll corroborate that. The texture always felt like it would sweat easily, and more importantly, it was very lightweight. This was a problem because it swung the knife’s balance toward the blade significantly.

Overall, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better workhorse than the Ka-Bar Becker BK18 Harpoon. The 1095 Cro-Van blade was tough, and the bead-blasted coating helped prevent rust (though the edge did corrode). Its deep belly should help it with most heavy-duty tasks. But it did dull quickly and leave me wanting better balance and overall in-hand feel. Read the in-depth review here.

Pros

Tough

Suitable for heavy tasks

Cons

Somewhat unbalanced

Cheap handle feel

Corrosion-prone edge

2

Ka-Bar USMC Serrated Edge Knife

The USMC Serrated Edge Ka-Bar combat knife is the classic that many admire and all know. The original Mark 2 Combat Knife had the same shape and most of the same stats. This variant’s black powder-coated blade and serrated edge make it ideal for survival situations.

A badass 7” blade anchors the unit. Such a big blade can be used to perform a range of bushcraft functions like chopping, slicing, splitting wood, or skinning. Made with 1095 Cro-Van, it should be next to unbreakable. And even when it gets dull, you can still saw with the serrations.

Each feature can be interpreted through the lens of a survival situation. The clip point helps give the tip a balance of sharpness and durability. It’s narrow enough for delicate carving or picking, but substantial enough that it shouldn’t chip or break during a stab. The signature steel cross guard keeps your hand from slipping up to the blade under any conditions. And the thick leather handle wrap delivers a sure grip.

Word to the wise: get the leather sheath. On the internet, Ka-Bar’s plastic sheaths are somewhat notorious for iffy quality control; they don’t always fit perfectly. Opt for the leather sheath to make sure your survival knife is secure.

Pros

Recognizable (iconic?)

Durable

Cons

Opt for leather sheath; plastic variant can be iffy

Big; nearly 12” total length

3

Ka-Bar TDI Pocket Strike Knife

The TDI Pocket Strike may not look like a traditional Ka-Bar, but its lean, mean profile constitutes a tactical advantage. A flat plastic sheath helps the knife conceal inside your pants; the ring loop helps users deploy it quickly. The ergonomic handle features a moderate finger groove for the first finger.

What else can you say? The TDI Pocket Strike just looks like a fighting knife. Its stout, 3.2” clip point blade looks aggressive and unbreakable. A generous bolster helps keep the user’s hand safely clear of the action on the edge. And its minimalist handle helps create an overall downturned shape, with a sharp thumb rise and a finger groove for leverage.

John Benner of the Tactical Defense Institute designed the knife for Ka-Bar with concealment in mind. The plastic sheath is flat and tapered to maximize discreet pocket carry. When it’s time to draw, a generous ring loop at the butt helps users find and grab it easily. It’s a bit long for concealed carry at 7.75”, but its length should make it comfortable to use.

The AUS-8A blade is full tang with a hollow grind. AUS-8A steel is known for being razor-sharp and relatively easy to resharpen. That’s important for any knife you might use in hairy conditions. The hollow grind exaggerates the effect of the sharp edge and cuts weight. This tactical knife weighs 6.4 oz.

For tactical use and concealed carry, the low-profile Ka-Bar TDI Pocket Strike should excel. It’s a bit long for concealment, but if you have deep enough pockets, it should make up for it in reliability during dangerous situations.

Pros

Flat design for concealment

Ergonomic handle with thumb rise and finger groove

Ring loop

Cons

A bit long for concealed carry

4

Ka-Bar Dozier Folding Hunter Knife

The first time I pictured a Ka-Bar folding knife, nothing came to mind. In fact, I wasn’t aware they existed. But I’m glad they do because the lightweight Dozier looks like a winner. Zytel handle scales support an AUS-8A black-coated blade. Various colors are available.

The Dozier Folding Hunter is far and away from my favorite Ka-Bar knife for EDC. If I didn’t already have so many pocket knives, I’d be interested to try them out. I like the simple construction and blade shape, and I love the lightweight. At 1.5 oz., you’ll never know the Dozier is there until you need it. But a reversible pocket clip keeps it right where you want it. It’s a moderate 4 ¼” long when folded — not so small it’ll get lost but not too big for a pocket. (Turns out mini Ka-Bar knives do exist).

The knife has a lock about midway up the handle. A thumb stud on the blade facilitates one-handed opening. The simple 3” drop point blade’s moderately deep belly helps its utility for everyday tasks.

A possible drawback is that the hollow grind AUS-8A blade may require a fair amount of maintenance. AUS-8A is known for its sharpness, not its edge retention. And a hollow grind means less material on the secondary grind, so a higher possibility of bending or breaking.

But when it’s sharp, the blade should glide through EDC tasks. With a variety of color choices, a low price point, and an easy carry capacity, the Ka-Bar Dozier Folding Hunter is a no-brainer.

Pros

Lightweight

Capable of EDC tasks

Cons

The blade may require frequent maintenance

5

Ka-Bar Becker Short Drop Point Knife

Interested in an all-purpose Ka-Bar camping knife? Check out the Becker Short Drop Point Knife. With a robust but simple 4 ⅜” drop point blade, it’s equipped for a variety of backcountry tasks. The Ultramid handle is contoured for comfort. And a MOLLE compatible sheath adds to the utility.

The simple fixed-blade knife should work just as well for chopping vegetables as splitting log rounds. Its 1095 Cro-Van blade probably won’t wow users for sharpness, but it promises to be tough over the long haul. If you want it to be a sharpener, well, sharpen it. You’re camping; what else are you gonna do while you drink beer?

In some ways, the Short Becker Drop Point is in the realm of small Ka-Bar knives. At 6.4 oz., it’s lighter than many Ka-Bar entries. 9 ¼” long, it’s also shorter than some of the biggest Ka-Bars. All this boils down to one quality: easier to carry. And that’s important when you’re carrying everything you need for the weekend on your back or in your trunk.

For a dependable multipurpose Ka-Bar for camping, we recommend the Short Becker Drop Point. The relatively small Ka-Bar knife should pack well and perform solidly in a variety of tasks.

Pros

Versatile

Packable

Cons

Probably won’t wow many users with any one feature

6

Ka-Bar USSF Space-Bar Knife

“Ok, is this a joke?” That’s what I thought when I saw Ka-Bar’s line of Space Force knives. It turns out they’re very real, and they might even be the USA’s last line of defense in outer space. Cutely designated the SPACE-BAR, the first outer space knife I’ve ever examined is here.

So why do photos of this knife make it look like something a LEGO scuba diver would carry? It’s partially because the knife has a gray powder coating on the blade. The gray color resists outer space radiation, according to our sources. It’s also got a sky blue Kraton G handle.

Kraton G is not the name of a legendary alien space pilot from the planet Xczdk-420. According to Google, here’s what Kraton G is:

“Kraton G polymers are second-generation styrenic block copolymers with a hydrogenated midblock of styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS) or styrene-ethylene/propylene-styrene (SEPS).”

I’m pretty sure I would have had to go to outer space college in order to learn most of those words. SEBS? SEPS? Try SPACE, alien scum!!!

Other than the out-of-this-world handle material, the Ka-Bar USSF SPACE-BAR is basically a military-style Ka-Bar. The blade is the same 1095 Cro-Van as ever. It’s unclear whether the vacuum of space or increased solar radiation degrades the material at an increased rate.

Nevertheless, the 45th President of the United States should be proud of Ka-Bar’s salute to his historic commitment to the United States Space Force. For hand-to-hand combat in outer space, there’s clearly no alternative to the Ka-Bar USSF SPACE-BAR.

For more top-quality blades, check out our selection of the best diving knives.

Pros

Can be used in outer space

May protect a user from hostile aliens

Cons

Balance may be affected by zero gravity