A good 4-5 inch tactical/utility fixed blade for carry?

Mitchell Knives

Mitchell Knives

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Hi. I wanted to get a nice, high quality fixed blade for daily carry. This knife will of coarse be mostly used for utility but should be a capable tactical knife also. The problem I'm having is that every time I find a fixed blade I'm interested in, it always has a terrible sheath. So therefore I want a top notch synthetic sheath. I have thought about the Camilus CQB line, but would like to see what else is out there first. My price limit is around $150 although $100-$125 would be great. So, what would you suggest? Thanks.
 
Zombie, Since you can carry a fixed blade daily (?) why not save some
real money and get all you want and more. Sound interesting????

If so check out the new Camillus made Becker BK-7 combat/ utility.
It's priced at about $50 +/- for a G.I.'s pocketbook. There are some
interesting threads to read it about now.
 
Fallkniven F1 or S1, and then have somebody do you a kydex sheath to your liking, like Dozier, Wegner, many others.
 
I forgot to mention that this knife will be carried concealed, IWB. So, large knives like the becker are out of the question.
 
I've been researching this a well, and here's what I found:

* Livesay Uji (4 in.) or his neck knives, Woo (3.2), Celt (3), G-45 (3), NRGS (3.25)
* Strider WP (3 in.), WP2 (4) or the MFS
* Buck Strider Solution (4.75 in.)
* TOPS Interceptor (3.5-4 in.) or Sea Wolfe
* Cold Steel Mini-Tac (4 in.)

I'll probably pick from the Celt, NRGS, WP, or Solution. All are under 150 bucks except for the Strider MFS. All of the Livesay knives are under 50 bucks! If they're big enough for your hands, they should work out.

Zero
 
Zombie, Ok, now that I know how you'll carry the knife there is only one
knife that I'll reccommend that is in your price range that has no peer for
cutting ability.

The Bob Dozier Straight Personal sold by A.G Russell's. This knife does
not know how small it is when it comes to cutting. An absolute first rate
sleeper that will out cut most knives and still be VERY easy to carry.
Check it out you won't be sorry.

Without question the very best "Personal" knife I've ever owned.
 
The Dozier Straight Personal has a 2 7/8" blade. The original request was for something in the 4"-5" range. Only the Pro-Guide at $165 qualifies on that page. Not that the S.P. is a bad recommendation for any knife carried concealed. Carrying a 4-5" blade concealed is carrying one hell of a knife though. How many people have those kinds of jobs?

The only maker who has stuff in my experience at his price range would be Newt Livesay. Check out the U.S. Marshall at:
http://members.tripod.com/~Newt_Livesay/U-S-Marshal.html
for $100 and see what I mean.
 
Yep, I know the Dozier's a "small" knife and said so. But like the mouse that
roared it does not know that it is small when it cuts. Besides a knife smaller than
4"-5" is much much eaiser to carry ........everywhere ......than the longer blade.
I even carry mine in my shirt pocket pal (leather) once in awhile.

Sometime where you'er headed isn't where you wind up. Something happened
along the way to change your mind. So it was with me when I bought my
"Personal" I wanted a little bit bigger blade too. After using the "Personal"
awhile I disovered that Bob Dozier knew very well how to make "large"
cutting tool in a very small package. I didn't wind up where I was headed
then and I've never been sorry.

Either way........ Good Luck on your search mate.
 
OK I'll be a bit of a heretic but take a look at the Mora 2000 at: http://www.ragweedforge.com/SwedishKnifeCatalog.html

It is a solid utility knife that I've used for several years. Not a lot of money but one heck of a sharp and useful knife. Sometimes you get way more than you pay for. If you need a sure fire concealment sheath I would think that there are several places to have one made.
 
My suggestion: Get a Benchmade Nimravus and an On/Scene Tactical sheath, and you're good to go. I've had my Nimravus for around five years I guess, and it is one of my designated beaters. It's been beaten and abused, looks like total crap, and is functionally just as good as the day I got it. Mine is ATS-34, but if I ever replace it, it will be with an M2 version.
I really like the Strider MFS, too, but it's got a little higher price tag, and the sheath doesn't support IWB carry (that may be an easy fix with a loop for the sheath, but I'm not sure, since I don't have mine anymore:().

Here's .02...choose a knife not a sheath. You can get an awesome custom kydex/concealex rig for around $30. Far better to get a knife you're happy with from the start.
 
Loki, Ha! I have a Mora2000 too! It's what really got me started experimenting with thinner blades. Nice knife, especially for the price. But the handle (very full and roundish as is customary in many Nordic designs for those who haven't handled the knife) would be a disadvantage where concealed carry was the objective. Usually, this means fighting too, which would likely preclude the 1/16" blade!

Tightwad, I know what you mean. Sometimes less really is more, and Dozier knives certainly go the extra mile. The Livesay is pretty nice too, and only 2/3 the price!
 
So you know, Bob Dozier will custom make a knife, based on his designs, for a little bit more. He could extend the blade for you when he makes yours. Just call them up and ask the price difference from what is listed.

For that size, I would also look at the gerber yari. it has a sheath meant to go IWB. i don't feel its the greatest sheath.

what you may look into, is buying the knife you want, then investing a bit more in the sheath you want from any of our custom sheath designers who grace these forums.
 
Camillus Talon - very sharp, no maintenance, and doesn't look scary.
 
Spyderco Moran, original or drop point.

Either can be found for far less than $100, often as low as $50 to $60.

Well made knife, excellent sheath, comes standard with Tek-Lok, and can further be accessorized with a ball chain or paracord, a IWB strap or mini Tek-Lok from Blade-Tech.

I find that I prefer the drop point to the original, but I have owned both, found them to be excellent blades, and will be replacing my trailing point version soon.
 
Spark has a good recommendation.

I have worn a "Stainless Steel" version of the Talon on a neck sheath for several months. It is very unobtrusive when carried this way and easy to grab when I need to cut something. It also attracts a lot less attention then a BM AFCK, Emerson Commander or, Gerber Gator when I need to use it in the office.
 
The D2 Impact from KABAR might be a consideration. Price, quality and size are all within the parameters you set and the Eagle sheath that it comes with is a good one. The canvas micarta handle may be a bit bulky but it provides plenty of grip for any task and it could always be sanded down to suit your requirements.

If none of the sheaths meets your needs you could contact Eric at On Scene Tactical or David at Buy Brown Holsters and have one of them make a holder to your specs.
 
Ivan Campos is offering one of his Vespa models with a 5 1/4" blade at a close out price of $140. Have a look.
 
AtomicZero mentioned Livesay knives. I went to his site and the knives look great, not to mention the prices. I've never heard of this maker before, what is the quality like? Does anyone own any of his knives. Thanks.
 
Originally posted by Blackwatch
For that size, I would also look at the gerber yari. it has a sheath meant to go IWB. i don't feel its the greatest sheath.
Click to expand...
Good call, Blackwatch. For $65-$70 from web vendors, the Yari is a very handy tactical utility blade in 154CM. Some threads on the Yari:
http://www.guns-world.net/franco/mag/m2-f/articles/mitin1-f.html
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=161841
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=174690

If you add one of Blade-Tech's straps http://shop.blade-tech.com/merchant.ihtml?pid=239&step=4 to the sheath, it carries very conveniently IWB. Also, the Yari sheath will accept the regular size Blade-Tech Tek-Lok http://shop.blade-tech.com/merchant.ihtml?pid=357&step=4 (not included with the sheath) right out of the box.

In a 5" blade length step up from the Yari, let me recommend the Busse Basic 5. Although it has been discontinued, it is still available in the $150-$170 range. For an all-around combat utility knife that may be asked to do anything from wood cutting or digging as part of shelter construction to food prep slicing & dicing in a field kitchen to prying open ammo cans, Busses are the best of the best IMHO. Those rabid Busseholics (including me ;) ) are fanatical about their Busses for good reason -- they possess knives that absolutely, positively will not fail them.

For any knife, an aftermarket sheath from Normark (Eric at On-Scene Tactical) makes a very nice IWB home. :) My favorite IWB carry is one of his sheaths with a Blade-Tech IWB strap.
 
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