Are there better? Yes. How much do you want to spend? I won't comment on the CRKT becuase I just like how it feels in my hand, but the Ka-bars I will comment on becuase I grew up on them the same way some people grew on a particular brand of bicycle.

You can find better in it's size class. Lots of custom knife makers do better. But IMHO, it isn't enough better than a $50 Ka-Bar to justify a two, three, more-hundred dollar knife. The only place were you can really find improvement is the tip strength, but if you have a can opener you're fine.

Unless you have to take out an ent who is on sentry duty. In which case, I want a bigger knife. (Actually, in that case I want a chainsaw powered by a sound supressed V-6 engine!) Most people who sneer at Ka-Bars are compairing them to bigger and thicker knives. Yes, things like the big RATs and Beckers and Busses out perform a 7" long, 3/16" blade when used for chopping. That is becuase they are 9-10" long, 1/4" thick blades. That's just simple newtonian physics at play.

Oh, and I should warn you, this is the ultimate can of worms in any forum. Asking men why they pick their knife is like asking why they love their wife and to compare her to their friends' wives. People get very culty about their knives.