TOMAHAWK by Tyr Neilsen

The Tomahawk has proven itself to be a versatile tool and weapon throughout history, and its sustained popularity means it continues to evolve.

Whether in the hands of modern military units, law enforcement tactical teams, or civilians in camping and outdoor settings, the tomahawk is a tool with unique qualities and functionality.

lakota tomahawk from mid 19th century

A tomahawk is a single-handed axe, traditionally used by Indigenous peoples and nations of North America. Tomahawk comes from the Powhatan word tamahaac, derived from the Proto-Algonquian 'temah' meaning 'to cut off by tool'.

Tomahawks date back centuries, and were used as general-purpose tool and weapon in hand-to-hand combat. In pre-colonial times, the tomahawk head was made of stone, bone, or antler. European settlers later introduced heads of iron and steel.

Metal tomahawk heads were based on a Royal Navy boarding axe, used as a trade item with Native Americans for food and other provisions.

military tomahawk issued to U.S. troops during the Vietnam War. 440 stainless steel construction axe head and bit pick with hardwood handle. 7 1/2" blade, 12 5/8" overall.

In the 20th century, the tomahawk saw renewed interest as a weapon of combat. During the Vietnam War, units of the US armed forces used updated tomahawks that were lightweight, versatile, and deadly in close-quarters combat. These were commonly referred to as "Vietnam tomahawks."

The US military in Afghanistan also found that the tomahawk was optimal for use in battlefield conditions. More practical and versatile than a knife, the demand for tomahawks led to increased customizing and development.

Tomahawks have continually gained popularity among military and law enforcement, but it has also become increasingly popular with civilians, who have recognized the value of the tomahawk as a camping and bushcraft tool. Tomahawks are a popular alternative to the hatchet, as they are often lighter and slimmer, making them easier to carry.

The SOG Tactical Tomahawk has been a long time favorite of mine. It’ a durable and versatile survival tactical axe, throwing hatchet, and emergency breaching tool.

It’s a little under 16” long (40cm), weighs just 24 ounces (680 grams), has a razor-sharp 3 inch (7cm), 420 stainless steel hatchet blade, and is built to swing fast and true.

The SOG tomahawk is easy to handle for light woodcraft tasks, with a strong, high-impact, glass-reinforced nylon handle, a piercing spike for chipping, and a flat edge for hammering. If you want a durable and versatile tomahawk, the SOG is a great option.

TRAINING KNIVES by Tyr Neilsen

No other sentence better describes how important the knife was to Viking Age society, than the Nordic proverb “Knívleysur maður er lívleysur maður” which translates to “The knifeless man is a lifeless man”.

Recent statistics for knife attacks in the US, UK and Europe, would suggest that knowing how to to defend yourself against a knife attack is becoming more and more important. But, where do you start? How do you safely and effectively train with a knife? The answer lies in choosing the right training knife.

ombat glima weapon training with cold steel rubber training knives - dagger and ka-bar

When it comes to training knives, there are several options available. Rubber, wood, polymer, and aluminum are some of the most common materials used in making training knives. Each material has its own unique characteristics that affect the size, weight, and cutting edges of the training knife.

Selecting the right training knife for your needs is crucial. A training knife that is too light or too heavy can affect your training outcomes. A rubber training knife may be ideal for beginners as it is lightweight, flexible, and safe to use. Wood or polymer knives offer a more realistic weight and feel, while aluminum knives provide a more realistic weight and balance, albeit with a higher risk of injury.

(FROM LEFT TO RIGHT) COLD STEEL RUBBER TRAINING LAREDO BOWIE, LEATHERNECK - SF, PEACE KEEPER I, RECON TANTO, HARDWOOD TANTO, ALUMINUM TRAINING KNIFE.

The tip and blade edges of training knives are blunt, but differences exist in the cutting edges. Some training knives have one ‘cutting’ edge, while others have two, and there are a variety point shapes. These subtle differences can impact your training results, so it is essential to choose a training knife that suits your needs.

Training with a knife can be dangerous, especially when practicing unarmed self-defense techniques. This is where a training knife comes in handy. Using a training knife ensures your safety as you develop coordination, balance, muscle memory, and footwork. Your hand-eye coordination improves, and your reaction time is shortened. Your consciousness of the situation and how you move within it is heightened, and your focus is sharpened.

As you progress in your training, you will become more confident in handling a knife. With consistent practice, you will master knife skills that will come in handy in real-life situations.

Choosing the right training knife is crucial for effective knife training. Consider your needs and skill level before investing in a training knife, and always prioritize safety during training sessions.

NOTE: The previous Academy Modern Weapons articles focused on Bowie, Ka-Bar, dagger, tanto and folding knives, which make up the majority of training knife types.

To learn more about these knife types, just continue reading the following articles here: https://www.vikingmartialarts.com/modernweapons

The DAGGER by Tyr Neilsen

The Dagger has been used as a close combat weapon for thousands of years. Designed to be a stabbing and thrusting weapon, daggers have a short blade with a sharply tapered point and two sharp blade edges, which makes this knife deadly in stealth operations and hand to hand fighting.

Being sometimes used for self-defense and other times used for assassination or sacrifice, the dagger has earned both an honorable and disreputable reputation throughout history. The Dagger has been used as a close combat weapon for thousands of years. Designed to be a stabbing and thrusting weapon, daggers have a short blade with a sharply tapered point and two sharp blade edges, which makes this knife deadly in stealth operations and hand to hand fighting.

The dagger originated in the Neolithic Age as a short stabbing weapon made out of wood, flint or bone, and predates every weapon except for the club. There have been many names for the knife we now know as the dagger, and although the word ‘Dagger’ is of uncertain origin, it means "edged or pointed weapon for thrusting, shorter than a sword".

NEOLITHIC DAGGER FROM THE MUSÉUM DE TOULOUSE

Almost every civilization has used and developed the dagger, and over the centuries, daggers have ranged from simple basic tools to objects of high status. In ancient Egypt, daggers decorated with ornate golden hilts were used both as weapons and ceremonial instruments. A dagger made of gold and one made of smelted meteorite ore were found in Tutankhamun’s tomb.

TUTANKHAMUN'S IRON DAGGER BLADE

With the development and availability of metal weapons, daggers not only became more and more popular, they also became more effective and deadly. Though daggers have continually been used by the poorest commoner as well as royalty, it has been mostly the weapon of warriors and soldiers. Throughout the Middle Ages, the dagger was a great instrument for piercing armor, used to great effect in both the forward grip and reverse grip (Icepick grip).

ILLUSTRATION OF COMBAT WITH THE DAGGER FROM MANUSCRIPT BY HANS TALHOFFER (1467)

As the face of warfare continued to change and armor was no longer used, dagger techniques evolved and the forward grip became the conventional grip of the dagger, whilst the reverse grip was favored when attacking an opponent from behind. During the Renaissance Age, the dagger was the only weapon commoners were allowed to carry on their person, and it became part of everyday dress.

A SELECTION OF A VARIETY OF DAGGERS THROUGHOUT THE CENTURIES: 1. 13TH CENTURY IRON DAGGER 2. 13TH CENTURY IRON DAGGER, 3. 14TH CENTURY IRON DAGGER 4. 14TH CENTURY IRON DAGGER 5. 14TH CENTURY IRON DAGGER WITH CARVED BONE HANDLE 6. 14TH CENTURY IRON DAGGER 7. 15TH CENTURY IRON DAGGER 8. 15TH CENTURY IRON DAGGER 9. 15TH CENTURY THUMB RING DAGGER 10. 16TH CENTURY DOUBLE THUMB RING DAGGER 11. 15TH CENTURY VERONA DAGGER 12. 15TH CENTURY ANELACE DAGGER 13. 15TH CENTURY IRON DAGGER 14. 16TH CENTURY SWISS IRON DAGGER 15. 15TH CENTURY IRON GERMAN DAGGER

For hundreds of years the dagger continued to develop in length, width and quality, and in the 17th Century, it was put to a new use when it was attached to the end of a rifle and became a bayonet. Over time, the dagger became more of a supplementary weapon or specialty weapon, involved in operations where firearms could not be used. During the First World War, the dagger became the weapon of choice for trench warfare, where larger weapons were ineffective. After the war, the dagger was worn with pride as a sign of having served front line duty.

At the beginning of the Second World War, the dagger was part of combat equipment carried by infantry and commando forces. In 1941, after complaints about the quality of the daggers issued, a new dagger called the Fairbairn-Sykes fighting knife, developed by William E. Fairbairn and Eric A. Sykes, was issued to British Commando and other elite units. With first hand knowledge of close-combat gained while serving on the Shanghai Municipal Police Force, Fairbairn and Sykes designed a slender but strong steel dagger. The F-S fighting knife quickly became extremely popular with commandos who used the knife for sentry elimination.

A similar dagger called the Marine Raider Stiletto was issued to U.S. Marine Corps Raiders in the Pacific, but this design proved to be less successful than the F-S dagger due to inferior materials and manufacturing techniques. The success of the Fairbairn-Sykes knife in World War II and then in Korea, led to many companies making their own versions of the F-S fighting knife. In 1966, during the Vietnam War, the Gerber Mark II dagger, designed by US Army Captain Bud Holzman and Al Mar, proved such an effective fighting knife, that many U.S. soldiers and marines who served in that war bought the knife privately for use in combat. The Gerber Mark II became so popular it was second only to the Ka-Bar knife in fame.

In the 1970s, the Gerber Mark II was discontinued from being sold in many places for being "too brutal". Gerber knife designer Al Mar added sawtooth serrations toward the hilt of the mark II, enabling the knife to be listed as a "survival aid". This allowed the Gerber Mark II to be sold as a survival knife, rather than solely a fighting knife.

Apart from use by military forces, most daggers are no longer allowed to be carried openly, but rather, have to be concealed underneath clothing. The boot knife, which is a short dagger compact enough to be attached to a boot, is one of the most popular types of concealable knives.

In many countries it is not even legal to own a dagger unless you have special collector’s certificate.

A boot/backup dagger is about the same size as a basic single edge Viking knife, that was used as an everyday utility tool by men, women and children in Viking Age Scandinavia, and a normal size dagger can compare in size to a narrow seax.

The FOLDING KNIFE by Tyr Neilsen

There is a type of knife that Norwegian knife expert Bjørn Ingebrigtsen has with him all the time. At work, at play, and sitting up in the hills overlooking the Drammen fjord, having a cup of coffee and talking about knives.

“This is a tool I really appreciate,” Bjørn explains as he reaches to his belt, and with a quick movement produces a steel blade from a knife handle held firmly in his hand. “This folding knife takes up little space and can often do the work of a much bigger knife.”

 Bjørn slowly pushed the blade back into its handle. “It’s called the folding knife because the blade isn’t fixed,” he explained as he opened the knife slowly. “The blade is held in place within the handle in such a way that it can be released and used pretty much as you would use a fixed blade knife.” Bjørn deftly replaced the blade then ‘flicked’ it open with impressive speed. “The most basic design allows a pivoted blade to simply fold out of the handle, but there are many variations that use a backspring, slipjoint or blade locking mechanism.”

 “In English the folding knife is sometimes referred to as pocket knife, jack-knife or pen-knife,” Bjørn grinned, “but in Norwegian we call it a Foldekniv, which literally means folding knife.” The folding knife is not a new tool in Norway, there have been many folding knives found here dating back to the Viking Age. Some Viking knives had friction binders, but most of them used a closure to keep the blade open. Some were plain and basic, others had fine blades and wonderfully carved handles.

The earliest form of folding knife dates back to at least the early Iron Age. Folding knives have been found in Spain that date back to the pre-Roman era, and a folding knife with a bone handle was found in Austria that dates back to around 600–500 BC. Folding knives were popular but expensive and not widely distributed until around the year 1650, when they were produced by cutlery companies in Sheffield, England. By the year 1700 there was large-scale production of folding knives with names like Fuller's Penny Knife and the Wharncliffe Knife.

A: FOLDING KNIFE FROM AROUND 600-500 BC. B: VIKING AGE FOLDING KNIFE. C: EUROPEAN FOLDING KNIFE FROM AROUND 1600. D: INEXPENSIVE ENGLISH “PENNY KNIFE” FROM 1650 TO 1700,

During the late 19th and early 20th century, the low cost of making small folding knives made it a favorite of working men in Europe and the Americas. By the end of the 20th century, custom folding knives became extremely popular with hunters, sportsmen and military personell, and the designs and quality continue to improve in every way this century.

“Modern folding knives are often called one-handed folders, meaning you unfold the blade with one hand,” Bjørn says as he opens and closes his knife in an easy motion with one hand, “and they have blade locks that prevent the blade from folding into the handle during work.” Bjørn repeats the opening and closing technique several times at different angles. “The quality of folding knives has become very good in recent years, and now you get a lot of design and steel qualities to choose from.”

 The knife Bjørn has been demonstrating is the Ontario RAT-2, made by Jeff Randal from Randall's Adventure & Training. The blade length is 2.9 inches (7.4 cm), the handle is 4 inches (10.2 cm), and the overall length when opened is 7 inches (17.9 cm), with a total weight of 2.8 oz (80 gram).

“Folding knives have continually been a really popular item ever since I began in the business,” Bjørn says as he hands me the knife. “The Ontario is beautiful and light, and the versatile and solid AUS-8 steel blade holds its edge well. It’s my favorite folding knife right now.” When I held the knife, I understood why.

A regular folding knife is close to the same size as a basic single edge Viking knife, that was used as an everyday utility tool by men, women and children in Viking Age Scandinavia. It is possible to buy a small Viking knife or a Viking folding knife from a professional knife specialist or at a Viking market, but these can be difficult to obtain. If you want a small knife or folding knife, the Ontario is a pretty good option.

Bjørn Ingebrigtsen is the owner of Gammelt og Nytt (Old and New), Norway’s foremost knife specialist store. For many years Bjørn had his own weekly article called Ukens Knivskarpe (Sharp Knives of the Weeek) in the extremely popular Norwegian magazine Vi Menn (We Men).

link to Gammelt og Nytt’s website Folding Knife page: https://gn.no/liste-kniver-utstyr-foldekniver?page=3

The S&W TANTO KNIFE by Tyr Neilsen

As I sit high up in the forest and hills beside the Drammen fjord and talk about knives with Norwegian knife expert Bjørn Ingebrigtsen, the conversation veers seamlessly from modern to ancient knives, from the classics to the innovative, and from expensive custom made to inexpensive but functional knives.

“The best knife is the one that you have when you need one,” Bjørn says over a coffee, “so its good to know what you might need a knife for.” Bjørn should know, he owns and runs Gammelt og Nytt (Old and New), Norway’s foremost knife specialist store. “All types of knives are sold in the store,” he continues, “in order to cater to the wide variety of needs and wants of all customers.

Knowing that there are many general and specific knives on the market and that there is no easy answer to the question, I asked Bjørn if he could recommend a good sturdy knife for a reasonable price. “I get asked this question a lot,” Bjørn says thoughtfully, “and I always have to ask, what do you need the knife for?” After a moment of consideration, Bjørn said “Try this,” and handed me a knife from the selection he had with him.

The knife was a Smith & Wesson SW7S Tactical Tanto knife. This tough and cool knife is based on the Japanese Tantō, which was originally a short sword that could be used as a knife by the samurai class of feudal Japan.

The tantō was created partway into the Heian period (794 to 1185), when it was mainly used as a stabbing weapon. At the beginning of the Kamakura period (1185 to 1333) tantō were forged to be more aesthetically pleasing and over the centuries this knife has evolved in design to become more ornate.

I have been fascinated by Japanese knives since I was a teenager, and have been continually fascinated by the way this type of knife has developed. The tanto is often called a tactical knife, meaning it is a knife with one or more military (martial) features.

Although tactical knives were principally designed as utility tools, such knives are often used in extreme situations as a weapon. The tanto is renowned for its sharply angled blade tip that resembles a chisel point. This point is famous for its strength and how much power it has behind it.

The Smith & Wesson SW7S Tactical Tanto knife is 10.6 inches (26.9 cm) in overall length. The partially serrated fixed blade is 5.2 inches (13.2 cm) and made of titanium coated solid 9Cr17 steel. The knife weighs only 8.5 ounces (241g) and has a very nice ergonomic rubber handle with finger grooves and blade guards.

For the last 170 years, the Smith & Wesson company has been known for the quality of its products and for being an innovative leader of the industry. The company started when two friends, Horace Smith and Daniel Wesson, became business partners in the early 1850’s, and had a massive success with the Model 3 American, the world’s first caliber cartridge revolver.

In 1974, Smith & Wesson started manufacturing knives, a natural progression for a company in the safety and security business. A lot of the Smith & Wesson knives cater to the police and military for rescue and tactical purposes. These knives can also double as good EDC options (Every-Day-Carry). Today, Smith & Wesson knives have a very loyal following due to their good quality and general low-cost.

I really like the sleek design and feel of the Smith & Wesson SW7S Tactical Tanto knife. It is sharp out of the box, durable, nicely balanced and I have to agree with Bjørn, it’s a damn good knife for the price.

The Viking seax, also called the “Viking hunting knife” and “Viking fighting knife”, had a variety of blade styles, and there are many different types of tanto blades that are similiar to seax blades. This S&W tanto is ‘similiar’ to the Wheeler type IV/II seax, which has a short clipped tip and a ‘broken back’ top edge that angles down to the tip.

It is possible to buy a Viking seax from a professional knife specialist or at a Viking market, but these can be difficult to obtain or expensive. Until there is large scale production of ‘Viking’ seaxes, the S&W tanto will do just fine.

Bjørn Ingebrigtsen is the owner of Gammelt og Nytt (Old and New), Norway’s foremost knife specialist store. For many years Bjørn had his own weekly article called Ukens Knivskarpe (Sharp Knives of the Weeek) in the extremely popular Norwegian magazine Vi Menn (We Men).

Link to Gammelt og Nytt’s website S&W page: https://gn.no/sok?search=s%26w

The BOWIE KNIFE by Tyr Neilsen

At the top of a range of hills beside the Drammen fjord, I sat down and had a coffee with Norwegian knife expert Bjørn Ingebrigtsen, and talked about the Bowie knife, which has been one of the most famous knives in the world for over 100 years. “The Bowie knife is one of my favorite knives,” Bjørn said holding up a beautiful Bowie knife called the Down Under Outback.

This was no shock to me, because in all the years I have been purchasing equipment from Norway’s foremost knife specialist store, Gammelt og Nytt (Old and New), which Bjørn owns and runs, there has always been a whole section of the store dedicated to the Bowie knife.

“The Bowie knife is big and just as suitable for skinning and butchering meat as it is for general use on a camping trip,” Bjørn said with a wry smile as he cut through the air with the Bowie knife. “Some people may think that the Bowie is an outdated weapon, and that it has no place in todays modern weaponry. The truth is that the Bowie knife is considered one of the most versatile knives around and is still used by military units.”

“There is no standard size for a Bowie knife, but they are based on the custom one made in 1830 for the famous knife fighter and frontiersman Jim Bowie,” Bjørn explained. “According to legend, the original was a fixed blade knife made by Arkansas blacksmith James Black, from a design by Bowie.

After being involved in a knifefight known as the Vidalia Sandbar fight, Jim Bowie became famous and received many requests for knives of the same design as the one he used at Vidalia. Bowie, together with his brother Rezin, started to commission custom blades from various knife makers.”

Between 1830 and 1860, the Bowie knife pattern became standardized with 10 to 12 inch blades. Though it has continually improved by Blacksmiths and knife specialists in many countries, the Bowie knife is easily recognizable by its large blade with a curved ‘clipped point’ meaning that the point of the blade looks like it has been clipped off, its thick handguard made of brass, steel or silver, and handle made from hardwood, deer antler or bone.

By the middle of the 19th century, the Bowie knife was so popular that it became synonymous with the term "fighting knife" and was more reliable than the single-shot handguns of the time. Towards the end of the century however, handguns had improved dramatically, and the classic Bowie knife was gradually reduced its size and length as its purpose changed from dedicated fighting knife to a general-purpose knife that could also be used as a fighting knife in an emergency.

Jim Bowie led a very interesting life, and he played a major role in the Texas Revolution, which ended with his death at the Battle of the Alamo in 1836. He is an American folk hero and his name and legacy live on with the Bowie knife.

There are Bowie knife museums, exhibitions and trade shows, and the Bowie knife dominates the work produced by members of the American Bladesmith Society. The knife is also extremely popular with collectors, with antique Bowie knives selling for up to $200,000.

Since the days of the Western dime novels, the Bowie knife has been continually present in popular culture. It was a Bowie knife that ‘killed’ Dracula in the 1897 vampire novel by Bram Stoker, and the Bowie knife has been a staple in Western movies and television, including a TV series called The Adventures of Jim Bowie. It was John Wayne’s knife of choice in the classic ‘The Searchers’, and Sylvester Stallone used custom Bowie knives in the ‘Rambo’ movies.

“This model is a copy of the Bowie knife made for the film Crocodile Dundee,” Bjørn told me as I admired the Outback Bowie knife and waved it around to see how it is balanced. “And its not simply something to hang on the wall,” he added, “this Bowie knife is devastatingly effective and can hack, slash, chop and cut as a Bowie knife should!”

I have to admit, the Outback Bowie knife is beautiful. It has an 11 inch blade (28 cm) made of 440C dual heat treated steel, a solid brass guard and pommel, and ebony and leather handle. It also has a genuine leather sheath with sharpening spike.

Now that’s a knife…….

The Bowie knife is probably the closest thing to a Viking broad seax, also called a “Viking hunting knife”, “Viking fighting knife” or “Viking war knife”. It is possible to buy a very nice hand made seax from a professional knife specialist, or pick up a decent seax at a Viking market, but these can be difficult to obtain.

For those who want a big modern high grade knife that can be bought at a store, the Bowie knife is definately a good option.

Bjørn Ingebrigtsen is the owner of Gammelt og Nytt (Old and New), Norway’s foremost knife specialist store. For many years Bjørn had his own weekly article called Ukens Knivskarpe (Sharp Knives of the Weeek) in the extremely popular Norwegian magazine Vi Menn (We Men).

Link to Gammelt og Nytt’s website Bowie knife page: https://gn.no/liste-kniver-utstyr-bowie

The KA-BAR KNIFE by Tyr Neilsen

My all time favorite knife is the Ka-Bar combat / utility knife. It has been the most famous fixed blade knife in the world since World War II, and it is famous for a reason. Luckily for me, it is an all time favorite of Bjørn Ingebrigtsen, owner of Gammelt og Nytt (Old and New), Norway’s foremost knife specialist store.

Earlier this year I interviewed Bjørn for an Academy of Viking Martial Arts article about historical weapons and the latest in bushcraft and combat equipment: https://www.vikingmartialarts.com/articles/2020/6/28/old-and-new-now-by-tyr-neilsen

During the interview, Bjørn mentioned that some years ago he had his own weekly article called Ukens Knivskarpe (Sharp Knives of the Weeek) in the extremely popular Norwegian magazine Vi Menn (We Men). As I am pretty interested in knives, this gave me an idea, and I asked Bjørn if he would be interested in helping me with some similiar articles. A few weeks later we met up at a local mountain range to have a coffee and talk about knives.

Bjørn was keen to talk about this knife. “This Ka-Bar is one of the first knives I ever owned,” he said as he took the knife from its well-worn leather sheath. “It’s been one of my favorite knives since I was a teenager. I’ve used it on camping trips, hunting trips, in the military and throughout my working life.” Bjørn showed where his Ka-Bar knife has changed shape over the last 45 years through constant sharpening.

“I bought this knife in 1975, took it with me into the military and used it on all military exercises,” Bjørn recollected. “It has been my main hunting knife, and has been used for stabbing, skinning and bone-cutting, as well as splitting firewood for cooking.”

On placing his knife in its customized leather sheath, Bjørn said “I reinforced the tip of the knife sheath with a copper plate on each side, following the advice from a Green Beret soldier who had served in Vietnam.”

Not only was Bjørn satisfied with this knife right from the start, he started importing and selling Ka-Bar knives, and was the first person to have a commercial ad for the Ka-Bar knife in Norway !

As we looked out over the Drammen Fjord, Bjørn gave me a brief history of this Ka-Bar knife, starting with how it got its name. “The Union Cutlery Company began using the name Ka-Bar in 1923 after they received a letter from a fur trapper who had used his Union Cutelry knife to kill a wounded bear that attacked him when his rifle jammed,” Bjørn explained.

“Although it was difficult to read the letter, the words "ka bar", from the phrase "kill a bear" was legible. Soon after recieving the letter, the Union Cutlery Company adopted the name Ka-Bar as its trademark.

“During World War II,” Bjørn continued, “the US Marine Core needed a knife that was stronger and more durable than what they were using. Marines were issued the Ka-Bar knife and praised its combat effectiveness and all-round toughness.

The Ka-Bar became known as the American fighting knife, and in 1952, the Union Cutlery capitalized on the popularity of the knife by changing the company’s name to Ka-Bar Cutlery Inc.” Bjørn started to dig into the ground where we were sitting with his knife. “The Ka-Bar is still used by the US Army, Navy and Marines, and is used for all kinds of situations, from combat to opening cans, cutting wood or wire and even digging trenches.”

LEFT: TYR’S 2019 KA-BAR. MIDDLE: TYR’S 1960’S KA-BAR RIGHT: BJØRN’S 1970’S KA-BAR WITH CUSTOMIZED SHEATH AND KA-BAR KNIFE SHARPENER.

“The Ka-Bar knife is 11 7⁄8 inches (30.16 cm) long and has a 7 inch blade (18cm). It weighs 0.7 pounds (320 g), has a double guard, a ‘blood groove’, a hilt covered with stacked leather washers to grip, and the blade type is called a Clip point.” Bjørn held up his old knife besides a brand new version. “There has been little visible change to the Ka-Bar knife, but it has been steadily updated. The steel blade is now made of 1095 Cro-Van, which is a moderate carbon and low chromium steel alloy, which allows the blade to hold an edge really well.”

Just like Bjørn, I take my Ka-Bar knife with me just about wherever I go. I use it when camping, for training and survival and self-defense seminars. I grew up with the understanding that if you could own only one knife, then the Ka-Bar was that one. For as long as I can remember, the Ka-Bar was a knife I had to have. After all these years, I still feel the same way.

The Viking seax, also called the “Viking hunting knife”, “Viking fighting knife” and “Viking war knife”, came in many shapes and sizes, and the Ka-Bar knife is similiar to a Viking short seax or light broad seax. It is possible to buy a very nice hand made seax from a professional knife specialist, or pick up a decent seax at a Viking market, but these can be difficult to obtain.

If you want a solid combat/utility knife that can be bought in a store, the Ka-Bar is a damn good option.

Link to Gammelt og Nytt’s website Ka-Bar page: https://gn.no/kniver-utstyr-jakt-tur-survival/usmc-kabar