BT....if you truely are more into Kbar/Tactical type knives?...as a former old school U.S. Marine I can atest to the ruggedness of a true Kbar...outside of his rifle?...it's a marines best friend. However...times have changed....and so has my thinking and experience with knives...and now I'm gonna share those thoughts and that experience with you here....
First off...by stating you are looking at a Kbar style knife tells me that you're not looking for a folder/pocket but a "Fixed Blade & Sheath" sort of knife...and I'm hoping that's true as I proceed here.
2ndly...even as a 20+ year tool & die man?...I've come to hate stainless steel as a blade material and by far prefer high carbon steel blades for the following reasons...
1. They seem to sharpen and take an edge far quicker and easier than does any of the stainless blade materials. Dull knives blow and while brand new,factory fresh, ground stainless blades are typically supplied sharp as heck?...I doubt anyone would ever be able to replicate that same level of sharpness by hand, with an oil stone...ain't gonna happen...as the SS seems to prefer to roll rather than come to a crisp, sharp, defined edge. BTW.....this is why a real, original, Kbars blade is NOT made of SS.
2. True SS won't spark a piece of flint...and this is a biggy for me when it comes to a Tactical/Survival knife as I carry a firestarter in my go rig...(a small block of magnesium with a round rod of flint)...you simply take your knife blade and shave off some magnesium chips off the block into the beginnings of your campfire then stike the flint side with your high carbon steel blade and viola...the sparks ignite the magnisium chips and the chips ignite your campfire..even in pooring down rain...with wet twigs...provide you shave off enough chips.....but if your blade is made of SS?...you're S.O.L. as it won't spark the flint...but a carbon steel blade will.
Recently...One of the best (which btw is also one of the cheapest) tactical/survival knives I own is a "Glock Field Knife"....molded on polymer handle...molded polymer sheath with a rather unique retention system w/ a quick loop feature that allows you to put it on or take it off without removing your belt...teflon coated high carbon steel blade smooth on the cutting side with a sawtooth (bonesaw) blade topside...I got mine on special at a local gun show about 8 years ago...I think they run about $39.95 retail these days...and while my marine corps. heart doesn't wanna say this?...I'd take it over a Kbar...shhussssh.....did I say that out loud?
L8R, Bill.