KA-BAR Jarosz Camp Turok Knife

Custom knife maker, Jesse Jarosz, has combined his bespoke custom designs with KA-BAR’s production capability to produce examples of his work at a more accessible price level.

The KA-BAR Jarosz Camp Turok Knife is a ‘beefed up’ version of the standard Jarosz Turok, for those who want a bigger and stronger knife, and it is an impressive tool, measuring 13” overall and weighing almost 10oz.

Blade spec

The full-tang 8” blade is made of 1095 Cro-Van steel, a very hard material with good edge retention and wear resistance qualities. It is also an easy material to sharpen. Its only downside is that it is not corrosion-resistant, so in a wet environment, you have to take precautions to prevent it from rusting. To reduce the likelihood of corrosion, the entire surface of the blade has a black coating, which seems pretty durable and effective. The blade is 0.188” thick, making it very strong and rigid, and there is absolutely no flex in the whole knife. The plain edge drop-point blade has a flat grind sharpened at a 20° angle, making it ideal as a general-purpose camp knife.

Easy to handle

The scales are made from Ultramid, a very strong and stable material, and the shape of the handle provides a hold that resists what would otherwise be a front-heavy design, making the knife fit and feel balanced in your hand. The scales are held in position with recessed bolts which, although recessed, can be felt, and might just rub a little with extended use. 

Easy to carry

The Celcon sheath has a belt loop and multiple attachment points along the edges for alternative carry options. The knife locks into the sheath with an audible click and is held in place by a latch that engages with the integral quillon on the blade. The knife will not leave the sheath, even when tipped upside down and shaken. Unless, of course, you apply sufficient pulling force to overcome the latch. To make unsheathing easier, there is a panel on jimping on the front edge of the sheath that you push down on with your thumb as you pull the knife upwards.

Conclusion

Although it is large, the knife is really nice to use, easy to control, and certainly sharp enough for general use. It will cut rope easily, and meat smoothly, plus you can also use it for splitting wood or making kindling. The coating on the blade does wear away gradually, but with proper cleaning and oiling, this should not be an issue. The edge retention is very good and if you do manage to dull it, then putting an edge back on it is quick and easy. The locking mechanism on the sheath is a great safety feature, while still being easy to release one-handed.

This very well-designed and constructed tool is perfect if you carry just one knife, and like all KA-BAR tools, it is certainly durable and will serve for many years.