Advice for a first buy

S

snodog

Joined
Mar 13, 2006
Messages
58
Hi everyone,
I am new to this forum and have been seriously looking at alot of knives for the primary purpose of using it as a camping and utility knife. I have had some cheaper ones in the past but they just dont hold up. Always a flimsy blade that will bend if used to pry. Anyhow I was wondering if anyone would have any advice or suggestions on some good durable knives. I am not looking to spend hundreds by any means but would pay a good price. Im not sure of the best types of steel blades and all...Please help
 
Don't use a knife to pry, they are made for cutting, (sorry had to be the first to say it). I think you can't go wrong with Benchmade. Let the opinions come.:) -john
 
Well I was in the same boat as you. Interested in knives but prettymuch clueless about em. Still am. :)

I wanted a general purpose outdoors knife I could use for all sorts of stuff, chopping wood, digging, cutting up food, hammering etc.

I figured something along the lines of a Kabar fixed blade would be great for this kind of stuff. I found a cheaper knife that was very similar for 30$, an Ontario Spec Plus Marine Combat Knife.

Utterly satisfied with it and its fulfilled its purpose without any problems thus far.
 
Im assuming you are looking for a fixed blade. I would suggest looking at swamprat.com or rangerknives.com
forgot to add: swamp rat is coming out with brand new line up of knives. Hopefully in a few weeks. So if you go to their order page and only see about one knife for sale, that is the reason.
 
For inexpensive, I would go with a Becker also. Becker BK10 Crewman, Becker BK 7 Combat Utility, or if you want to go bigger, Becker BK9 Combat Bowie, for a fixed blade.

For a folder, something simple like a Spyderco Delica or a Benchmade Griptilian. I would recommend the new Delica 4's, and the new Grips in 154CM.

I own the BK10 Crewman, and a Grip. I've used the BK9 Combat Bowie, but found it was too big. Just based on the performance I got from the BK10 and BK9, I would be very surprised if the BK7 isn't just as good. I've also owned the Delica 2 and the Delica 3, and both were great workers too.
 
Sorry, I should have mentioned that either a smaller fixed blade or a locking folder would be fine. I dont like some big Rambo knives. When you say inexpensive,,is it good quality as well? That is what I am interested in as well. If you cant use a good quality blade for the outdoors then what is the point in having one? I really like the look of the Buck nighthawk short model but I think it is too big and the SpecOps Smith and Wesson is nice looking too but is only around $28. so I wonder about the quality of the build..
 
Sno-

Welcome to the party! Did you bring the beer?

Best first for me would be either a Benchmade or Spyderco. Both companies are well respected knive makers with great products. However, if you are looking for a knife with multiple blades they don't have them. Look at Leatherman and others for multiblade.

Here are my favorite less expensive ($25-$30) first timers. What's your budget?

Benchmade Pika model-

http://www.benchmade.com/products/product_detail.aspx?model=10400


Spyderco/Byrd Raven model

http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=196

These are both medium sized (3.5 inch) folders made from good materials with Rockwell Rc values hitting about 59-60 (the higher the better the edge retention). Look at the specifications of any knife you are considering (the pictures lie). If you don't know what the specs mean ask.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=368828

What are you considering buying?
Also checkout the Toolshed forum for knife sharpening tips. There are some real knife wizards over in that forum like knife ninja, guru, jedi-knight Mr. Joe Talmadge who can make a knife in his sleep I think.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=794


Like my mom said, "If its your dog you have to walk it." Same applies to knives. If it's your knife you have to know how to sharpen it.

Again, glad to have you here.
 
Thanks,
I like those knives. That is kind of what Im after. One thing I dont quite understand is how some knives are so unveleibably expensive?? Is it the steel used? Does this mean that I cannot get a really good quality knife for around 40-50.00? I like the look of some of the Smith and Wessons but really wonder since they have lower prices. What are some of the best knife models for this price range? Thanks agian for the welcome and the help!
 
You may want to narrow some other factors down. For a 4-5" fixed blade, you can't go wrong with a mora from frosts or Jonsson, available from (among other places) www.ragweedforge.com Either the traditional or modern-about 10-15 bucks, and worth every single cent. Do a search for mora on here.
 
I wouldn't suggest a Smith & Wesson knife, as they are crap. How much DO you want to spend?? THAT would help. I too would also suugest Spyderco & Benchmade. And for a fixed blade, Becker, Ranger knives.......
 
I LOVE benchmades. The BM Griptilians are great knives with great locks, and they have a fixed blade version as well.
 
My camping rig is fairly simple... two fixed blades and a folder are all the edged instruments I take.

I use an Ontario RTAK for the big stuff and it's held up wonderfully for about three years now (don't listen to the naysayers about the RTAK, a few had QC issues and to some that means they're all bad). It's fairly inexpensive, most places have it for less than $80.

The small fixed blade for medium duty is a Camillus pilot's survival knife. The saw teeth on the spine are a joke and the sheath is crap, but it's a good little knife for making tent stakes and things like that. I think it cost around $25.

I carry one folder for camping. Usually some sort of SAK. For the last several years it's been a Soldier and that's primarily for food prep or cutting paracord to keep the tent from falling over. It was $18.

Sometimes I'll carry a seven inch Ka-Bar instead of the five inch pilot's knife, but I usually regret it becuase there are a lot of things the Ka-Bar is good for, but it seems like there's more than the extra blade length just gets in the way of. I'm thinking about replacing the pilot's knife with the little RAT-3 this summer.

Consider some means of field sharpening too. You don't need a shaving edge on your field knives and it's unreasonable to expect to keep a shaving edge on one for long. I used to carry a Smith's two sided diamond sharpener, it did a decent job of sharpening, but was too bulky. A few months ago I picked up a Gatco ceramic stick and it does a great job and takes up no room, so it'll get the go this summer.
 
I like the look of that Kershaw Echo. How about the steel?? What should I avoid? Do I want something high carbon or coated with something?
 
I would go for and Ontario RAT 7 or a TAK or a becker BK 7 or crewman, but if you are willing to spend a little more a Ranger RD 6 or 7, or anything from Swamprat. You wont go wrong with any of these knives and light prying would not be a problem..
 
How about the H&K liner lock folder with an N690 blade? That one is around $40 is that a good deal?
 
Actually, I saw the taiwan printed on the blade...ugh....How about the Buck nighthawk for a fixed bladed knife? Anyone use one of these? It looks like a really sturdy blade.
 
It would be alot easier if we knew the price range your looking for. I would suggest a Spyderco Manix for overall chores since is can be used to baton let alone almost everything else. Other good choices would be the BM Griptillian, Spyderco Endura, SOG seal pup, BK-7 or any swamprat or ranger knife.

Also I would stay clear of Smith and Wesson knives...They're crap.
 
Have you considered a Victorinox SAK? For camping, perhaps Huntsman or One Hand Trekker: the saw for trees, the screwdrivers can be used for light prying. You might still want to add a big fixed blade for heavier duty though.

Check the article on Huntsman for outdoor activity on SOSAK Online (www.sosakonline.com)
 
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