A good trade

**M14sRock** · 22-09-2012, 06:17

A buddy of mine on another forum liked a new knife that I posted up. It was a Ka-Bar Pot Belly that I got a couple of weeks ago. It is a beefy beast with about a 7" blade. 1095 Cro-Van steel, 1/4" thick, and heavy as hell. That is a .50BMG rd for scale, and the USMC herringbone was my dad's from the late 1950's. A few tiny holes, but still good to go.

The Pot Belly comes with everything shown. The small knife is like a bird and trout style, and it slips inside the sheath, but also has a neck sheath. It now has 30 feet of 550 cord in the pouch, along with two 6 foot sections on the sheath.

So he asked me if I wanted to trade my Ka-Bar Pot Belly for his old Western L-46/8.

Seriously??! Oh, hell yeah.

So I ordered a Pot Belly and had it sent to him, and he sent me the old Western.

It is a 1959/'60 vintage and the guy he bought it from many years ago said he carried it in Vietnam, but who knows. The sheath is a replacement by Savage and is very similar to the Randall sheaths. My buddy said he just left it in his truck, and was ready for an updated design.

I am seriously in LOVE with this knife. It arrived very sharp, but I spent some time last night and it now shaves. I have bald spots all over my arm and leg. Ha.

Anyone else like these old knives?

**marshy** · 22-09-2012, 08:43

I've seen one of the Pot Belly's here, and handled it. Wanted it till I saw the price! Looking at your trade though, I think you did yourself good!

**Lone Ranger** · 22-09-2012, 09:05

Love the idea of them having a history. I'd have accepted the trade too

**SeanG** · 22-09-2012, 09:40

Excellent trade

**KK20** · 22-09-2012, 09:40

souls of their own - love it !

**M14sRock** · 22-09-2012, 17:20

Originally Posted by marshy

I've seen one of the Pot Belly's here, and handled it. Wanted it till I saw the price! Looking at your trade though, I think you did yourself good!

Its a shame the price is so high there. I picked up mine, and a the one I traded to him, for $68usd here.

**M14sRock** · 22-09-2012, 17:20

Originally Posted by KK20

souls of their own - love it !

Indeed. Cool old knives are special.

**M14sRock** · 30-09-2012, 05:41

I was so impressed with the Pot Belly that I broke down and bought the Ka-Bar Bacon Maker, too.

It has a thinner blade than the Pot Belly and feels "faster". I like it more in person than I thought I would by looking at it online.

Same handles, same type of sheath (though the Pot Belly does not fit the Bacon Maker sheath), same goodies.

I am very impressed with the designs and quality of construction that Ka-Bar is demonstrating these days. They have been around for a VERY long time, and will probably be around for a very long time to come if they keep making knives like these.

It did not feel as sharp as the Pot Belly, but as I ran it down my leg I was distracted by something on TV and shaved a 4" long stripe in the hair on my shin. Very impressive for a factory edge.

I know they are expensive in SA, but check them out if you get a chance. They skipped expensive handle scales and put the money into the blades. A good choice I'd say.