Survival Knife Review: Ka-Bar 2-1281-D2 Extreme Fighting Knife

There is no such thing as “the world’s best survival knife”, the best one for any situation you find yourself in is what you have in your pocket at the moment, besides, any knife can serve you well with the right skills.

However, when it comes to popularity, the most favored knife by survivalist seems to be the KaBar Knife.

KaBar started supplying combat and utility knives for the US Marine Corp during WWII. Since then, their knives have become the top choice for the Navy, Army, Marines and civilians alike.

For avid campers and for hunters, KaBar also offer a variety of great, reliable knives. One of the most versatile of their product is the 2-1281-D2 Extreme Fighting Knife, it is lightweight, very easy to attach to belts or tactical webbing and it will not disappoint in extreme situations i.e. if you need to inflict serious damage to an animal or an attacking person.

The Blade

The 7” clip-point blade is fixed and can withstand brutal environments thanks to its no-frills, rugged design. As a bug out knife, it can be used to hunt, skin animals, prepare food, scrape trees for shelter poles and other purposes.

The blade of the Kabar 2-1281-D2 Extreme Fighting Knife is made of D2 steel and has a black coating which prevents rusting which also makes the blade less reflective. This is an essential feature when using the knife in the wild. The material of the blade keeps it sharp and makes it easier to sharpen. When on the field and the blade dulls, you can just sharpen it on a stone.

Since carbon steel is prone to rust, the blade requires regular maintenance. Oiling it will preserve the quality of the blade. Use honing oil, gun oil, WD-40, or even cooking oil. The knife comes with a well-made Eagle sheath that is so easy to attach to belts and has a little pocket outside.

The Handle

This survival knife has a solid stacked leather handle made of Kraton G polymer. It has a nice swell in the palm. The grooves on the handle offer a secure grip even if the hand is sweaty or bloody. A handguard prevents the hand from slipping on to the blade.

All in all, the KaBar 2-1281-D2 Extreme Fighting Knife is a dead useful tool. When used as intended, it is a durable survival knife that you’d want to be in your pocket in any survival scenario.

This knife doesn’t come cheap but with its very good quality, the price is reasonable indeed. You can get it here for lower than the retail price.