KA1245-BRK Black Tanto

This is my third knife I got so far, and my first real fixed blade. Part of the reason I bought this particular knife is that it is made by KA-BAR, a company synonymous with its battle-tested, and proven, combat/utility knives. I've researched on other knives that are just as good or better as KA-BAR's but none had the ideal mix of quality and affordability that KA-BAR offers. There were knives with exceptional quality but are just way out of budget even when marked down at retail prices, then there are those that are just simply cheap through and through. I do not claim to be an expert on knives nor its components, this review is primarily from what I've experienced with this knife.General Impressions: When I took it out of the black box, the size of the knife is imposing to say the least. I already have one of those Chinese knock-off survival knives that I got from a friend; that paled in comparison to the KA-BAR tanto. Holding it gingerly at first; having this "high" that is rather indescribable. I figured this is from the fact that, in my hands, is a knife made by skilled men and women who makes knives to those who are fighting for our freedom everyday. As I inspect the knife in its entirety it looks like it is built like a tank, no "soft spots", no loose ends. It looks and feels well-made as I expected from this company.The blade: Out of the box, it is very sharp. Not straight razor sharp but it will cut paper as clean as scissors. While the serrated edges have round points, it cuts just as well. I chose the American-style tanto blade primarily because it looks really cool to look at (I'm a sucker for futuristic-styled blades); yet it is still practical enough for camping and (heaven forbid) fighting off bears and what not.The grip: The grip on this knife is made of some sort of rubber-like polymer. It feels perfect holding it in my hand, almost like a custom-built knife. Even when moisture accumulates on the surface, there's no worry that the knife would slip. Also, the cutouts on the sides of the knife are a nice touch; providing some interesting gripping styles.The balance: Based on my experience with this knife, the balance (or rather weight distribution) is biased much more on the handle side, but it does not detract from it's overall handling. In fact, it is not tiring at all when swinging this knife in any direction. And the design almost lends itself for reverse grip use, it felt natural and not cumbersome at all.The sheath: Nothing much here, although I've read previous reviews about the issues of this sheath wearing way at the surface of the knife due to a partially exposed button rivet. It looks like KA-BAR corrected it and made it so the buttons are slightly recessed, preventing it from scratching the knife's surface. Other than that, it's just your typical plastic sheath with holes for MOLLE type vests and a belt loop. It comes with a locking system and two straps (kind of overkill to have two, but ok I guess) to keep the knife in place, however.For a knife that is made here in USA with quality steel (specifically in New York of all places), $60 retail is an amazing bargain. Again, there are better knives than this but cost a lot more and there are those that are cheap but have too many bells and whistles (like that survival knife I mentioned earlier), this knife is right in the middle. Simple, durable and affordable.

I love this knife! Upon inspection you may find yourself bedazzled by the quality and craftsmanship, as I was and inspected every detail before putting it through the paces. A beautiful piece..Build: This baby is a serious weapon before it is a tool, unless you consider them one-in-the-same. The first attribute you may notice is the spine of the blade (narrow and more a dull blade then flat surface) which follows traditional Tanto style. It is truly built as a puncturing/stabbing tool. The blade edge is very sharp out of the box, with almost no imperfections in honing. The serrations are the smoother non-aggressive type, in sets of three, with four hollows separating them (OXOXOXO). The full tang and overall length bring this behemoth to a surprisingly light 11.5 ounces, with the center-balance point on the grip, about a 1/4" before the bolster/guard.Ergonomics: As the title states, this blade feels like a small machete. The thinner spine may save a little weight, but the overall length make this blade a bit uneasy to wield nimbly unless you practice proper form for safety, or are already trained in knife fighting. Holding this knife in the fighting style (thumb up, blade down), the blade's length bring the tip close to the bend of my elbow, plus the very aggressive point will easily snag and tear any sleeve with ease, should you hold/conceal it that way. Both very small notes when you consider the reach of the blade, but just keep in mind that the points above.As for this being a survival type tool, the major drawback is the thickness of the spine in the case of splitting wood, since you would hammer it through with another piece of wood. The thin spine is more like a dull edge so you will end up destroying your improvised hammer. Also, the weight is light and spread out, leaving the pommel your best option for blunt force. The handle grip is very comfortable and non-slip, yet not tacky. The bolster/guard also assures you that your hand will not slide onto the blade, should you find yourself driving this into the nearest zombie skull.Overall: I recommend this for the knife collector or those with knife fighting experience and the will to carry such a long blade. For a more agile version I recommend the stubby version. If a survival tool is what you are looking for, I HIGHLY suggest the Gerber LMF II. That little beast is a.........beast.Remember: American Made = Americans Paid