Advice needed for bushcraft knife

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Phaselock

Joined
Oct 26, 2009
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Hi! I need some advice regarding the purchase of a bushcraft/survival/hunting knife. I have found two knives that interests me. They are very similar in size (9" overall length). It's the Cold Steel Master Hunter VG-1 steel with kydex sheath and Böker Arbolito Semi Skinner (Argentina made) 440C steel with leather sheath. Price range: $50-100

Böker:
http://www.boker.de/index.php?c=3000&a=02BA515&s1=515&s2=0&s3=9999&p=2&pp=10

Cold Steel:
http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/csstoreonline_2076_8804464

Advice and suggestions are welcome. Thanks!
 
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IMO for bushcraft or survival you need to be looking at RAT Cutlery or BRKT.

RC-4
Bravo-1

are two very popular choices that come to mind. Both are a bit higher than your specified ranger but well worth the extra expense.

Also look into Ka-Bar's and some of the Buck line- both have many models in your price range.
 
VG1 & 440C steels are often heat treated to be on the "tough" rather than "hard" range of the scale, not inappropriate for a utility/survival knife so I don't expect that to make a great deal of difference in usage. Not sure how they compare for sharpening though. Compare blade thicknesses. A survival knife should be able to baton and do some prying and digging without chipping, bending or breaking. Also compare blade profiles and cross section. Decide what your main uses will be then choose the profile that you think will best suits your intended applications. "Best knife" is often subjective. Either knife will probably work well but you will not be able to judge which knife is best for you until you use them side by side on the same tasks.

I also suggest you go with RAT or BRKT than either of the above. Falkniven is another you should consider
 
I just picked up an RC-3 from a famous online auction site that was under your price limit.

If you are looking for a nicer blade steel than 1095:

-Ontario makes RAT knives in D2 tool steel. (under 100)
-Benchmade makes the Activator in D2 tool steel (also under 100)

Of the two you mentioned, I like the cold steel better -for blade shape and sheath. I think it would be a lot easier to sharpen.
 
I think neither of them make for good "bushcraft" knives, but of the 2 the CS would make for a better survival knife.
 
Go custom!

There are so many great custom makers out there who produce top notch stuff you can't miss! Buy yourself a perfectly respectable Mora 510 for $14 to get by with and shop the custom makers.
 
Out of those two I would for sure pick the CS.
The laminated steel on that one is a winner. It really holds an edge well. I had a CS trailmaster with that steel, and I have to say it held an edge for a very very long time.

It is a pretty usable design.

For the price range, though, I would probably take a look on the custom forum here. Or as some one else suggested Rat cutlery (really great warranty at reasonable price)

You might also want to take a look at Scrapyard knives on the Busse exchange here, for a similar sized scrapyard. (another super warranty, best in the business).
 
+++ to zippin44 suggestion.

I would go with a laminated mora and a multitool to start. I too was in search of a woods knife and found just what I was looking for with one of our makers. JK knives (Stomper is his forum name) makes the kind of knives that just begg to get used.
 
Don't forget about the Becker BK2 either.. sharp prybar for $65. But may be a bit thick for skinning.. sorry, missed that part.
 
Thank you for all the feedback! I'll definitely take a closer look at the RC-3 or RC-4. What is the difference between Ontario and Rat Cutlery? The knife looks almost the same. I like the Rat Cutlery sheath. I´m not a big fan of the nylon sheath that comes with the Ontario knives.

I try to keep the budget around $100 for a knife. I´m open for suggestions on more alternative knives. Thanks!
 
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After some extensive research I have come down to these models:

Cold Steel Master Hunter
Within budgett. Like the sheath. Many are wary of the steel that are used. Many means it is not as good as it claimed to be.

Rat Cutlery RC-3 or RC-4:
Little over budget. Like the sheath very much. Afraid the blade is too small on the RC-3. The steel used in the RC knives is easier to rust.

Fallkniven S1:
Way over the budget. The knife it´s probably the best for the money. The Sheath is simple and does not look very good with the knife.

Anybody have some views on my conclusions? This is not easy, please help me out :)
 
Bigfattyt said:
Out of those two I would for sure pick the CS.
The laminated steel on that one is a winner. It really holds an edge well. I had a CS trailmaster with that steel, and I have to say it held an edge for a very very long time.

It is a pretty usable design.

For the price range, though, I would probably take a look on the custom forum here. Or as some one else suggested Rat cutlery (really great warranty at reasonable price)

You might also want to take a look at Scrapyard knives on the Busse exchange here, for a similar sized scrapyard. (another super warranty, best in the business).
Click to expand...

VG-1 is not a laminated steel.

Vicarious Reality said:
Buy five or ten red plastic handled Moras
Click to expand...

Perfectly good answer. :thumbup:
 
Vicarious Reality said:
Buy five or ten red plastic handled Moras
Click to expand...

These knives don't always get the respect they deserve but they are great values. You can get one of them, then a good sheath (the OEM sheaths leave something to be desired IMO)for it and be well under $50

Of the two mentioned I would go for the CS, a more classic profile for hunting use and probably usable for most bushcraft chores, but if you really want a keeper of a knife, you can find an RC4 shipped free for $99+/-. Google is your friend.
 
Mora knives a great knives. Use them a lot in my job. But I want more knife that just a $20 Mora knife. I have come to the conclusion that I do want a of a survival or hunting rather than a bushcraft knife. The knife must be so much bigger. For bushcraft I use an axe :)

It must be either Rat Cutlery RC-4 or the Cold Steel Master hunter. They are both simlar size and are within budget. Which would you prefer?
 
Phaselock said:
Mora knives a great knives. Use them a lot in my job. But I want more knife that just a $20 Mora knife. I have come to the conclusion that I do want a of a survival or hunting rather than a bushcraft knife. The knife must be so much bigger. For bushcraft I use an axe :)

It must be either Rat Cutlery RC-4 or the Cold Steel Master hunter. They are both simlar size and are within budget. Which would you prefer?
Click to expand...

RAT RC-4 by a large margin.
 
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