$50 chopper/camp knife

S

Sevorius

Joined
Dec 28, 2007
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hey guys i'm interested in getting a nice sturdy knife for chopping/camp duty. i want to spend about $50 and the two knives that came to mind are the Kabar large Heavy Bowie, and the Ontario SP5 or SP10. i've seen Noss's review of the kabar it was impressive, but the Heavy Bowie is made in taiwan and the Ontario's are made in the USA. since the two cost about the same, i wanted to get some opinions about which is the better knife, or perhaps there is something better in this price range that i haven't seen with a 9-10 inch blade? any help would be appreciated, thanks.
 
Sevorius you may consider an Ontario 12" machete for a camp knife. This is the camp knife I use and like it very much. They run around $20 and are a great value. 1095 stout and a very solid knife overall. You will probably have to put an edge on it with a file though. But this is not hard to do. The other choices you mention are not bad options as well. I have read good things about the kabar heavy bowie as well as the kabar camp knife. Good luck on your decision and keep us posted on what you end up getting.
 
i've got an Ontario Blackie Collins 24" machete and i love it, but I'm looking for something a bit thicker, maybe 3/16" or 1/4" with a 9" or 10" blade. i like the kabar and the ontario spec plus knives, but i wish one or both companies would offer something with a full size tang and canvas micarta slabs. I guess Ontario did but I've heard too many bad things about the RTAKII to put my faith in one. maybe i should just save a bit and get a RD9 from Ranger Knives, buying American is important to me and if i'm going to spend more money i'd love for the proceeds to go to a soldier and his family. otherwise i would have ordered that Kabar Heavy Bowie the day i saw Noss's destruction test. i truly despise outsourcing.
 
I dunno, I might get flamed with a thousand examples to the contrary by guys with more big chopper experience than me, but I'd say on the balance you'd be better with a nicer knife and a cruder chopper.

Meaning at your budget, spend $43 on a decent folder (nice enough not to fall apart, but not some pricey $150+ knife you'll resist putting through hard use), and $7 for a Wal-Mart machete.
 
well i already have both of those, as i mentioned i have an ontario blackie collins machete, and at $38 my s30v Spyderco Native just begs to be used/abused and in the event of a failure, it can be replaced at the neighborhood wal-mart, gotta say i really love that about the native, although it hasn't failed me yet. a large chopper is really the one type of knife i do not own, and as such i was hoping to work my way up starting with something affordable to test the waters, and if i find i like large choppers in general then i think a battle mistress or dog father will be in my distant future :D
 
I had a kabar kukri and it was the best chopper I ever used, it chopped better then most hatchets I have used.
If you don't really mind outsourcing then get the kabar large bowie, it's on my list, as is the cutlass machete.
 
Look for a Kershaw Outcast. It is in your price range and it is an impressive blade. Of course an RD9 is super sweet and you will never regret saving for 1 of those.
 
just got the ontario marine raider bowie last night and DAMN is all I can say - it's stout, thick, and heavy - Everything I look for in a chopper. I got mine for $54 from knife outlet.
 
i love the look and size of the Outcast, but isn't D2 rather hard for such a long blade? would i have to worry about it chipping or breaking with heavy chopping? i've heard it said as a rule of thumb that with anything over 10 or 12 inches in overall length you should look for 1055-1095, but i admit i have no experience with D2. also i believe the outcast is made in china, i'm not a big fan of outsourcing, Taiwan is one thing, but it seems to me that China is downright diabolical in their attempts to cut corners and reduce costs. if the outcast were .25" 1095 and made in the USA, i would buy it in a heartbeat.
 
I have the sp10 the sp5 and the kabar heavy bowies and in this price range i would say go with the sp 5 or the kabar. The sp10 is too bulky to carry easily and although it will outchop the others it isn't worth the extra weight. I like the design of the kabar best but the blade is a little longer and thicker on the sp5 and if you have never used this knife you will be very surprised at the chopping abilities of that long thick spined slender flat ground blade! The kabars blade is wider but not as thick and is of course a bit shorter but is in my opinion a better overall design and yes it is Taiwan made but the quality is every bit as good as the ontario and 1085 should be a bit tougher. I have tested them all on water bottles and hardwoods as well as veggie cans and they all perform way better than you would think in this or even knives double this price range. hard to choose between the sp5 and the kabar heavy but if i had to i think i would take the kabar.
 
I'd recommend a Ka-bar.

Either the heavy bowie, or the machete, or the gurkha (how about the warthog? haha).

I always thought the outcast was a bit more expensive than the kabars, but I could be wrong.


What's wrong with Knives made in China? Spyderco makes a bunch of knives in China, and they've been given really good reviews, especially for the price point.

Everyone is outsourcing to China (even Cadillacs are being made there now). It's the way of the future.
 
Get yourself a Khukuri ! I have the Jungle model on order from khukurihouseonline.com ($29.99 + $14.99 shipping ) it takes 25~30 days for delivery (comming from Nepal - Hand made from military truck leaf springs) The Leaf springs are a high carbon rolled steel ! Or for a little more $ check out HI here on blade forums.:thumbup:
 
hows about the Browning Crowell Barker Competitin knife. I have one its pretty light in the hands but pretty deadly on saplings and small brush.
 
I like the small machete for a large beater/chopper/camp knife. Tramontina 12" or my modified Bolo do it for me. I find it harder to justify my fancier large choppers when the Tramontinas simply work as well as they do.
 
Tballetta said:
Look for a Kershaw Outcast. It is in your price range and it is an impressive blade.
Click to expand...

I second the Outcast. I use it for chopping only in camp and the fact that it's made of D2 only makes it better.
 
The Outcast takes a pounding , the D2 isnt a problem in actual use . Edge holding is good for this type of knife .

Chris
 
little bit more than fifty bucks but you should check out valiantco:

http://www.valiantco.com/java1.html


IMG_4746.jpg
 
cdf said:
The Outcast takes a pounding , the D2 isnt a problem in actual use . Edge holding is good for this type of knife .

Chris
Click to expand...

did have one break though straight across the last third last year ! sent back to kershaw with questions, also email to ken onion with NO response but knife replaced.

must have been too hard after all.

ps best chopper i have is a $5 flea market south american parang similar to the one shown above. the competition barker is not shabby either !
 
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Here's an option - Get a Fiskars/Gerber brushhook and mod it like this:
DSC01816.jpg

DSC01820.jpg


The steel in these is good, they are lighter weight than all those have bowies, and they chop very well to boot.

They cost about $45.00 on the internets.

DSC02140.jpg

DSC01828.jpg

DSC01833.jpg


Andy
 
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