KA-BARStraight Leather Handled Mark 1 Knife

This is much smaller than the traditional K-Bar 7” USMC fighting knife. The blade is 5” and the handle is a good inch shorter than the big model. An adult can easily get a firm grip on it. Fits easily in a bag with the sheath. I can completely see how the Navy picked this as a utility knife in the day for dealing w heavy ropes. It can handle heavy / constant use that folks just don’t do w a knife anymore. It’s an elegant, rugged deign of a different era.Solid, tough construction with a full tang and the same thickness blade and the full size model. Leather handle is beautiful. I treated it and the sheath w Sno Seal. Maintain both and they will last for generations. I don’t get critics of the sheath. Nicest leather sheath I’ve ever owned. Much nicer than my uncle’s WW2 model, which is flimsy by comparison.It will handle rain and wet as the design has done for decades. It’s not a dive knife. I may break down and get a Kraton handle version for canoe camping.Mine was not very sharp, sort of rough grind. Not a big deal, I’ll fix that. Glad K-Bar makes this model still. This is a better tool than the big model as it attracts less attention. Fixed blades are fairly polarizing. It’s not a massive survival knife. It’s an awesome tool for camping, outdoor activities, and emergency use. Large handle that an adult can get a firm grip on. It’s a reasonable tool you can carry in a bag / vehicle every day.Love it.

This knife has all the things I look for in a woods knife: blade about 5", blade shape that is versitile for multiple different camp tasks, made of tough steel with reasonable edge retention (that can easily be maintained in the field), comfortable handle that allows various grips, decent fit and finish. The leather sheath is okay, does the job.My primary camp knives need to be good at slicing and carving. I use different tools for chopping and hacking; if you want a knife that is good at those things, there are better options out there.My gloves size is just between medium and large. If you have large/extra large hands, this handle might be to small for comfort. For me, the size is perfect and the sweet fits really nicely in my palm.Very good purchase for the price.Update: was recently carving on a piece of work and noticed there was an irritating burr in the top plastic washer that sits between the guard and the leather stack. Was able to easily remove it with an emery board.

So, I was a bit apprehensive about buying this knife at first. I have handled similar knives before but was always unimpressed with the quality of the blade and handle. This certainly wasn't the case with Ka-Bar's Mark I.The stock photo does the item little justice, as some of the material is difficult to discern exactly what it is made of. In the pictures, the pommel looks shiny and almost plastic. I can confirm that it is a very high-quality, heavy steel.The blade itself is razor sharp out of the box. The entire knife has a very good weight in the hand and the proportional balance is spot on. The handle's leather "buttons" are smoothed perfectly to form a very nice leather handle that offers a firm grip in wet or dry conditions.The pictures of the leather sheath are terrible. The sheath is in fact a very thick, very good quality leather with a beautiful tan color. Ka-Bar sets the standards for quality, and the fact that it is made right here in the good ole' USA makes it even better. I seriously doubt I will ever buy another brand, and I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a quality knife for heavy use or to add to a collection.

Overall everything's good, built like a tank, will definitely outlast me. Razor sharp out of the box. Sheath is simple and great. The issue is with the plastic handle spacer directly under the guard, needed some finishing work with a jewelers file to take the uncomfortable edges off. Not sure why this wouldn't be done at the factory. But other than that, all good.

A truly perfect sheath knife: not too big, not too small, not too flashy, not too ordinary. This beautiful historically correct knife is in the "Goldlocks Zone". An all-purpose, everyday carry knife with historical cachet that be will sure to elicit complements and draw admiring attention. You can't improve on perfection, and they hit it with this one--- on the first Mark !. HIGHLY recommended!

Very nicely made Ka-Bar (Olean N.Y. stamped), USN Mark 1, knife. Overall length measures approx. 9-1/2 inches ( Handle = 4-1/4 inches, Blade = 5-1/4 inches) Completely solid with nice heavy-weighted feeling, Flat Black/powder-coated, no gloss, Blade surface and Pommel end, no loose bits, Full Tang, pinned Pommel, stacked Leather Washer Handle, tight Cross Guard, super sharp blade (It'll shave hair off your arm---I know, because I did it!). The U.S.N. embossed Leather sheath is Thick and High Quality, meaning you cannot accidentally stab yourself, if you put the knife in the sheath crooked. It would just stab the leather and get stuck. It's important to mention that if you have LARGE hands, the knife might not fit well into your palm grasp (As in, your hand would be larger than the grip surface). I'm only 5' 11" tall, and the knife fits my hand perfectly. If you're a Big Dude, this knife might look like a "pocket blade" in your hand!! Just saying, because it's worth mentioning.