Recondo vs Pentagon

[manicreader]

I'm having a lot of trouble deciding on a general purpose hiking knife.

At present, it's either going to be the X42 Recondo or the S14 Pentagon. I like the dual edge on the pentagon, but the recondo looks like it might have more point strength for poking at things, and might be better for light chopping.

Also, I meet a lot of crazy people out in the middle of nowhere and the pentagon looks like it might be better for warding them off.

Help! I've been mulling this for days and I wanna buy! Any suggestions?

[glockman99]

Originally posted by manicreader
I'm having a lot of trouble deciding on a general purpose hiking knife.

At present, it's either going to be the X42 Recondo or the S14 Pentagon. I like the dual edge on the pentagon, but the recondo looks like it might have more point strength for poking at things, and might be better for light chopping.

Also, I meet a lot of crazy people out in the middle of nowhere and the pentagon looks like it might be better for warding them off.

Help! I've been mulling this for days and I wanna buy! Any suggestions?

It looks like you want the Pentagon, so buy THAT one. HOWEVER, if it were me, I'D buy either a Seal 2000, or a X42 Field Knife.

[Ron Andersen]

Hi Manicreader,

First of all, welcome to BladeForums.com! It's always great to see people sign up here at BF and make their first post here in the SOG Forum!

Now to your question: Either of these knives should do you well. Both will "poke." Both with cut. Both with intimidate.

If one of them is aesthetically more pleasing to you, I'd suggest heading there first. Maybe at a later date, pick up the other one. Then you can have the best of them both!

[Sergiusz Mitin]

Manicreader,
I probably risk to disappoint you but I’d dare to echo Glockman’s advise and choose X-42 Field Knife as general utility knife when hiking (no personal experience with Seal 2000, sorry).

Basically Ron is right, both will cut. However Field Knife with its thin high-performance edge created by flat grind will cut much better than Recondo with somewhat thick single-side sharpened edge or double-edged dagger Pentagon. Both these knives are designed more onto weapon than onto utility side, especially Pentagon. On the other hand Field Knife is designed exactly for purposes you are intending to use your knife – general utility. More, IMO it is one of the best and most cost efficient outdoors knives with 5-inched blade around.

Also, I meet a lot of crazy people out in the middle of nowhere and the pentagon looks like it might be better for warding them off

In my honest opinion it is pretty poor idea to try scarring someone with knife if you really are not going to use it. This might work and equally well – do not work, so what you are going to do next?
If you really would be forced to defend your life cutting your assailant – I’m sure Field Knife wouldn’t serve any worse than Recondo or Pentagon. Maybe even better than Pentagon because Field Knife is bigger.

Here are Recondo (top) and Field Knife (bottom) at the same photo. Just imagine which one would serve you better when preparing food – the most common task you more than likely would use your knife for.
I don’t have any good photo of Pentagon, sorry.

[manicreader]

Thanks everyone for the comments!

Serge, I appreciate your POV... picking a knife fight, or even threatening one, is not something I would do, but if someone comes at you, I'd rather have a beefy piece of steel than not. Maybe I'm hiking in the wrong places, heh heh.

I did not know there is an X42 field knife. I like it a lot. I would choose that over the Recondo, except I already have a custom knife that is so similar as to be a duplicate.

So what did I do? I just ordered a Desert Dagger.

[EXECUTION STYLE]

Originally posted by manicreader
Thanks everyone for the comments!

Serge, I appreciate your POV... picking a knife fight, or even threatening one, is not something I would do, but if someone comes at you, I'd rather have a beefy piece of steel than not. Maybe I'm hiking in the wrong places, heh heh.

I did not know there is an X42 field knife. I like it a lot. I would choose that over the Recondo, except I already have a custom knife that is so similar as to be a duplicate.

So what did I do? I just ordered a Desert Dagger.

Great choice on the Desert Dagger. I just got one. I am very very pleased with her.

I also have had a SEAL 2000 for some time. Same situation.

I have a Pentagon on the way.

[Ron Andersen]

Originally posted by manicreader
So what did I do? I just ordered a Desert Dagger.

You won't be disappointed! From a pure "this is one COOL knife" point of view, it is one of my favorites. It will also perform up there with the best of 'em in its class!

[wildmanh]

Originally posted by manicreader
I'm having a lot of trouble deciding on a general purpose hiking knife.

At present, it's either going to be the X42 Recondo or the S14 Pentagon. I like the dual edge on the pentagon, but the recondo looks like it might have more point strength for poking at things, and might be better for light chopping.

Also, I meet a lot of crazy people out in the middle of nowhere and the pentagon looks like it might be better for warding them off.

Help! I've been mulling this for days and I wanna buy! Any suggestions?

Welcome to BFC and the SOG Forum manicreader. I know what you're going through. Been there my self a few times. In the end, I ended up getting both knives that I was drooling over.

I agree with others that the X42 Field Knife would be a better Camp knife then the X42 Recondo. Why don't you buy The Pentagon and the X42 Field Knife? You know, two knives are better than one.

I do a lot of camping and hiking in Utah and normally I carry my Mini Pentagon, a medium to larger fixed blade (short KA-BAR or Government Agent) and a folder on trips. The Pentagon is worn lashed inverted to the Left Sholder stap of my backpack and is used as a backup/self defence knife. The KA-BAR or SOG Government is worn on my belt stong side and handles most of what you want a camp knife for. The Folder is also worn on my belt stong side and used in the Kitchen and for whittling. This year, I hope to add an X42 Field knife or Field pup (depending on finances) to my setup. The Field knife would be worn on my belt inplace of the larger knife and said larger knife would reside in my backpack.

BTW Nobody really bothers me on trips. I normally go out with my College club (the Snow College Outdoors Club) and some of the girls make faces at my gear but they don't have a problem borrowing a knife from me when it comes time to prepair dinner.

Hope you find this information usefull. And stick around. This is a great place. Oh yeah, and do remember to tell us what you deside to go with.

[manicreader]

Well, as I mentioned, I ended up ordering a Desert Dagger.

I hope you all don't think I'm nuts, but I got carried away and also order a Night Vision. I'm not sure it is possible to have too many knives, and I'm rapidly becoming a SOG fan.

[wildmanh]

Originally posted by manicreader
Well, as I mentioned, I ended up ordering a Desert Dagger.

I hope you all don't think I'm nuts, but I got carried away and also order a Night Vision. I'm not sure it is possible to have too many knives, and I'm rapidly becoming a SOG fan.

Ops! It took so long for me to write my post that you and other were able to post before I could.


You're not nuts. If I had the money, I would also be buying more SOG knives. Like Ron said, the DD is one cool knife. I took mine camping in October (per Rons sugestion), and all the guys were very impressed. Plus, it came in handy, opening up food packages and such.

[Ron Andersen]

Originally posted by manicreader
I hope you all don't think I'm nuts, but I got carried away and also order a Night Vision.

COOL! The Night Vision is probably my favorite SOG knife ... and likely will find a soft place in your "heart" as well.

Here's mine with one of my other "collection" pieces:


Thumbnailed Image

... and one with my Galco holstered Glock 27 (and Z key):


Thumbnailed Image

This is my Night Vision with my SigPro.


Welcome to our addiction!

[manicreader]

Sorry to eat up badwidth, but my knives arrived today.

Desert Dagger. Wow!!! This is the best feeling, best balanced fixed blade knife I've ever handled. Very cool, and very useful for hiking and camping.

Night Vision. Also very cool. I really like the size and smooth action of this knife. It seems to be the ideal size for a hiking folder. The grip feels really good. My only complaint is that when I grab the blade, I can flex it left to right slightly. A little disconcerting for a knife in this price range, but not a show stopper.

Also ordered the Tek Lok for the Desert Dagger. Complaint: no instruction sheet. What the hell am I supposed to do with this thing?!?!

Forgot to mention that I also have a SOG Vino and have bought several power lock tools for friends... this is what got me interested in SOG. SOG vino rocks!!

[glockman99]

Originally posted by manicreader
...Night Vision...My only complaint is that when I grab the blade, I can flex it left to right slightly.

Well then, DON'T grab the blade..